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{{Short description|Semen discharge from the male reproductive tract}}
{{dablink|{{#if: male ejaculation|This article is about male ejaculation.  }}For female ejaculation, see ]. For {{#if: the grammatical term|the grammatical term|other uses}}, see ].}}
{{About|male ejaculation|the female counterpart|Female ejaculation|other uses|Ejaculation (disambiguation)}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Pp-move}}
{{Infobox anatomy
|Name=Ejaculation
|Image= Ejaculation educational seq 4.png
|Width=300
|image_size=300px
|Caption= A human male ejaculating
}}
{{wiktionary|ejaculate}}


'''Ejaculation''' is the discharge of ] (the ''ejaculate''; normally containing ]) from the ] through the ].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lombardi |first=Julian |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tXvjBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA205 |title=Comparative Vertebrate Reproduction |date=2012-12-06 |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |isbn=978-1-4615-4937-6 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gower |first=Timothy |title=How the Penis Works |url=https://www.webmd.com/erectile-dysfunction/how-an-erection-occurs |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=WebMD |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-18 |title=Ejaculation {{!}} Definition & Process {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/science/ejaculation |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> It is the final stage and natural objective of male ], and an essential component of ]. After forming an ], many men emit ] during stimulation prior to ejaculating. Ejaculation involves involuntary ] of the ] and is normally linked with ]. It is a normal part of male ].
'''Ejaculation''' is the ejecting of ] from the ], and is usually accompanied by ]. It is usually the result of ], which may include ] stimulation. Rarely, it is due to prostatic disease. Ejaculation may occur spontaneously during ] (a ]). '''Anejaculation''' is the condition of being unable to ejaculate. ]


<!-- Terms & Conditions -->It can occur spontaneously during ] (a ] or "wet dream"). In rare cases, ejaculation occurs because of ] disease. '']'' is the condition of being unable to ejaculate. '']'' is an ejaculation that is painful or uncomfortable. ] is the backward flow of semen into the ] rather than out of the urethra. ] happens shortly after initiating sexual activity, and hinders prolonged ]. A ] alters the composition of the ejaculate as a form of ].
==About==
The process of ejaculation is an intense sensation, part of ] (French "la petite mort" - ]), which can be immensely pleasureable and satisfying. Each spurt is associated with a wave of sexual pleasure, especially in the penis and ]. The first and second convulsions are usually the most intense in sensation, and produce the greatest quantity of semen. Thereafter, each contraction is associated with a diminishing volume of semen and a milder wave of pleasure. During ] or ], most males will find it difficult to resist the psychological temptation to continue the stimulation of the penis to the point of ejaculation once the feeling of orgasm becomes imminent.


==Phases==


===Stimulation===
Ejaculation has two phases: ''emission'' and ''ejaculation proper''. The emission phase of the ejaculatory reflex is under control of the ], while the ejaculatory phase is under control of a ] at the level of the ]s S2-4 via the ]. During emission, the two ducts known as ] contract to propel ] from the ] where it was stored up to the ]e at the top end of the vas deferens. The beginning of emission is typically experienced as a "point of no return," also known as ''point of ejaculatory inevitability''. The sperm then passes through the ]s and is mixed with fluids from the ]s, the ], and the ]s to form the ], or ejaculate. During ejaculation proper, the semen is ejected through the ] with rhythmic contractions.<ref>{{cite book | author = Walter F. Boron, Emile L. Boulpaep, | title = Medical Physiology: A Cellular and Molecular Approach | publisher = Elsevier/Saunders | location = Philadelphia, PA | year = 2005 | id = ISBN 1-4160-2328-3}}</ref>
{{anchor|Stimulation phase}}


