Full Sperm

Full Sperm

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The male body holds many mysteries. Why are guys always scratching their balls? What exactly is a foreskin supposed to do? Why do flaccid penises look so ridiculous?

But the most pressing questions we have concern semen—also known as ejaculate, spunk, and by a host of less printable nicknames. Sure we know it contains sperm, but what else is in there? Why does it look and smell different sometimes, and is it just a myth that it's great for your skin? To answer these and other questions, we talked to a men's health specialist, who shared some seriously fascinating facts.

Semen and sperm are not the same thing. Sperm are tadpole-shaped, microscopic cells that are part of semen. Their job is to fertilize an egg inside your body, and to get there, they're carried along by fluid that's produced by different male sex organs.

“The prostate fluid contains chemicals that make semen more liquid-y so the sperm can swim more freely,” Michael Reitano, MD, physician in residence for the men’s health service Roman , tells Health . “The seminal vesicles [two tubes in the pelvis] provide fructose, a sugar that gives spermatozoa the energy it needs to swim all the way to the female egg.” All together, these components make up semen.

Dr. Reitano says that sperm contains vitamin C, B12, ascorbic acid, calcium, citric acid, fructose, lactic acid, magnesium, zinc, potassium, sodium, fat, and hundreds of different proteins. But don’t quit your daily vitamin just yet. “The quantity of actual nutritional components is tiny,” he says, and most of it is simply water. What about the calorie count? "If the actual nutritional elements are added—meaning all the fats, proteins, and carbohydrates—then a ¾ teaspoonful of semen may provide little more than a few calories of nutrition.”

The average amount of semen released during ejaculation averages between two and five ml, the equivalent of about one teaspoon. But this stuff pack a punch—there are nearly 15 million to 200 million sperm in an average milliliter of semen.

True, men can produce sperm throughout their entire lives. But it isn’t always viable. Dr. Reitano says that according to one study, sperm produced by men over age 52 were more likely to be abnormal than the sperm of younger men. Young guys also produce more sperm per ejaculation. “Semen production is highest in men in their 20s or so, but can decrease slowly starting at any point from that age onward,” he says.

Precum, or the pre-ejaculate fluid that comes out of a man's penis when he's turned on, contains barely any viable sperm. “Most of the evidence leans toward pre-ejaculate containing no sperm, or only very tiny amounts of sperm,” Dr. Reitano says. “What sperm is found [in precum] tends to be poorly formed and immobile. Men are considered infertile if they have too little sperm, so the tiny amounts that may be found in pre-ejaculate are extremely unlikely to result in pregnancy.” (Good to know, but it's probably wise to make sure the stuff doesn't get inside you if you really don't want to get pregnant.)

So what's the point of precum? It's nature's lube, in part. "Pre-ejaculate is a slightly basic secretion released from glands called Cowper glands," Dr. Reitano says. "The clear secretion protects sperm from the acid environment of the urethra and the vagina, as well as lubrication to some degree."

Stinky semen could be indicative of a larger issue. “Foul-smelling semen can be a sign of an infection, possibly a sexually transmitted infection. STIs may also be at work if the semen takes on a yellow or green color,” says Dr. Reitano. “On occasion, a broken blood vessel in the urethra or prostate can make semen appear brown or reddish.”

What is semen supposed to smell like? "Semen can typically have a slight ammonia or bleach-like odor," he adds. "Anecdotally, semen can have a slight change in odor or taste with changes in food, meaning eating asparagus may result in a similar change in the odor of semen as noted with urine."

Sperm can live up to five days inside a woman's reproductive tract, just waiting for that egg to appear so they can fertilize it and do what nature intends them to do. But outside of the body, semen can’t survive very long. “If ejaculation occurs in a hot tub with chemicals, the sperm can live no more than a few seconds. If it is deposited into a bath of warm water that is approximately 98 degrees, [they] may live for a few minutes,” Dr. Reitano says. “If it is deposited into the air and onto a hard surface, it will live until the semen is dry. The sperm dies when that occurs.”

For whatever reason, semen seems to be the latest trend in skincare. But Dr. Reitano says that while it's likely safe, it's probably not going to benefit your skin in any way. "Semen doesn’t have any inherent components that are bad by nature," says Dr. Reitano. Stick to acne products to clear up those breakouts instead.

Remember the woman who went into anaphylactic shock after her partner ejaculated in her mouth? Yeah, so do we. Unfortunately, semen allergies are possible. Says Dr. Reitano: "

This is a rare condition but it exists. The allergic reaction is usually localized and causes redness or swelling at the point of contact—usually the vagina." To be precise, it's the proteins in semen that trigger the allergic reaction.

