Spermophagia

File:Horsesemen.jpg

Semen, extracted from a horse.

Semen ingestion may be either for erotic gratification (gokkun), for nutritional value and other physical benefits, or in the belief that it has spiritual benefits. Sources of semen are either from human males or male animals. Semen ingestion may happen when fellatio is performed to climax, in which case it is accidental or purely sexual. Few people practice it in the belief that it has health benefits.

Nutritional value

Although only in trace amounts, semen has been shown to contain every nutrient the human body uses. It has somewhat higher amounts of commonly deficient minerals such as potassium, magnesium and selenium. A tablespoon of semen contains approximately 20 calories. The protein content of semen is roughly equivalent to that found in the egg white of a large egg.

Purported health benefits

Seminal plasma contains zinc, calcium and other minerals which inhibit tooth decay. Further benefit is suggested by research indicating that semen has antidepressant properties because of epinephrine and various mood-altering hormones that it contains, and it has thus been called, "Nature's Prozac."

Seminophagia provides the body with testosterone, which is important to maintain muscle and bone strength. While women need a smaller proportion of testosterone than men, it is just as important to female health as it is to male, particularly after menopause. When testosterone levels in the blood increase in testosterone-deficient women, bone density usually improves, and women generally report that they feel better. Testosterone reduces the risk of heart attack, protects against stroke, and can even treat diabetes.

Seminophagia's greatest benefit may be the fact that semen contains a substance which conditions a mother's immune system to accept the "foreign" proteins found in sperm as well as the resulting fetus and placenta, keeping blood pressure low and thereby reducing the risk of preeclampsia. Regular exposure to the baby's father's semen, especially orally, may help make a woman's pregnancy safer and more successful, because she is absorbing her partner's antigens.

Although some writers in the past, such as Havelock Ellis and, citing Ellis' sources, Marie Stopes, have said that consumption of semen is good for women's physical and mental health and prevents lesbianism and nymphomania, this has been seen as a way of reinforcing the patriarchy; women's dependence upon men.

Taste and Quantity

One source has noted that "few women praise the taste" of semen. However, as with breast milk, the taste of semen may be altered by diet. Higher red meat and dairy intake may increase its generally salty taste. Asparagus has been noted to cause bitterness, while parsley, celery, cinnamon, and many kinds of fruit (especially tropical) are noted to sweeten it. The semen of heavy smokers and drinkers tends to carry a more acrid taste.

The volume of semen ejaculate varies, but a teaspoonful to a tablespoonful is normal (5 to 15 mL), making 10 cc close to average. However, the amounts can be double or more in cases of prolonged interval between ejaculations, or depending on the man himself. Younger males tend to produce higher quantities.

Cultural practices

Several tribes of Papua New Guinea (the Etoro, Sambia, Kaluli and Gebusi) believe that semen provides sexual maturation among the younger men of their tribe. To them, semen possesses the manly nature of the tribal elders, and in order to pass down their authority and powers, younger men of their next generation must drink their elders' semen. This fellatio and seminophagia custom commences among prepubescent males and postpubescents.

In the modern St. Priapus Church, consumption of semen in the presence of others is a form of worship. The Gnostic Mass composed by Aleister Crowley included the consumption of semen and menstrual blood, however some chapters of the Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica now do not practice this due to the potential risk of sexually transmitted disease.

Health risks

Seminophagia carries some risk for sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV or herpes. Even if semen is cold before the individual ingests it, viruses can stay contagious for a long period of time once outside the body. Contracting diseases from oral sex is more likely if there are sores in the mouth.

In the media

Semen ingestion is a subject in pornography, and humor in the popular media. References to seminophagia include:

• In the 2002 film National Lampoon's Van Wilder, when as a practical joke, Van and his friends replace the cream inside some pastries with dog semen and send them to Richard's fraternity, where the frat brothers begin eating and don't realize what it is until it's too late.
• In the 2004 film Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, the possibly mentally imbalanced employee at a Burger Shack outlet hints to Harold and Kumar that he puts animal semen as a secret ingredient in the "special sauce".
• In the 2006 film Jackass Number Two, the cast take turns drinking horse semen.
• In the 2007 film American Pie Presents: Beta House, Dwight Stiffler and the leader of the GEEK house, take turns in Russian roulette with gun barrels full of horse semen, during the games named Greek Olympiad.

See also

• Fellatio
• Snowballing (sexual practice)