{{See also|Sexual stimulation|Orgasm#Males|Intravaginal ejaculation latency time|Sexual arousal#Male physiological response}}
These rhythmic contractions are part of the male orgasm. The typical male orgasm lasts about 17 seconds but can vary from a few seconds up to about a minute{{Fact|date=February 2007}}. After the start of orgasm, pulses of semen begin to flow from the urethra, reach a peak discharge and then diminish in flow. The typical orgasm consists of 10 to 15 contractions{{Fact|date=February 2007}}. The rate of contractions gradually slows during the orgasm. Initial contractions occur at an average interval of 0.6 seconds with an increasing increment of 0.1 second per contraction. Contractions of most men procede at regular rhythmic intervals for the duration of the orgasm. Many men also experience additional irregular contractions at the conclusion of the orgasm.<ref>Bolen, J. G., "," Archives of Sexual Behavior, 1980 Dec;9(6):503-21.</ref>
The normal precursor to ejaculation is ] of the male, leading to the ] of the ], though not all arousals or erections lead to ejaculation, and ejaculation does not require erection. Penile sexual stimulation during ] or ], ], ], ], or ] sexual activity may provide the necessary stimulus for a man to achieve ] and ejaculation. With regard to ], men typically reach orgasm five to seven minutes after the start of penile-vaginal ], taking into account their desire and that of their partners, but 10 minutes is also a common intravaginal ejaculation latency.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Waldinger | first1 = M.D. | last2 = Quinn | first2 = P. | last3 = Dilleen | first3 = M. | last4 = Mundayat | first4 = R. | last5 = Schweitzer | first5 = D.H. | last6 = Boolell | first6 = M.|year=2005|title=A Multinational Population Survey of Intravaginal Ejaculation Latency Time|journal=Journal of Sexual Medicine|volume=2|pages=492–497|doi=10.1111/j.1743-6109.2005.00070.x|pmid=16422843|issue=4}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Giuliano | first1 = F. | last2 = Patrick | first2 = D. | last3 = Porst | first3 = R. | last4 = La Pera | first4 = G. | last5 = Kokoszka | first5 = A. | last6 = Merchant | first6 = S. | last7 = Rothman | first7 = M. | last8 = Gagnon | first8 = D. | last9 = Polverejan | first9 = E. | year=2008|title=Premature Ejaculation: Results from a Five-Country European Observational Study|journal=European Urology|volume=53|issue=5|pages=1048–1057|doi= 10.1016/j.eururo.2007.10.015|pmid= 17950985}}</ref> Prolonged stimulation either through ] (kissing, petting and direct stimulation of erogenous zones before penetration during intercourse) or stroking (during masturbation) leads to adequate arousal and production of ]. Infectious agents (including ]) can be present in pre-ejaculate.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-30 |title=Body Fluids That Transmit HIV {{!}} HIV Transmission {{!}} HIV Basics {{!}} HIV/AIDS {{!}} CDC |url=https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/hiv-transmission/body-fluids.html |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=cdc.gov |language=en-us}}</ref>


===Emission phase===
Semen begins to spurt from the penis during the first or second contraction of orgasm. For most men the first spurt occurs during the second contraction. A small study of seven men found the initial spurt occurring on the first contraction for 2 men and occurring on the second contraction for 5 men. This same study showed between 26 and 60 percent of the contractions during orgasm were accompanied by a spurt of semen.<ref> Gerstenburg, T. C. "", British Journal of Urology, 1990 Apr;65(4):395-402.</ref>
] through the ] mixing with fluids from the ]s as it enters the urethra. During the expulsion phase, rhythmic contractions of the ] and ]s expel the semen from the penis through the ] in several spurts.]]
]
Once the penis has achieved sufficient stimulation for the man to reach orgasm, ejaculation begins.<ref>{{cite book | first1 = Bruce M. | last1 = Koeppen | first2 = Bruce A. | last2 = Stanton | title = Berne & Levy Physiology | publisher = Elsevier/Mosby | location = Philadelphia, PA | year = 2008 | isbn = 978-0-323-04582-7}}</ref> The initial stage of ejaculation, called emission, is controlled by a reflex in the sympathetic spinal cord. Sperm undergo their final developmental changes within the ], where they are held until being ejaculated.<ref>{{Cite book
|url= https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/infertility-in-the-male/erection-emission-and-ejaculation/E0CD2D25F613A70EE2954588DDAF1FBE
|title= Infertility in the Male - Chapter 9 - Erection, emission, and ejaculation: Mechanisms of Control
|last= Mueller
|first= Alexander
|date= 19 May 2010
|publisher= Cambridge University Press
|doi= 10.1017/CBO9780511635656.010
|isbn= 978-0-511-63565-6
|access-date= December 11, 2023 }}</ref>


