Semen 101: Everything a Man Needs to Know about His Ejaculate

That cloudy white, sticky substance that ejaculates forth from a man’s submarine is a bit of a mystery and a miracle. That little bit of opaque goo holds the key to civilization in its weird consistency. So, what is semen? What’s it made of and why? Let’s go deep in a man’s most private area and explore the wonders of semen.

What is semen?

Semen is the opaque white fluid that is released from the urethra and springs out of the penis during ejaculation. It is made up of mobile sperm cells (medical name: spermatozoa) and nutrient-rich seminal fluid. The seminal fluid is what transports the sperm to the egg (or the tube sock).

What’s the difference between semen and sperm?

Sperm is in semen, and arguably, the most important part of the complex semen recipe. Think of it like this, a man is making chocolate chip cookies. Sperm is the chocolate chips and semen is the whole batter. They’re better together.

Where is semen made and what does it contain?

Sperm is made in the testes and gets stored in the epididymis until needed. When a man is ready to ejaculate, the sperm is carried through a passageway called the vas deferens to the urethra to be expelled. While it goes on this voyage, it goes through three different glands, the accessory sex glands, which release mucous secretions. They are known as the Cowper’s gland, the prostate gland, and the seminal vesicles. Cowper’s supplies the pre-ejaculatory fluid, the prostate provides a host of minerals, amino acids, and enzymes, and the seminal vesicles supply the majority of the semen cocktail with fructose for sperm energy and prostaglandins that trigger the vaginal muscles to contract, thus helping escort the sperm to the ova.

How much semen can a man produce?

The average man can turn out between two to six milliliters of semen each time he ejaculates. To go back to the cookie batter analogy, that’s like the amount of vanilla that’d go into the batter, maybe a bit less. But, just to be clear, don’t actually put it in cookie batter; the cookies will not taste good with the special sauce.

What does semen taste like?

As it contains over 65 percent sugar, it is alleged to taste sweet. However, diet greatly impacts the taste of semen and can be like going to a 31 Flavors, just without the Rocky Road.

What color should semen be?

Ejaculate is usually clear, white, grayish or a form of all of those with a cloudy look to it. It can, however, be many different colors. Here’s a quick run-down on some of the tints semen can take and what they may mean.

- Yellow/Green – It could be urine in the semen, which is nothing to be concerned about unless it’s a persistent issue. Diet can also influence sperm color (think curry or green juice). Jaundice can also cause a yellow tinge and suggests a liver issue which requires immediate medical help.

- Red/Pink/Orange/Brown – All are a sign of blood in the urine. The more red or pink, the fresher the blood. If it’s more of the orangish brown variety, it’s old blood. Both can be classified as hematospermia, which is associated with STIs, prostate issues, high blood pressure, too rough or vigorous sex, excessive self-pleasure that causes tears in the skin, and cancer.

- Black – This is again, hematospermia, but the blood is extreme old. It is related to two serious issues which men should seek help for, spinal cord injuries and heavy metal exposure (lead, nickel, etc.).

Keeping the semen vessel healthy and strong

Keeping the penis clean and well cared for is just one of the ways a man can be sure his semen can exit the premises expertly and with a laser-focus. Keeping the penis clean with regular washing and rinsing is a critical part of ensuring a precise aim and avoiding “backups.” In addition to cleaning, many men have added a specially formulated penis health creme (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which has been clinically proven safe and mild for skin) to their grooming ritual. Using a penis health crème delivers the important vitamins and amino acids which prevent bacteria from infiltrating the member while strengthening the skin and protecting against environmental free radicals and nerve damage that can make erections and ejaculation harder. A generous massage with a nutrient crème like this is one of the best ways to promote penis health on a daily basis.