What does semen smell like? What does it say about your health?

Certain foods may provide it with a sweet odor (and taste!). But drinking or eating acidic compounds can make your semen odor foul. Some illnesses and ailments can affect its smell, also.

Keep reading to find out why semen has such a different odor, once you need to see your physician about the odor, and the way to boost your total odor.

Does semen smell like?

Sperm may have much different smell, from bleachy to fishy, which can be dependent on many distinct factors, such as health, diet, and lifestyle choices. There are adjustments you may make to assist your semen smell better or not as powerful.

Semen has smelled like ammonia, bleach, or chlorine

The most frequent and standard odor of semen is reported for a chlorine or bleach odor. Sperm has ammonia and other alkaloids that odor like some cleaning goods, which is not the most agreeable smell, but it is not the worst odor either.

Semen is roughly 1 per cent semen and 99 per cent additional chemicals, proteins, enzymes, and minerals.

A number of these materials are alkaline. This usually means they’re over a seven on the pH scale, which can be measured from 0 (highly acidic) to 14 (highly soluble).

Some alkaline substances in semen comprise:

• Calcium
• Magnesium
• Zinc
• Copper
• Sulfur

In general, semen usually leans slightly salty. Anything between 7.2 and 8.0 Trusted Source is thought to be a healthy pH level. Whenever your body’s pH levels are more balanced, semen ought to smell like bleach, ammonia, or other inflammatory compounds.

Semen has smelled like fish or rotten eggs, or is generally foul

Fishy, rotten, or foul-smelling semen is not healthy.

Eating certain foods like asparagus, meats, and garlic or drinking a great deal of alcohol or caffeine can make your semen odor plump. Consider restricting these foods to find out whether your semen odor returns to normal after a couple of days. If this is so, there is nothing to be worried about.

If a person’s semen smells fishy or has a different strange odor, that might be a sign of an underlying issue, if the sperm is an unusual colour, like yellow, green, red, or brownish, that might be an indication of a disease in the male reproductive system or prostate tissues.

A very lousy smell may also be symptomatic of an STD, which impacts the reproductive system and may ultimately impact fertility. If the odour persists, it could be an Indication of a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or other underlying illness, for example:

• Trichomoniasis: This bacterial disease can cause burning and itching, in addition to the smelly penile release.
• Gonorrhoea: This bacterial disease can lead to burning when you urinate, testicle swelling, itching and green, white, or yellowish penile discharge.
• Prostatitis: This describes inflammation of the thyroid gland. It is usually brought on by a fungal infection. Symptoms include pain when urinating, cloudy or bloody urine, pain during orgasm, or needing to urinate more frequently than usual.

See your doctor for identification in case you notice these signs Together with foul-smelling semen.

What can affect the semen smell?

Many distinct factors affect your body’s chemical balance, in addition to the concentration of germs and other compounds that mingle with semen and also change your odor.

Circumcision

If you are uncircumcised, the concentration of sweat, skin oils, dead skin cells, bacteria, and smegma under your foreskin can mix along with your semen during orgasm. This can alter the way that your semen aromas.

If you are circumcised, oils and sweat may still make an impact on your odor, but they generally do not build up to the same high concentrations. That is because there’s not anything to snare these compounds under the skin.

Dried perspiration or urine

SweatTrusted Source and urineTrusted Source contain elevated levels of sodium, an acidic substance. The sodium left on your skin following sweat or urine dries able to make your semen odour more like chlorine or bleach if it becomes blended in.

Sweat and urine also comprise numerous different substances that could react with the chemical elements in semen. Chloride, potassium, and magnesium may alter its odor.

Diet

Everything you eat and drink comprises compounds, nutrients, and other materials that could combine with your semen contents.

Some are thought to create your semen smell (and taste) sweeter, such as:

• Fruits, such as pineapple, oranges, and papaya
• some veggies, such as celery, broccoli, and wheatgrass
• “Sweet” spices, like nutmeg and cinnamon

Some are thought to create your semen more bitter, such as:

• Caffeine
• Carbonated beverages
• Cabbage
• Asparagus
• Leafy greens, like spinach
• Legumes
• Milk and other dairy products

Some of those foods are healthy, so don’t quit eating them entirely if you are worried about your semen odor. You always have the option to add more veggies and spices to attempt and keep things balanced.

Ejaculation Frequency

How frequently a man ejaculates can potentially influence the odor of semen. The less regularly he ejaculates, the more powerful the semen odor might be. This is a superb reason for a guy to ensure he ejaculates at least twice every week, or even more, particularly if their girlfriend or spouse needs his semen never to smell too bad. Also, this is another reason why getting lots of safe sex could be healthful.

Medicines, Smoking, Drugs, Health Issues

Taking medications or with particular health problems could lead to semen to smell more strongly than usual. Smoking, drinking, and taking medication may also bring about a more powerful odor in sperm. Each these things can impact the immune system along with your general wellness, making your body work more difficult. If your body needs to work harder, other elements of your body might not be at optimum functionality, as your sperm.

Dehydration

A powerful semen odor might also be an indication of becoming dehydrated. Drinking loads of water is significant and is just another element in keeping yourself healthy. Without enough oxygen, your body will not be at best performance, which means that your semen may endure. Your body also can’t filter toxins out as well if you don’t drink sufficient water, which might leave higher quantities of goods which produce your semen smell more strongly.

How Can I Change Fishy or Bad Smelling Sperm?

Your daily diet, lifestyle, and hygiene may all impact semen odor. To maintain its Normal alkaline smell:

• Bathe frequently: Always clean your penis and beneath the foreskin, if appropriate.
• Eat a nutritious diet with lots of produce.
• Limit your alcohol and caffeine consumption.
• Use defence through intercourse. Buy condoms.

See your physician if you notice a strange odor, particularly if you’ve had sex with a new spouse. Your health care provider can determine the underlying cause and also advise you about any upcoming steps.

Conclusion

In case you’ve got a substantial other, they’ll thank you for doing your very best to maintain your semen and the remainder of your body as healthy as possible, which in turn will help make sure your sperm does not smell bad and that you’re fertile!