===Expulsion phase===
The ] and amount of ejaculate vary widely from male to male. A normal ejaculation may contain anywhere from 1.5 to 5 ]s.<ref>"," Focus on Fertility, American Infertility Association and Organon Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.</ref> Ejaculate volume is affected by the amount of time that has passed since the previous ejaculation. Larger ejaculate volumes are seen with greater durations of abstinence. However, a recent Australian study has suggested a positive correlation between ] and infrequent ejaculation and/or ], which performs essentially the same function.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3072021.stm "Masturbation Cuts Cancer Risk," BBC News Online 16 July 2003</ref> Also, the duration of the stimulation leading up to the ejaculation can affect the volume. Abnormally low volume is known as ], though it is normal for the amount of ejaculate to diminish with age.
Ejaculation reaches its peak in the expulsion phase, which involves the discharge of semen from the urethral opening. This ejection is driven by coordinated contractions of the pelvic muscles, including the ] and ] muscles. For the semen to be expelled out of the penis, the bladder neck stays shut while the external ] is relaxed. These rhythmic contractions are part of the male orgasm<ref name=Marieb>{{cite book | last = Marieb | first = Elaine | title = Anatomy & physiology | publisher = Benjamin-Cummings | page= 895 | year = 2013 | isbn = 978-0-321-88760-3 }}</ref> under the control of a ] at the level of the ]s S2–4 via the ]. Although the external sphincter and pelvic muscles can be voluntarily controlled, any voluntary control during semen expulsion is not evident. The expulsion phase is considered an extension of the emission phase, triggered by reaching a certain level of spinal nerve activation.<ref>{{Cite journal
{{video float
|title= Normal Male Sexual Function: Emphasis on Orgasm and Ejaculation
|filename = Ejaculation Educational Demonstration.OGG
|last= Alwaal
|title = Video of an ejaculating penis
|first= Amjad
|description = Educational Demonstration of Ejaculation
|journal= Fertility and Sterility
}}</div>
|date= 16 Sep 2015
|volume= 104
|issue= 5
|pages= 1051–1060
|publisher= American Society for Reproductive Medicine
|doi= 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2015.08.033
|pmid= 26385403
|pmc= 4896089
}}</ref> The typical male orgasm lasts several seconds.


] is when ejaculation occurs before it is desired. Otherwise, if a man is unable to ejaculate after prolonged sexual stimulation in spite of his desire, it is called ] or ]. An orgasm that is not accompanied by ejaculation is known as a ].
The number of ] in an ejaculation also varies widely, depending on many factors, including the recentness of last ejaculation, the average warmth of the ]s, the degree and length of time of sexual excitement prior to ejaculation, the age, ] level, the nutrition and especially hydration and the total ] of seminal fluid. An unusually low sperm count, not the same as low semen volume, is known as ], and the absence of any sperm from the ejaculate is termed ].


At start of orgasm, pulses of semen begin to flow from the urethra, reach a peak of discharge and then diminish in flow. The typical orgasm consists of 10 to 15 contractions, although the man may not be consciously aware of so many. After the first contraction, ejaculation continues to completion involuntarily. During this stage ejaculation cannot be stopped. The rate of contractions gradually slows throughout the orgasm. Initial contractions occur on average every 0.6 seconds with an increasing increment of 0.1 seconds per contraction. Contractions of most men proceed at regular rhythmic intervals through their duration. Many men also experience irregular contractions at the end of the orgasm.<ref>{{cite journal | last = Bolen | first = J. G. |pmid=7458658| title=The male orgasm: pelvic contractions measured by anal probe | journal= Archives of Sexual Behavior| date= 1980-12-09| issue=6 | pages=503–21 | doi = 10.1007/BF01542155 | volume=9| s2cid = 32523063 }}</ref>
Most men experience a lag time between the ability to ejaculate consecutively, and this lag time varies among men. Age also affects the recovery time; younger men typically recover faster than older men. During this ] it is difficult or impossible to attain an erection, because the sympathetic nervous system counteracts the effects of the parasympathetic nervous system.


