S P A N N O W

Semen acts as an anti-depressant
19:00 26 June 2002
Exclusive from New Scientist Print Edition
Raj Persaud
http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn2457

Semen makes you happy. That's the remarkable conclusion of a study comparing women whose partners wear condoms with those whose partners don't.

The study, which is bound to provoke controversy, showed that the women who were directly exposed to semen were less depressed. The researchers think this is because mood-altering hormones in semen are absorbed through the vagina. They say they have ruled out other explanations.

"I want to make it clear that we are not advocating that people abstain from using condoms," says Gordon Gallup, the psychologist at the State University of New York who led the team. "Clearly an unwanted pregnancy or a sexually transmitted disease would more than offset any advantageous psychological effects of semen."

Suicide attempts
His team divided 293 female students into groups depending on how often their partners wore condoms, and assessed their happiness using the Beck Depression Inventory, a standard questionnaire for assessing mood. People who score over 17 are considered moderately depressed.

The team found that women whose partners never used condoms scored 8 on average, those who sometimes used them scored 10.5, those who usually used them scored 15 and those who always used them scored 11.3. Women who weren't having sex at all scored 13.5.

What's more, the longer the interval since they last had sex, the more depressed the women who never or sometimes used condoms got. But the time since the last sexual encounter made no difference to the mood of women who usually or always used condoms.

The team also found that depressive symptoms and suicide attempts were more common among women who used condoms regularly compared with those who didn't. The results will appear in the journal Archives of Sexual Behavior.

And Gallup told New Scientist that his team already has unpublished data from a larger group of 700 women confirming these findings. In this study, the always-use-condoms group were more depressed than the usually-use-condoms group, suggesting the discrepancy in the smaller study was a sampling error, he says.

Alternative explanations
But is it really the semen that affects women's mood? The researchers say they looked at alternative explanations such as whether women who seldom use condoms took oral contraceptives, how often they had sex, the strength of relationships, and the possibility that having a certain type of personality influenced the decision to use condoms. But none of these factors can explain their findings, they say.

In fact, the results aren't a complete surprise because semen does contain several mood-altering hormones, including testosterone, oestrogen, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinising hormone, prolactin and several different prostaglandins. Some of these have been detected in a women's blood within hours of exposure to semen.

The question many people will ask is whether oral sex could have the same mood-enhancing effects. "Since the steroids in birth control pills survive the digestion process, I would assume that the same holds true for at least some of the chemicals in semen," Gallup says.

"I understand that among some gay males who have anal intercourse, it is not uncommon to attempt to retain the semen for extended periods of time," he adds. "Suggesting, of course, that there may be psychological effects." But further research will be needed to confirm whether exposure to semen through oral or anal sex really does affect mood in heterosexual or homosexual partners.

But why should semen have such an effect? "It makes no sense to me for this phenomenon to have evolved," says Satoshi Kanazawa, an evolutionary psychologist at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. But Gallup counters that men whose semen promotes long-term mood enhancement might have more chances to indulge in sexual activity.

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rollinOn20s

Awesome, so let me strart putting smiles on peoples faces!

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vivency-AdamQ

its probably the different feeling..

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Manowar

I'm going to start doing my part to help, like a true gentleman

Ironhorse

Interesting..

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S P A N N O W

Exactly! We should ALL do our part to spread happiness and raise spirits throughout the world...

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NaughtyINC

imma go make some people happy right now then

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meh

S P A N N O W

Go get 'em tiger!

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NaughtyINC

gotta change my 1 voice mail to "im busy spreading happy sauce on your gf's face.. please leave a message"

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meh

S P A N N O W

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Drake

All the more reason to lay it on thick and creamy

Wiggles

this theory don't work when your married haha

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polish_aristocrat

We need European Lee comment on this

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I don't use ICQ anymore.

JFK

I was expecting to see a 5 carat Diamond When the semen dries, you better have a backup

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S P A N N O W

No kidding bro!

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axelcat

lol this is a great find

DWB

I guess I'm the Santa Clause of creampies then. I always told those bitches not to worry, that's where it belongs...

Now if you will excuse me, I have some pussies to fill.

Dina_C9

We have start drinking up ladies

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Holly

Yes, I was just thinking to myself earlier today that what I really need is a little semen.

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War National Damn Champions Eagle

S P A N N O W

What a team player!

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bdld

might have to do with the fact that women who are with men who dont use condoms are usually in longer more meaningful relationships and thus would be less depressed.

Rui

We have another duty now, the best is that there are less side-effects from this sort of anti-depressive

Spunky

Cum thirsty whores...all of em

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yuvalus

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JimmiDean

Be safe,
Take it orally

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My God there's Porn on here!

