Semen as Antidepressant? Here’s What the Research Says

There’s a silly notion that having vaginal or anal sex will make you happy and sunny, which is why some peeps would use terms like “Vitamin D” when referring to penises or tell somebody jokingly to have sex to get themselves in a better mood. However, there are actually studies claiming that semen actually has antidepressant properties.

Is there some truth to this statement, or is it nothing but a myth? Does a creampie a day make depression go away? We’ll soon find out.

The Origins of the Semen Antidepressant Claim

A study in June 2002 by Gordon G. Gallup Jr., Rebecca L. Burch, and Steven M. Platek at the University at Albany showed that sexually active college females who weren’t using condoms during sex were less depressed than female college students who used condoms.

However, for the females who weren’t using condoms, “depression scores went up as the amount of time since their last sexual encounter increased.” It means they exhibit depressive symptoms the longer they don’t have sex. Meanwhile, females who have been using condoms don’t get further depressive symptoms when they don’t have sex.

The study implies semen can affect a female individual’s depressive symptoms. In layperson’s terms, the woman who gets creampied is much happier than someone who uses condoms. But suppose the creampied individuals suddenly have less sex than usual. In that case, they may have more depressive symptoms, while females who typically use condoms wouldn’t be as affected.

The Science Behind the Claim

The study also stated that from what they’ve gathered from their research, “the vagina absorbs several biological products contained in seminal fluid (e.g., estrogen, testosterone, prostaglandins) that can be measured in the female’s bloodstream within several hours after administration.” So when semen enters the vagina, its mood-altering compounds are possibly absorbed, positively affecting mood and well-being.

Below are some of those said mood-altering compounds:

• Serotonin: Plays a crucial role in regulating mood.
• Oxytocin: Known as the love hormone, it is associated with social bonding, trust, and positive emotions.
• Prolactin: Linked to feelings of satisfaction and relaxation.

What’s the Real Deal?

This study is done with a limited pool of people, specifically 293 female college students from upper-division undergraduate courses at the State University of New York at Albany. There had yet to be any further studies to back this claim.

It’s also stated in the study itself that “It is important to acknowledge that these data are preliminary and correlational in nature, and as such are only suggestive. More definitive evidence for antidepressant effects of semen would require more direct manipulation of the presence of semen in the reproductive tract and, ideally, the measurement of seminal components in the recipient’s blood.” This means that there’s no lab work done to see if the mood-boosting components of semen did enter the bloodstream of the participants; they only relied on anonymous questionnaires for the results.

Some factors are taken into consideration as to why participants who weren’t using condoms are less depressed than those who were using condoms:

• 7 out of 10 of the sexually active females in the sample are using oral contraceptives, which could possibly affect their depressive symptoms.
• The participants who weren’t using condoms may be “likely to be in a committed, long-term sexual relationship.” That means since they’re in a possibly healthy relationship, they may feel more secure with themselves and have fewer depressive symptoms.
• Sexually active females who never use condoms were less depressed simply because they were having sex more often than those using condoms.

Nope, This Isn’t Your Sign to Get Recklessly Creampied

Though it’s been cited for years since its publication, the study doesn’t necessarily have concrete evidence that getting creampied or having direct contact with semen will alleviate depressive symptoms. So, for those planning to go raw after reading the headline, you better retract those plans now, sweetie.

Unless you’re in a monogamous relationship with highly effective birth control like the implant and IUD, or if you’re a couple that’s intentionally planning to make a baby, you should religiously use condoms during the deed. It’s the only contraceptive that could prevent transmission of sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies.

Sex relieves stress, improves sleep quality, and gets you closer to your partner— it can temporarily boost your mood. But using it as an alternative to therapy and antidepressant medications is a big nope.

If you’re diagnosed with depression, please seek professional treatment. You may get therapy, medications, or both, depending on your case.

Takeaway

As we conclude this brief guide, one thing becomes clear. While the idea of semen being an antidepressant can be captivating and intriguing, there’s no concrete evidence that semen can help with depressive symptoms.

Depression, a complex and deeply personal experience deserves the attention of medical professionals and evidence-based treatments. Unless further studies, research, and lab work support this claim, we highly recommend going to a medical professional when working on mental health issues.