Ejaculation usually begins during the first or second contraction of orgasm. For most men, the first ejection occurs during the second contraction, which is typically the largest, expelling 40% or more of total semen discharge. After this peak, the quantity of semen emitted by the penis diminishes as the contractions lessen in intensity. The muscle contractions of the orgasm can continue after ejaculation with no additional semen discharge. A small sample study of seven men showed an average of seven spurts of semen followed by an average of 10 more contractions with no semen expelled. This study also found a high correlation between number of spurts of semen and total ejaculate volume, i.e., larger semen volumes resulted from additional pulses of semen rather than larger individual spurts.<ref>{{cite journal| last1 = Gerstenburg | first1 = T. C. | pmid=2340374 | title= Erection and ejaculation in man. Assessment of the electromyographic activity of the bulbocavernosus and ischiocavernosus muscles | journal= British Journal of Urology | year= 1990 | volume=65| issue=4| pages=395–402| doi=10.1111/j.1464-410X.1990.tb14764.x| first2=RJ| first3=G| last2=Levin| last3=Wagner}}</ref>
There are wide variations in how long ] can last before ejaculation occurs.


] measured the distance of ejaculation, in "some hundreds" of men. In three-quarters of men tested, ejaculate "is propelled with so little force that the liquid is not carried more than a minute distance beyond the tip of the penis." In contrast to those test subjects, Kinsey noted "In other males the semen may be propelled from a matter of some inches to a foot or two, or even as far as five or six and (rarely) eight feet".<ref>{{Cite book | last1 = Kinsey | first1 = A. C. | last2 = Pomeroy | first2 = W. B. | last3 = Martin | first3 = C. E. | last4 = Gebhard | first4 = P. H.| title=Sexual Behavior in the Human Female|year=1998|publisher=Indiana University Press|isbn=978-0-253-33411-4|page=634|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9GpBB61LV14C&q=sexual%20behavior%20of%20human%20female&pg=PA634|access-date=2013-11-07}}</ref> ] report ejaculation distance to be no greater than {{Convert|30–60|cm||abbr=on}}.<ref name="M&J">{{cite book| last1 = Masters | first1 = W.H. | last2 = Johnson | first2 = V.E.|title=Human Sexual Response|year=1970|publisher=Little, Brown and Company|location=Boston}}</ref> During the series of contractions that accompany ejaculation, semen is propelled from the urethra at {{Convert|500|cm/s||abbr=on}}, close to {{Convert|18|kph|abbr=on}}.<ref name=Marieb/>
When a man ejaculates before he wants to it is called ]. If a man is unable to ejaculate in a timely manner after prolonged sexual stimulation, in spite of his desire to do so, it is called ] or ]. An orgasm that is not accompanied by ejaculation is known as a ].


===Refractory period===
==Central nervous system control==
Most men experience a ] immediately following an orgasm, during which they are unable to achieve another erection, and a longer period before they are capable of achieving another ejaculation. During this time a male feels a deep and often pleasurable sense of relaxation, usually in the groin and thighs. The length of the refractory period varies considerably, even for a given individual. Age affects the recovery time, with younger men recovering faster than older men, though not always.<ref name="M&J"/>
To map the neuronal activation of the brain during the ejaculatory response, researchers have studied the expression of c-fos, a proto-oncogene expressed in neurons in response to stimulation by hormones and neurotransmitters <ref>Sagar SM, "et al.", "", Science 240:1328-1332.</ref> Expression of c-fos in the following areas have been observed: <ref> Pfaus JG and Heeb MM, "", Brain Res Bull, 1997 44:397-407.</ref>,<ref> Veening JG and Coolen LM, "", Behav Brain Res, 1998 92:181-193.</ref>


Whereas some men have refractory periods of 15 minutes or more, others are able to experience sexual arousal immediately after ejaculation. A short recovery period may allow partners to continue sexual play relatively uninterrupted by ejaculation. Some men may experience their penis becoming hypersensitive to stimulation after ejaculation, which can make sexual stimulation unpleasant even while they may be sexually aroused.
* medial preoptic area (MPOA)

