Is swallowing semen good for you?

Sex has lots of health benefits. Having an active, stimulating sex life can improve heart health, mental health, and decrease overall stress.

But sex may have more health benefits than you might think.

Sex can be messy, with lots of body fluids getting in all sorts of places. Specifically, it’s very common for people to get semen in their mouth, especially during oral sex. So, it makes sense for people to wonder if swallowing semen, whether on purpose or by accident, is good or bad for their health.

In this blog, we will describe what semen is, the pros and cons of swallowing it, and whether this is good for your health or not.

Are you worried about sexually transmitted infections after giving or receiving oral sex? Get Better2Know’s Oral Screen Home Test Kit.

Sperm vs semen

Let’s start with the basics.

The words sperm and semen are often used interchangeably, but they actually refer to two different things.

A sperm cell, or spermatozoa, is the microscopic male reproductive cell. Sperm cells are composed of water and plasma, and consist of three main parts, each with a distinct function. The head carries the male’s genetic information, the midpiece acts like a power station by producing energy, and the tail helps the sperm swim once it’s fully matured and released. The purpose of a sperm is to fertilise a female egg after ejaculation.

Semen, on the other hand, is the seminal fluid designed to carry the sperm toward the egg. Semen contains many nutrients that keep the sperm alive, including sugars, proteins, and even some vitamins and minerals.

Contrary to what many people believe, sperm and semen are produced by different parts of the male reproductive system.

Sperm are produced in the testicles in cycles that last around 70 days. Semen is produced by several organs, including the prostate gland, the Cowper’s gland (also known as the bulbourethral gland), and the seminal vesicles.

Precum

Just as there is a difference between semen and sperm, there is a difference between semen and precum.

Precum, or pre-ejaculate, is a clear fluid secreted from the penis during arousal but before orgasm. This fluid is a lubricant and is designed to facilitate vaginal sex.

Precum tends not to contain sperm. However, if you orgasm and engage in sex soon afterwards, precum may contain some remnants of sperm from the previous ejaculation.

This is one of the reasons why it’s important to use barrier methods of contraception in most cases.

What is semen made of?

Semen isn’t just one substance. It’s a compound made up of lots of different ingredients. It also contains a load of different nutrients. These fluids contain:

• Proteins
• Ascorbic acid
• Amino acids
• Phosphorus
• Potassium
• Chloride
• Lactic acid
• Fructose
• Citrate
• Calcium
• Zinc
• Magnesium
• Urea

Are you worried about STIs? Book a test or screen today.

Does swallowing a partner’s semen have dietary health benefits?

For the most part, semen is safe to ingest and may even provide some health benefits.

Semen contains a few calories – about five to seven calories per teaspoon.

One study from 2002 suggests that semen has several physical and chemical properties that can improve your mood, since it has natural antidepressant properties, including:

• Endorphins
• Estrone
• Prolactin
• Oxytocin
• Serotonin

However, these findings should be taken with a grain of salt, as very little follow-up research was conducted.

Another study conducted in 2003 found that females who were exposed to semen for longer periods, both before and after pregnancy, were less likely to develop preeclampsia. However, more research on this subject is needed.

The risks of swallowing semen during oral sex

While swallowing semen is generally safe, there can be some risks.

Semen allergy

Some people can develop allergies to seminal fluid. You may have a semen allergy (human seminal plasma hypersensitivity) if you experience the following symptoms of an allergic reaction after exposure:

• Inflammation
• Burning sensations
• Swelling
• Hives
• Difficulty breathing
• Itching

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

Swallowing semen also carries the risk of contracting an STI.

The risk from swallowing semen results from the fact that, in most cases, oral sex will have taken place first. The repeated and direct contact between an infected penis and the throat is the main way that several STIs can infect the throat.

• Gonorrhoea: People who perform oral sex on someone with a genital Gonorrhoea infection will be more likely to develop an infection in their throat. An oral Gonorrhoea infection can cause swollen and tender glands in your throat, difficulty swallowing, visible irritation and redness in the back of the throat
• Chlamydia: Like Gonorrhoea, Chlamydia bacteria can infect your throat. It can cause a sore throat and make swallowing difficult. Most oral Chlamydia infections don’t cause any symptoms.
• Syphilis: Syphilis can be transmitted through oral sex when the bacteria enter the body via a small cut or opening in the mouth or lips. This can lead to an oral Syphilis infection. Symptoms often include sores or lesions that appear at the site of entry.
• Herpes: If you perform oral sex on someone with a genital Herpes infection (whether it is HSV 1 or HSV 2), the virus can infect your mouth.
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV): HPV can also be transmitted during oral sex. It can occur even if there are no genital warts present in the infected person. It’s important to be vigilant against HPV since some strains have been connected to cervical cancer in women.
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): While very rare, it’s possible to get HIV from oral sex. This can occur when there are cuts or sores in the uninfected person’s mouth and the infected person ejaculates in their mouth.

If you want to have oral sex, you should get tested beforehand to make sure no infections can be passed on.

Final thoughts

While swallowing semen is generally safe and may provide marginal health benefits, there are also some risks involved. You should only swallow semen if you and your partner have discussed your sexual health and after both of you have been tested for STIs. If you’re engaging in casual sex, you should use oral contraception, such as condoms or dental dams, to prevent the spread of STIs.

You can book an STI screen with Better2Know to test yourself and your partner(s) for various STIs.

This article originally appeared 24/02/2023. Last updated 25/07/2025.

This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Steve Chapman, 11/06/2024.

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