Still on the Beach !!!

Big Red Machine

Ladies ....GOT CUM we need to see more cum mustaches lets help the ladies out. Less depression in females may equal less nagging ...lets all do our part.

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ICQ:475437214

S P A N N O W

You might have a point there bdld - more research required!

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Persius

S P A N N O W

And yet another good point!

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Der Schleicher

probably. and it's rich in protein too.

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Dagwolf

Score one for the guys! Woohoo!

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Sleep well, and dream of large women.

S P A N N O W

Is Sex Necessary?
Alan Farnham
http://www.forbes.com/2003/10/08/cz_af_1008health.html

Fans of abstinence had better be sitting down. "Saving yourself" before the big game, the big business deal, the big hoedown or the big bakeoff may indeed confer some moral benefit. But corporeally it does absolutely zip. There's no evidence it sharpens your competitive edge. The best that modern science can say for sexual abstinence is that it's harmless when practiced in moderation. Having regular and enthusiastic sex, by contrast, confers a host of measurable physiological advantages, be you male or female. (This assumes that you are engaging in sex without contracting a sexually transmitted disease.)

In one of the most credible studies correlating overall health with sexual frequency, Queens University in Belfast tracked the mortality of about 1,000 middle-aged men over the course of a decade. The study was designed to compare persons of comparable circumstances, age and health. Its findings, published in 1997 in the British Medical Journal, were that men who reported the highest frequency of orgasm enjoyed a death rate half that of the laggards. Other studies (some rigorous, some less so) purport to show that having sex even a few times a week has an associative or causal relationship with the following:

- Improved sense of smell: After sex, production of the hormone prolactin surges. This in turn causes stem cells in the brain to develop new neurons in the brain's olfactory bulb, its smell center.

- Reduced risk of heart disease: In a 2001 follow-on to the Queens University study mentioned above, researchers focused on cardiovascular health. Their finding? That by having sex three or more times a week, men reduced their risk of heart attack or stroke by half. In reporting these results, the co-author of the study, Shah Ebrahim, Ph.D., displayed the well-loved British gift for understatement: "The relationship found between frequency of sexual intercourse and mortality is of considerable public interest."

- Weight loss, overall fitness: Sex, if nothing else, is exercise. A vigorous bout burns some 200 calories--about the same as running 15 minutes on a treadmill or playing a spirited game of squash. The pulse rate, in a person aroused, rises from about 70 beats per minute to 150, the same as that of an athlete putting forth maximum effort. British researchers have determined that the equivalent of six Big Macs can be worked off by having sex three times a week for a year. Muscular contractions during intercourse work the pelvis, thighs, buttocks, arms, neck and thorax. Sex also boosts production of testosterone, which leads to stronger bones and muscles. Men's Health magazine has gone so far as to call the bed the single greatest piece of exercise equipment ever invented.

- Reduced depression: Such was the implication of a 2002 study of 293 women. American psychologist Gordon Gallup reported that sexually active participants whose male partners did not use condoms were less subject to depression than those whose partners did. One theory of causality: Prostoglandin, a hormone found only in semen, may be absorbed in the female genital tract, thus modulating female hormones.

- Pain-relief: Immediately before orgasm, levels of the hormone oxytocin surge to five times their normal level. This in turn releases endorphins, which alleviate the pain of everything from headache to arthritis to even migraine. In women, sex also prompts production of estrogen, which can reduce the pain of PMS.

- Less-frequent colds and flu: Wilkes University in Pennsylvania says individuals who have sex once or twice a week show 30% higher levels of an antibody called immunoglobulin A, which is known to boost the immune system.

- Better bladder control: Heard of Kegel exercises? You do them, whether you know it or not, every time you stem your flow of urine. The same set of muscles is worked during sex.

- Better teeth: Seminal plasma contains zinc, calcium and other minerals shown to retard tooth decay. Since this is a family Web site, we will omit discussion of the mineral delivery system. Suffice it to say that it could be a far richer, more complex and more satisfying experience than squeezing a tube of Crest--even Tartar Control Crest. Researchers have noted, parenthetically, that sexual etiquette usually demands the brushing of one's teeth before and/or after intimacy, which, by itself, would help promote better oral hygiene.