* lateral septum, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis
Some men are able to achieve multiple orgasms, with or without the typical sequence of ejaculation and refractory period. Some of those men report not noticing refractory periods, or are able to maintain erection by "sustaining sexual activity with a full erection until they passed their refractory time for orgasm when they proceeded to have a second or third orgasm".<ref>{{cite journal| last1 = Dunn | first1 = M.E. | last2 = Trost | first2 = J.E.|year=1989|title=Male Multiple Orgasms: A Descriptive Study|journal=Archives of Sexual Behavior|volume=18|pages=377–387|doi=10.1007/BF01541970|pmid=2818169|issue=5| s2cid = 13647953 }}</ref>
* paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN)

* ventromedial hypothalamus, medial amygdala
===Volume===
The force and amount of semen that is ejected during ejaculation varies widely among men, containing between 0.1 and 10 ]s<ref>{{cite journal | journal=Fertility and Sterility | volume=26 | issue=6 | pages=492–502 | year=1975 | last1 = Rehan | first1 = N. | last2 = Sobrero | first2 = A.J. | last3 = Fertig | first3 = J.W. | title=The semen of fertile men: statistical analysis of 1300 men | pmid=1169171 | doi=10.1016/s0015-0282(16)41169-6 | doi-access=free }}</ref> (for comparison, a ] holds 5 ml and a tablespoon, 15 ml). Adult semen volume is affected by the time that has passed since his previous ejaculation; larger semen volumes develop with longer abstinence. The duration of the stimulation leading to ejaculation can affect the volume.<ref name="masturbation duration study">{{cite journal | journal=Physiol Behav | volume=76 | issue=4–5 | pages=685–9 | year=2002 | last1 = Pound | first1 = N. | last2 = Javed | first2 = M.H. | last3 = Ruberto | first3 = C. | last4 = Shaikh | first4 = M.A. | last5 = Del Valle | first5 = A.P. | title=Duration of sexual arousal predicts semen parameters for masturbatory ejaculates | pmid=12127009 | doi = 10.1016/S0031-9384(02)00803-X | s2cid=37524348 }}</ref> Abnormally low semen volume is known as ] and abnormally high semen volume is called ]. One possible underlying cause of low volume or complete lack of semen is ]. It is normal for the amount of semen to diminish with age.

===Quality===
{{Main|Semen quality}}
The number of sperm in an ejaculation varies widely, depending on many factors including the time since the previous ejaculation,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/menshealth/facts/semenandsperm.htm | title=Semen and sperm quality | publisher=Dr John Dean, netdoctor.co.uk | access-date=2009-03-04 | date=2015-05-29 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228195534/http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/menshealth/facts/semenandsperm.htm | archive-date=2009-02-28 | url-status=dead }}</ref> age, stress levels,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www2.palomar.edu/anthro/biobasis/bio_2.htm | title= Biological Basis of Heredity: Cell Reproduction | publisher=Dr. Dennis O'Neil, Behavioral Sciences Department, Palomar College, San Marcos, California | access-date=2021-01-31}}</ref> and ]. Longer time of sexual stimulation immediately preceding ejaculation can result in higher concentration of sperm.<ref name="masturbation duration study" /> An unusually low sperm count, distinguished from low semen volume, is known as ], and the absence of any sperm from the semen is termed ].

==Development==

===During puberty===
]
{{See also|Spermarche}}
The first ejaculation in males often occurs about 12 months after the onset of ], generally through ] or ] (wet dreams). This first ] volume is small. The typical ejaculation over the following three months produces less than 1 ml of semen. The semen produced during early puberty is also typically clear. After ejaculation this early semen remains jellylike and, unlike semen from mature males, fails to ]. A summary of semen development is shown in Table 1.

Most first ejaculations (90%) lack sperm. Of the few early ejaculations that do contain sperm, the majority of sperm (97%) lack motion. The remaining sperm (3%) have abnormal motion.<ref name="Janczewski">{{cite journal | last1 = Janczewski | first1 = Z. | last2 = Bablok | first2 = L. | year=1985| title=Semen Characteristics in Pubertal Boys| journal= Archives of Andrology | volume=15 | pages= 199–205 | pmid= 3833078| doi=10.3109/01485018508986912 | issue = 2–3| doi-access= free }}</ref>

