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Properties of sperm
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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The main properties of sperm include viscosity, odor and color. Thus, the viscosity of "sperm" should be determined an hour after receiving the ejaculate.
To determine this property, it is necessary to lower a glass rod into the liquefied ejaculate and then lift it. At this point, it is necessary to measure the length of the resulting thread, normally it should be more than 2 cm. You can determine the viscosity of the ejaculate using a pipette with a wide opening. Thus, sperm is collected in a pipette and the length of the thread is measured during its passive flow. Usually, the ejaculate flows out one drop at a time.
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Some men have too high viscosity. This can prevent fertilization. Normally, a healthy man's sperm count should fluctuate between 2 and 6 ml a week after abstinence. If the ejaculate is much smaller, then it is most likely oligospermia. Sometimes there is no sperm at all, a phenomenon called aspermia.
Now, regarding the smell. Ejaculate has a characteristic smell, it is often compared to the smell of chestnuts. It acquires such an aroma during the addition of prostate gland secretion. If there is a blockage of the excretory ducts, prostate atrophy, then in this case the smell may be specific or disappear altogether.
A putrid smell indicates that there is a purulent-inflammatory process in the prostate or seminal vesicles. In this case, everything depends on the waste products of the microflora. A putrid smell can appear during long-term storage of ejaculate.
Another important property of sperm is its color. Thus, normal ejaculate is turbid, milky-white or grayish-yellow. In some cases, it may contain jelly-like granules. The degree of turbidity depends on the number of sperm. If there are few of them, the ejaculate is transparent. Naturally, color changes may indicate the presence of some diseases. If there are erythrocytes in the sperm, it changes its shade to pink or red. In this case, we are talking about hemospermia. A yellowish color occurs with jaundice, as well as when taking certain vitamins. With a large content of leukocytes, sperm is colored yellowish-green. Normal sperm should not contain flakes or sediment, this is considered a pathology.
[ The smell of sperm
Does the smell of sperm play a special role? Naturally, it is necessary to pay attention to this main criterion. Because the normal smell of sperm should resemble the aroma of chestnuts.
If you feel a slight smell of chlorine, there is nothing to worry about. This is also normal. Sperm can change its smell and this indicates that problems have arisen.
Along with the smell, the taste can also change. Often these two processes occur simultaneously. The taste of seminal fluid is slightly sweet. It can change due to food preferences. So, if a man likes spicy food, then all this can affect the taste of sperm. In addition, bad habits also make their own adjustments.
It is necessary to pay attention to the smell of sperm. After all, in this case, there is a possibility to notice any diseases at early stages. Because in the future, this can lead to cancer. Sperm should not change its smell, this is not the norm. If it has a sharp aroma, then, most likely, we are talking about a serious disease.
Useful properties of sperm
Not all men, and especially not all women, know that sperm has beneficial properties. Thus, ejaculate contains nitrogen-containing substances. They are very beneficial. These are substances that are of great importance for improving brain activity, the functioning of the cardiovascular system, weight regulation, and are absolutely indispensable during intense physical activity. Among carbohydrates, fructose plays a major role, it is responsible for the activity of spermatozoa. This component is the main source of energy.
Prostaglandins are biologically active substances, the main property of which is stimulation of smooth muscles, protective effect on the skin, and also mucous membrane. No less important component is the enzyme. Seminal fluid is able to quickly coagulate after ejaculation, and its liquefaction occurs with the help of enzymes. They are extremely necessary for the body for many biochemical metabolic reactions.
The third important component is hormones. They perform a number of basic functions. Hormones are not only responsible for the regulatory function, but also act as natural antidepressants. Simply put, if you constantly use such hormones, a person will always be in an elevated mood.
The fourth component is citric acid. Its presence affects the liquefaction of sperm, which is so important during fertilization. And finally, the fifth element is minerals. Seminal fluid contains sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium salts. The concentration of zinc in sperm is quite high, and it is an essential component for intellectual activity.
All of the above suggests that sperm has a lot of useful properties.