# Is there a fatal overdose of semen? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 12, 2008, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-fatal-overdose-of-semen/463305 "2008-09-12T17:20:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-fatal-overdose-of-semen/463305/21 "2008-09-13T06:32:14Z")
> [@](#): > > Cite? Not for the allergic to semen - I’ve heard that too, but “died after having sex unprotected for the first time” reeks of scaremongering Urban Legend to me. I dunno, I’d be a lot more weirded out if she died first and then had her first unprotected sex afterward. Let’s keep things in their proper order, shall we? ---
**Author:** ![Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Full_Metal_Lotus)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-fatal-overdose-of-semen/463305/22 "2008-09-13T07:56:06Z")
A man with a forceful enough orgasm could theoretically blow off the back of your head… so don’t date superman… FML ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-fatal-overdose-of-semen/463305/23 "2008-09-13T14:01:52Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Can’t almost any human-basic flora cause illness if it gets in the right orifice? I don’t think so, no. We generally have far more “healthy” bacteria on us than dangerous bacteria. Some healthy bacteria does things directly for us - like help break down food in our gut, and some doesn’t do much directly for us either way, but takes up real estate and food so that bad bacteria don’t have a place to move in and thrive. Most of them don’t cause a problem if you get them into a new place, say a cut or scrape or in your mouth. The big three bacteria we have that are harmless normally and dangerous in the wrong place are e. coli, staph and strep. E coli is found in the intestine, where it’s safe, but can cause illness if eaten; staph and strep are found on nearly all skin and mucus membranes, and can cause infections if they get in scrapes or cuts or in the blood. If you’re getting e coli from semen, you’re doing it wrong. 😉 You win the pedant race - yes, there is bacteria in healthy semen. But it’s not bacteria that is likely to cause illness when swallowed. Semen isn’t “dirty”, although it’s not sterile like urine. ---
**Author:** ![Capcha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@Capcha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capcha)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-fatal-overdose-of-semen/463305/24 "2008-09-13T15:18:15Z")
I seem to recall (though i have no cite or link to thread) some poster wrote about one pregnant woman, who felt quite faint, that she went to the doctor in fear for her health and her unborn child. After examination and test results, it turns out that she had intercourse with her dog and she was allergic to its semen. ---
**Author:** ![dba\_Fred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c37758/32.png) [@dba\_Fred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dba_Fred)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-fatal-overdose-of-semen/463305/25 "2008-09-13T15:26:27Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Some days my co-workers & I have interesting lunchtime conversations. Where do you have lunch and is there a clinical trial I can be a part of? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-fatal-overdose-of-semen/463305/26 "2008-09-13T16:25:42Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > You win the pedant race - yes, there is bacteria in healthy semen. But it’s not bacteria that is likely to cause illness when swallowed. Semen isn’t “dirty”, although it’s not sterile like urine. Fair enough, then. Let the record show that I am certainly not in favor of any scurrilous rumor that results in less head. ---
**Author:** ![dba\_Fred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c37758/32.png) [@dba\_Fred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dba_Fred)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-fatal-overdose-of-semen/463305/27 "2008-09-13T16:48:00Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Fair enough, then. > > Let the record show that I am certainly not in favor of any scurrilous rumor that results in less head. Please tell me what party this is a platform plank of so that I may change my affiliation accordingly 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-fatal-overdose-of-semen/463305/28 "2008-09-13T17:05:28Z")
> [@dba\_Fred](#): > > Please tell me what party this is a platform plank of so that I may change my affiliation accordingly 😛 _cough_partyofClinton_cough_ ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-fatal-overdose-of-semen/463305/29 "2008-09-13T17:09:15Z")
I think another question worth pondering is “How long could a human being survive on a diet of pure semen?” And would the answer depend on the diet of the man providing the semen? ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-fatal-overdose-of-semen/463305/30 "2008-09-13T19:21:51Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > I think another question worth pondering is “How long could a human being survive on a diet of pure semen?” And would the answer depend on the diet of the man providing the semen? Well, since Cecil didn’t address the nutritional content of semen, just the approximate caloric value, we’ll have to look elsewhere for an expert opinion. Google quickly found me [this answer](http://www.medhelp.org/forums/urology/archive/1118.html) from an MD on a urology forum: > [@](#): > > The normal ejaculate contains approximately 2.0 to 3.0 cc. Of that , 1.5 to 2.0 cc come from the seminal vesicles. 0.5cc from the prostate and 0.1 to 0.2 cc from Cowper’s gland. The majority of the fluid is protein. A very small amount is fructose ( sugar). The caloric content is low with almost no fat. So, very low carbs, very low fat, and probably not much in the way of vitamins and minerals. I’d except someone on a semen only diet to develop diarrhea and other symptoms of “rabbit starvation” within a fortnight (sooner if they were slender to begin with), and rickets, scurvy and other vitamin deficiencies if they continued longer. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-fatal-overdose-of-semen/463305/31 "2008-09-14T02:39:43Z")