As the male proceeds through puberty, the semen develops mature characteristics with increasing quantities of normal sperm. Semen produced 12 to 14 months after the first ejaculation liquefies after a short period of time. Within 24 months of the first ejaculation, the semen volume and the quantity and characteristics of the sperm match that of adult male semen.<ref name="Janczewski" />

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|+ Semen development during puberty
! Time after first <br>ejaculation (months)
! Average volume <br>(milliliter)
! Liquefaction
! Average sperm concentration <br>(million sperm/milliliter)
|-
| 0
| 0.5
| No{{ref|no-liquefy|a}}
| 0
|-
| 6
| 1.0
| No{{ref|no-liquefy|a}}
| 20
|-
| 12
| 2.5
| No/Yes{{ref|some-liquefy|b}}
| 50
|-
| 18
| 3.0
| Yes{{ref|all-liquefy|c}}
| 70
|-
| 24
| 3.5
| Yes{{ref|all-liquefy|c}}
| 300
|}
{{note|no-liquefy|a}}Ejaculate is jellylike and fails to liquefy.<br />
{{note|some-liquefy|b}}Most samples liquefy. Some remain jellylike.<br />
{{note|all-liquefy|c}}Ejaculate liquefies within an hour.

===Control from the central nervous system===
There is a ] in the ], made up of groups of ]s, that is involved in the rhythmic response of ejaculation. This is known as the ''spinal generator for ejaculation''.<ref name="Guertin">{{cite journal |last1=Guertin |first1=PA |title=Central pattern generator for locomotion: anatomical, physiological, and pathophysiological considerations. |journal=Frontiers in Neurology |date=2012 |volume=3 |pages=183 |doi=10.3389/fneur.2012.00183 |pmid=23403923|pmc=3567435 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

To map the neuronal activation of the brain during the ejaculatory response, researchers have studied the expression of ], a ] expressed in neurons in response to stimulation by hormones and neurotransmitters.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Sagar | first1 = S.M. | pmid= 3131879| title=Expression of c-fos protein in brain: metabolic mapping at the cellular level | journal= Science | pages=1328–1332 | doi = 10.1126/science.3131879| year=1988| volume=240 | issue=4857|display-authors=etal| bibcode = 1988Sci...240.1328S }}</ref> Expression of c-Fos in the following areas has been observed:<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Pfaus | first1 = J.G. | last2 = Heeb | first2 = M.M. | pmid=9370204| title= Implications of immediate-early gene induction in the brain following sexual stimulation of female and male rodents | journal=Brain Res Bull| year= 1997 | volume=44| issue = 4 | pages=397–407 | doi = 10.1016/S0361-9230(97)00219-0 | s2cid = 15435196 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Veening | first1 = J.G. | last2 = Coolen | first2 = L.M. | pmid=9638960 | title=Neural activation following sexual behavior in the male and female rat brain | journal= Behav Brain Res | year= 1998 | volume= 92 | issue = 2 | pages=181–193 | doi = 10.1016/S0166-4328(97)00190-3 | s2cid = 38940946 }}</ref>
* medial ] (MPOA)
* lateral septum, bed nucleus of the ]
*] (PVN)
*], medial ]
* ventral premammillary nuclei * ventral premammillary nuclei
* ventral tegmentum *]
* central tegmental field *]
* mesencephalic central gray *]
* peripeduncular nuclei * peripeduncular nuclei
* parvocellular subparafascicular nucleus (SPF) within the posterior thalamus * parvocellular subparafascicular nucleus (SPF) within the posterior ]


