One of the many areas of health that are subject to misinformation is sex. This is because the topic is interesting, with an appeal unseen in any other area of health. A common myth is that avoiding sex or retaining semen in the body will increase certain hormone levels. So, let’s look at this question deeply - does semen retention increase testosterone?
Does Semen Contain Testosterone?
Yes, semen contains a small amount of testosterone. This can be considered as negligible, with no impact on the functioning of the body. Semen contains water, proteins, fructose, enzymes, and many other compounds, including miniscule percentage of testosterone.
There is no straight answer to the question - does semen retention increase testosterone? Because, the there is a small increase in the levels of testosterone over a temporary period. This is between 3 to 7 days, and the increase is very low.
There are no documented results to show any increase in testosterone levels over a long term. Therefore, there is not straight answer. However, considering the very small amount of testosterone in semen, any increase will not have any kind of impact.
Is There Testosterone in Semen?
Yes, there is a very small percentage of testosterone in semen. This is between .0002% to .002%, which is negligible when compared with other compounds and proteins that make up semen. The testosterone in semen is mainly from the secretion from the testes.
In the testes, cells known as Leydi cells produce testosterone. This enters the tubules where the sperm is produced and therefore become a part of semen. The prostate gland produces most of the fluid found in semen. Testosterone is present in blood, and also reach these glands.
When the glands secrete the fluids for semen, they release very small amounts of testosterone. This mixes with the sperm in the semen. As outlined above, the answer to the question - does semen retention increase testosterone is mainly no.
Does Semen Retention Boost Testosterone?
The amount of testosterone in semen is very low, and therefore sperm retention will not increase testosterone levels. Let us look at a different way of answering the question - does semen retention increase testosterone?
What Happens If Sperm Is Not Ejaculated?
When sperm is not ejaculated, it is broken down and reabsorbed into the body. Therefore, it is wrong to assume that sperm that is retained, will increase testosterone levels. When the levels of sperm are very high, you may end up with emissions in the night.
Also known as wet dreams, this is an involuntary reaction of the body to expel sperm. This is more frequent in younger men, in the prime of sexual health. Therefore, excessive sperm that is retained will actually be expelled, without causing any increase in testosterone levels.
Does Semen Have Testosterone?
Yes, semen has negligible levels of testosterone. Semen is composed of the following five main fluids and compounds. This will give a clear idea of the amount of testosterone when compared with other fluids in the composition of semen.
- Seminal vesicle fluid – between 65 to 75%.
- Prostate fluid – between 25 to 30%.
- Sperm cells – between 2 to 5%.
- Bulbourethral gland fluid – 1%
- Testosterone, proteins, zinc, calcium – trace amounts.
Note the term “trace amounts”. This clearly means that the volume is very low, and is only present as traces. It is not even fully quantified in terms of percentage because it is only a very small fraction of percentage.
Does Semen Retention Raise Testosterone?
Considering the above, it can be clearly understood that semen retention will not necessarily increase testosterone levels. This is because the amount of testosterone levels in semen are very less.
When semen is retained in the body, the body re-absorbs the sperm after the sperm is broken down. Assuming that the testosterone gets fully absorbed into the body, the volume that re-enters will be extremely less.
For instance, semen contains only .002% of testosterone. If this is fully absorbed into the body, it will be a lot more less, compared to the other fluids. The average amount of semen that is ejaculated in w to 5 mL (milliliters).
Now this has to be seen in the context of the overall volume of liquid in the body. This is miniscule, and therefore when semen is re-absorbed, the intake of testosterone is very less. Therefore, the impact of semen retention on testosterone levels is virtually nil.
Summing Up
The impact of semen retention on testosterone levels in the body is virtually nil. While there could be a small spike when semen is retained between 3 to 7 days. However, this is miniscule and will have zero impact.
It takes between 64 to 74 days for the production of semen. But it is important to note that this process is continually underway in the body. Which means that there will be continuous production of semen in the body.
Sperm is retained in the body for a period of a few weeks only. This is stored in a location just behind the testes. During ejaculation, the semen moves from epididymis, and is released. It is also stored in the transport tube known as vas deferens after ejaculation.
FAQS
Does Semen Have Testosterone In It?
Yes, semen contains a small amount of testosterone. However, the volume is minimal, when compared with the volume or percentage of testosterone levels in the body. Testosterone reaches from secretion in the testes, and from the prostate gland.
Can Semen Retention Increase Testosterone?
There is only a temporary increase of testosterone from semen retention. This small increase does not have any major impact, and is usually seen between 3 to 7 days of retention. Presently there is no evidence to show that testosterone increases with long term sperm retention.
How Much Testosterone Is In Semen?
The levels of testosterone in semen are very low, and range between .0002% to .002% of the semen volume. Semen comprises various compounds, and testosterone is only a miniscule portion of it
With over 10 years of experience in pharmaceutical research and health communication, I specialize in male sexual health. My focus is on studying erectile dysfunction medications, analyzing their efficacy, safety, and role in improving patient outcomes through evidence-based research.
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