- A happier prostate? Some urologists believe they see a relationship between infrequency of ejaculation and cancer of the prostate. The causal argument goes like this: To produce seminal fluid, the prostate and the seminal vesicles take such substances from the blood as zinc, citric acid and potassium, then concentrate them up to 600 times. Any carcinogens present in the blood likewise would be concentrated. Rather than have concentrated carcinogens hanging around causing trouble, it's better to evict them. Regular old sex could do the job. But if the flushing of the prostate were your only objective, masturbation might be a better way to go, especially for the non-monogamous male. Having sex with multiple partners can, all by itself, raise a man's risk of cancer by up to 40%. That's because he runs an increased risk of contracting sexual infections. So, if you want the all the purported benefits of flushing with none of the attendant risk, go digital. A study recently published by the British Journal of Urology International asserts that men in their 20s can reduce by a third their chance of getting prostate cancer by ejaculating more than five times a week.

While possession of a robust appetite for sex--and the physical ability to gratify it--may not always be the cynosure of perfect health, a reluctance to engage can be a sign that something is seriously on the fritz, especially where the culprit is an infirm erection.

Dr. J. Francois Eid, a urologist with Weill Medical College of Cornell University and New York Presbyterian Hospital, observes that erectile dysfunction is extension of vascular system. A lethargic member may be telling you that you have diseased blood vessels elsewhere in your body. "It could be a first sign of hypertension or diabetes or increased cholesterol levels. It's a red flag that you should see your doctor." Treatment and exercise, says Dr. Eid, can have things looking up again: "Men who exercise and have a good heart and low heart rate, and who are cardio-fit, have firmer erections. There very definitely is a relationship."

But is there such a thing as too much sex?

The answer, in purely physiological terms, is this: If you're female, probably not. If you're male? You betcha.

Dr. Claire Bailey of the University of Bristol says there is little or no risk of a woman's overdosing on sex. In fact, she says, regular sessions can not only firm a woman's tummy and buttocks but also improve her posture.

Dr. George Winch Jr., an obstetrician/gynecologist in Elko, Nev., concurs. If a woman is pre-menopausal and otherwise healthy, says Dr. Winch, her having an extraordinary amount of intercourse ought not to pose a problem. "I don't think women can have too much intercourse," he says, "so long as no sexually transmitted disease is introduced and there's not an inadvertent pregnancy. Sometimes you can have a lubrication problem. If you have that, there can be vaginal excoriation--vaginal scrape."

Women who abstain from sex run some risks. In postmenopausal women, these include vaginal atrophy. Dr. Winch has a middle-aged patient of whom he says: "She hasn't had intercourse in three years. Just isn't interested. The opening of her vagina is narrowing from disuse. It's a condition that can lead to dysparenia, or pain associated with intercourse. I told her, 'Look, you'd better buy a vibrator or you're going to lose function there.'"

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ytcracker

i showed this to my wife

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i love you

S P A N N O W

Right on What was her reaction?

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*Shawn*

ok

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slipkid

Very interesting

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Tons of porn sites
Sell Adult products on your sites

S P A N N O W

I understand that alot of theories don't work when you're married!

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SleazyDream

so the moral is - don't pull out!

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rickholio

Which is why this chick is grinning like a mental patient, I guess:

thefool

You're probably right, because I was thinking the same thing. Of the guys that I've had sex with the only ones that I don't use condoms with are guys that I've dated a long time & been in love with, trusted, etc. The sex was far more arousing, exciting, and fulfilling, than the few guys that were condom wearing casual partners. Those times I'm a lil more self conscious, a little more uptight, not breaking out the toys, raunchy talk, etc. I wouldnt say I'm depressed more with them, but after sometimes I'm much less pleased with myself, because I had sex with someone that I really didnt care about, for the sake of having sex, and not for the bond that comes with it, when you're in a rewarding relationship. When I am in love, I SOOOO love to give oral, and theres really nothing that I wouldnt do to please my partner, and knowing he's finishing inside is a HUGE boost of confidence! If he has to pull out and jerk himself off to come, that could be a real ego crusher lol Maybe thats why those woman are suicidal, they're worried they cant make men cum! ;) who knows, good article though!

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S P A N N O W

Indeed! It's great to get a female perspective on this...

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The Sultan Of Smut

Oooooo, I'm sending it to my gf right now!

thefool

this thread? or happy juice?? (Houston we need clarification please)

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MrJackMeHoff

WAIT WAIT WAIT!

This study is stupid. Maybe the people who always use condoms are more "uptight" thus not as free and happy.. Also the people who use condoms dont enjoy sex as much, thus are more sad.. Very simple...

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S P A N N O W

* See "thefools" post!

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fatal attraction

I've been depressed lately......hmmmm????? Maybe this is the answer!

S P A N N O W

Hmmm....

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sonofsam

if you're a girl.... ummm i kinda feel bad for you... i guess i'll let you suck my dick and bust on your face.... you know... just to help you out and everything..

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tASSy

i've been saying this for YEARS! finally they're listening!

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