"Another way a partner can be allergic to their partner's semen is if she has an allergy to a particular food or antibiotic, as examples, and the male partner has eaten the food or is taking the antibiotic to which she is allergic," adds Dr. Reitano. "The allergen accumulates in the male's semen, and when it is placed in the vagina, the allergen is absorbed into the bloodstream. The female partner may develop widespread hives or worse." Yikes!

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Add more amino acids to your diet. Amino acids, traces of which can be found in meats, fruits, and vegetables, are believed to increase sperm count and keep the sperm from clumping. They may also increase sperm motility. Amino acids that you can incorporate into your diet include:

L-Carnitine, which can be found in red meat and milk [1]
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PubMed Central
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L-Arginine, which can be found in fish, poultry, red meat, and whole grains [2]
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PubMed Central
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If you aren’t getting enough naturally in your diet, you can also talk to your doctor about amino acid supplements for both L-Carnitine and L-Arginine.

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Increase your daily amounts of calcium and vitamin D. [3]
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Ask your doctor to determine if you are deficient in these nutrients. A deficiency might hamper sperm production, so talk about your options. You can take supplements of both, or spend significant time in the sun so your body can synthesize vitamin D, and eat plenty of yogurt, skim milk, and salmon to boost your calcium intake. If you do spend more time in the sun, be sure to lather up with some sunscreen to prevent damage from harmful rays and possible melanoma.
Talk to your doctor about whether or not you need supplements. It can vary from person to person.

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Eat several servings of fruits and veggies each day. These foods are rich in antioxidants, which might actually improve the health of your sperm. Make it a point to eat several servings of each per day. Try adding a helping of each to each meal you eat. You can also snack on veggies throughout the day to up your intake. [4]
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Mayo Clinic
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Smoothies are a great way to add a lot of fruits and veggies to your day. Try a mix of greens, berries, a banana, and some almond milk. Blend and enjoy.
Salads are another simple way to make sure you're getting plenty. Try a mixture of kale, apples, and broccoli with a lemon vinaigrette. It's delicious and good for you.

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Cut back on processed foods and saturated fats. Pre-packaged foods are typically processed and they are usually really high in sodium and cholesterol. Choose fresh foods when you can. Stay away from items like boxed cereals and microwavable meals. When you're trying to improve sperm volume, switch to a diet low in saturated fats and high in protein. Saturated fats decrease sperm volume while healthy fats can help increase it. [5]
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PubMed Central
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Avoid fatty cuts of meat and items like bacon and sausages. Go for chicken breast or pork cutlets instead.
Choose healthy fats like avocado, nut butter, and olive oil instead.

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Take a zinc supplement to boost your sperm production. This mineral is associated with increased semen volume, sperm count, and testosterone levels. A blood test from your doctor can determine whether you have a zinc deficiency. If you do, ask your doctor if it is safe for you to add a daily supplement to increase your sperm volume. [6]
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You can also get enough zinc from your diet if you eat foods like walnuts, beans, oysters, beef, and chicken. [7]
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Fenugreek is a popular natural remedy for improving sperm count. Supplements made with this common medicinal herb can effectively boost libido, strength, sexual performance, and sperm health. Testofen is one such remedy consisting of fenugreek seed and minerals; a study has shown that men who took 600 mg daily for 6 weeks saw an increase in sexual activity and improved erectile dysfunction as well. [8]
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PubMed Central
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Talk to your doctor about including a fenugreek supplement in your diet.
Fenugreek is easy to find, as it is also used in cooking and herbal tea. However, the effects of whole fenugreek have not been studied. It’s unlikely that eating or drinking the herb would be as effective as a supplement.

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A coenzyme Q10 antioxidant supplement can improve semen quality. Evidence suggests that taking coenzyme Q10 leads to a significantly increased sperm concentration and activity. [9]
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PubMed Central
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Talk to your doctor about the possibility of antioxidant supplements as a means of boosting your sperm count.
Keep in mind that while coenzyme Q10 was linked to improved sperm health, it hasn’t been proven to increase pregnancy rates.

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The old herbal remedy Ashwagandha (Indian ginseng) treats semen deficiency. Ashwagandha has been used as a medicinal herb for a very long time, originally to help with stress. However, studies have also suggested that, when taken as a supplement for 90 days, the herb can improve male fertility, boost testosterone levels, and improve sperm counts. [10]
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PubMed Central
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Ashwagandha root extract has been proven to give significantly better results than a simple placebo.

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