God, I love this board. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-fatal-overdose-of-semen/463305/32 "2008-09-14T02:44:48Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > I’ll grant you that “bacteria” are present in semen, as they are everywhere - Ummmm, no. Semen should be sterile, just like urine, when it leaves the body. Unless infection such as prostatitis or orchiditis is present. Blood and cerebrospinal fluid should also be sterile. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-fatal-overdose-of-semen/463305/33 "2008-09-14T03:16:04Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Ummmm, no. > > Semen should be sterile, just like urine, when it leaves the body. Unless infection such as prostatitis or orchiditis is present. > > Blood and cerebrospinal fluid should also be sterile. Maybe I don’t understand what “sterile” means, then. There is some amount of bacteria in healthy semen, according to [this abstract](http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/117986693/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0), unless I’m reading it wrong: > [@](#): > > Our aim was to compare the presence and species composition of coryneform bacteria in chronic prostatitis patients and controls. Semen of 50 men with inflammatory prostatitis and 59 controls (without pelvic pain/discomfort complaints and leukocytospermia) was investigated. First-catch urine was additionally investigated in 36 men (30 with and 6 without prostatitis). **Coryneform bacteria were found in semen of** 76% men with inflammatory prostatitis and **83% controls**. More than half of the isolates were identified as Corynebacterium seminale. Prostatitis patients with severe leukocytospermia (\>1 million white blood cells per ml) harboured significantly more Corynebacterium group G (33% vs. 2%, p = 0.0003) and Arthrobacter sp. (17% vs. 2%, p = 0.03) in comparison with controls. Nine species of coryneforms with high concentration (≥10 000 CFU per ml) were found in prostatitis patients as against only four species in controls. Half of the men harboured corynebacteria in semen as well as in urine, 22% of men in semen only, and 3% in urine only. The total concentration of coryneforms was greater in semen than in urine (median 5000 vs. 100 CFU per ml, p = 0.053). We suggest that although coryneforms are generally considered as saprophytes, they are not uniform and some species (Corynebacterium group G and Arthrobacter sp.) may be associated with inflammatory prostatitis. (bolding mine) And from [here](http://www.gfmer.ch/Endo/Lectures_09/semen_analysis.htm): > [@](#): > > Direct measurement of infectious contamination is obtained from bacteriological cultures of both aerobic and anaerobic germs. **In normal conditions semen is not sterile but rather colonized at low levels by a variety of germs.** Recent studies have shown that bacterial colonization did not have negative impact on sperm-cervical mucus interaction. (bolding, again, mine) Now, of course, I’m an A&P student at the moment and you know vastly more about this stuff than I do! If you have a moment to explain why I’m wrong, that’d be super. I have a test on Thursday. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-fatal-overdose-of-semen/463305/34 "2008-09-14T07:00:16Z")
The answer to the question is yes and here’s the proof, courtesy of Too $hort: > [@](#): > > But then I shot that fatal nut > Must of knocked that bitch on her butt > She couldnt even breathe, she was holdin her throat > Me and my homies just hit the door > My homeboy said $hort dont worry > But that next day I read this story > A young girl died just last night > She choked on sperm in her windpipe > It was on her face, her neck, and chest > And were sorry to say theres no suspect > When I saw that my brain clicked > I bust a nut and killed a bitch [Lyrics taken from here](http://www.lyricsfreak.com/t/too+short/blow+job+betty_20139343.html) ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-fatal-overdose-of-semen/463305/35 "2008-09-14T11:29:08Z")
> [@cher3](#): > > What would they die from? It’s just composed of cells and the nutrition required for those cells. It’s probably somewhat nutritious. IIRC, I read some time ago that it also contains a natural drug evolved to manipulate a female body into diverting extra energy towards reproduction; a drug which normally has no effect because females have developed a resistance to it ( a kind of Red Queen’s Race common in nature I understand ). However, there was an experiment where a strain of lab rats were bred to have extra concentrations of this substance - which **still** had no effect because the females got more resistant right along with them. But when they tried breeding a male of this strain to a normal female, she died - her body diverted so much to her reproductive system that her other organs couldn’t function. Assuming that human males have the same substance ( IIRC they do ), it seems to me that enough of it could have the same effect. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-fatal-overdose-of-semen/463305/36 "2008-09-14T15:12:34Z")
**WhyNot** , you are correct and I am in error. My bad. Current thinking is that a certain degree of colonization by bacteria _is often normal_ and not a marker for disease. Thank you for pointing out my mistake and giving me the opportunity to advance my continuing education. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-fatal-overdose-of-semen/463305/37 "2008-09-14T16:27:58Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > **WhyNot** , you are correct and I am in error. My bad. Current thinking is that a certain degree of colonization by bacteria _is often normal_ and not a marker for disease. > > Thank you for pointing out my mistake and giving me the opportunity to advance my continuing education. _ahem_ ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-fatal-overdose-of-semen/463305/38 "2008-09-14T17:50:49Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > _ahem_ Yes, you too for raising the issue originally… :smack: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-fatal-overdose-of-semen/463305.md?page=1)