Why does a man's sperm smell? The reason why semen smells

Men's semen emits a smell, and this smell is completely different from the smell of the things we usually eat and use. Some people think that men's semen smells fishy, ​​and some people feel disgusted when they smell men's semen. So, why does men's semen become smelly? What are the reasons?

It is normal for semen to smell fishy

Regarding the source of the "fishy" smell of semen, experts point out that the special smell of semen mainly comes from the metabolic process of protein in semen. It is understood that male semen is mainly composed of prostate fluid, seminal vesicle fluid, and a small amount of bulbourethral gland fluid. Whether it is prostate fluid, seminal vesicle fluid, or bulbourethral gland fluid, they all contain a large amount of protein.

These proteins (chemical formula: R-CH-NH2-COOH) are easily metabolized in the warm and humid human environment with the help of the catalytic action of active enzymes. After the protein is metabolized, a large number of positive amino ions (chemical formula: NH3+) will appear. Amino ions combine with other anions to form new amino compounds, such as urea (chemical formula: CO(NH2)2), which easily produce the so-called "fishy" smell. Therefore, to a certain extent, the fact that semen can emit a "disgusting" "fishy" smell, as long as it is not "smelly" or not so "unpleasant", just reflects the normal metabolic function of the human body.

Diseases of the urogenital system can cause semen to smell bad

At this point, some male friends may ask: If it is normal for semen to smell fishy, ​​then is it also normal for semen to smell bad?

Regarding this issue, we should analyze it in two parts:

First, for some men who abstain from sex for a long time, since the semen is stored in the urogenital system for a long time and is not excreted in time, the protein in it is highly aminated and decomposed, which easily produces a "foul" smell. Secondly, some urogenital diseases, such as prostatitis, urethritis, and seminal vesiculitis, will cause a large number of bacteria, viruses, and white blood cells to gather or mix in, which will also accelerate the ammoniation and decomposition of protein, or the ammoniation and decomposition of protein will mix in, which will cause the semen to have a "foul" smell. In fact, due to the high degree of openness in modern society, there are fewer and fewer men who abstain from sex, so the "smelly" semen of most male friends belongs to the second situation, that is, most of them are caused by prostatitis, urethritis, and seminal vesiculitis.