There are almost as many things to know about semen as there are individual sperm inside of it.
Sure, we often talk about semen in the context of the reproductive process, but not everyone having sex is doing so with the goal of pregnancy. There's a whole world of semen beyond fertilisation, and if you find yourself in frequent contact with it, you might have some questions. Where does it come from? What does it say about a person's health? Is it actually okay to swallow it?
To answer these questions, we spoke to Philip Werthman, MD, urologist and director of the Centre for Male Reproductive Medicine and Vasectomy Reversal in Los Angeles, and Jen Caudle, DO, family physician and assistant professor at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Stratford, NJ. They helped break down all of the important facts about semen (like what exactly it even is), as well as dispel some common myths.
Ahead, 13 facts you need to know about semen.