===Hands-free ejaculation===
==Fertilization==
Although uncommon, some men can achieve ejaculations during masturbation without any manual stimulation. Such men usually do it by tensing and flexing their abdominal and buttocks muscles along with vigorous fantasizing. Others may do it by relaxing the area around the ], which may result in harder erections especially when hyper aroused.<ref> retrieved February 2012</ref> Hands-free ejaculation can also be achieved by prostate stimulation alone, either ] (with the use of ], fingers or performing ] or ]) or externally (such as ] massages),<ref>{{Cite web |last=jetdigitaldev |date=2024-04-23 |title=Anal Orgasms Are Real—and They're Spectacular |url=https://joshuagonzalezmd.com/anal-orgasms-are-realand-theyre-spectacular/ |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=Joshua R. Gonzalez MD {{!}} Sexual Health + Urology |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-01-04 |title=What Prostate Orgasms Feel Like, According to 10 Men Who've Had Them |url=https://www.menshealth.com/sex-women/a28421545/prostate-vs-penile-orgasms/ |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=Men's Health |language=en-US}}</ref> although ] without ejaculation (dry orgasms) are also possible.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Contributor |first=WebMD Editorial |title=Prostate Orgasm: What It Is |url=https://www.webmd.com/sex/prostate-orgasm-what-it-is |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=WebMD |language=en}}</ref>
Normally, ejaculation is required for emission of ], which can fertilize a woman's ] and ] her. However, almost all men produce a small amount of ] fluid when their penis is erect and they are sexually stimulated, and this pre-ejaculate may contain some sperm which can also lead to pregnancy. For this reason, ] may still lead to unwanted pregnancies for couples engaging in vaginal intercourse if other forms of ] are not used as well.


===Perineum pressing and retrograde ejaculation===
== Euphemisms ==
] pressing results in an ejaculation which is purposefully held back by pressing on either the perineum or the urethra to force the seminal fluid to remain inside. In such a scenario, the seminal fluid stays inside the body and goes to the ]. Some people do this to avoid making a mess by keeping all the semen inside.<ref>65+ --Gateway to Sexual Adventure: For Women and Men, Herb Hirata - 2012</ref> As a medical condition, it is called ].<ref>Andrology: Male Reproductive Health and Dysfunction - Page 317, E. Nieschlag, Hermann M. Behre, Susan Nieschlag - 2010</ref>
Because sexual topics are often an uncomfortable topic among peers, a huge variety of ]s and ]s have been invented to describe ejaculation and semen. For a complete list of terms, see: "]".


==Ejaculation facts== ==Health issues==
For most men, no detrimental health effects have been determined from ejaculation itself or from frequent ejaculations,{{Citation needed|date=August 2015}} though sexual activity in general can have health or psychological consequences. A small fraction of men have a disease called ] (POIS), which causes severe muscle pain throughout the body and other symptoms immediately following ejaculation. The symptoms last for up to a week.<ref name=Balon2005>{{cite book | title=Handbook of Sexual Dysfunction | publisher=Taylor & Francis | editor=Balon R, Segraves RT | year=2005 | isbn=978-0-8247-5826-4}}</ref><ref name=Wylie2015>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oH64CAAAQBAJ&q=Post%20orgaasmic%20illness%20syndrome&pg=PA75 | title=ABC of Sexual Health | publisher=John Wiley & Sons | year=2015 | page=75 | isbn=978-1-118-66556-5 | editor=Wylie KR | access-date=2015-10-21}}</ref><ref name=GARD>{{cite encyclopedia | title=Postorgasmic illness syndrome | encyclopedia=Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD) | publisher=] | access-date=30 July 2015 | year=2015 | url=https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/gard/10809/postorgasmic-illness-syndrome/resources/1 | archive-date=5 March 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305193016/https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/gard/10809/postorgasmic-illness-syndrome/resources/1 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Some doctors speculate that the frequency of POIS "in the population may be greater than has been reported in the academic literature",<ref name=Ashby2010>{{cite journal | title=Postorgasm illness syndrome--a spectrum of illnesses. | author=Ashby J, Goldmeier D | journal=J. Sex. Med. |date=May 2010 | volume=7 | issue=5 | pages=1976–81 | doi= 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2010.01707.x| pmid=20214722}}</ref> and that many POIS sufferers are undiagnosed.<ref name=McMahon2014>{{cite journal | url=https://www.statusplus.net/issm/saopaulo2014/presentations/082.pdf | title=Post-Orgasmic Illness Syndrome | author=McMahon CG | journal=16th World Meeting on Sexual Medicine | date=October 2014 | access-date=2015-08-11 | archive-date=2016-03-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304110554/https://www.statusplus.net/issm/saopaulo2014/presentations/082.pdf | url-status=dead }}</ref>


It is not clear whether frequent ejaculation has any effect on the risk of ].<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Dimitropoulou|first1=Polyxeni|first2 = Artitaya | last2 = Lophatananon | first3 = Douglas | last3 = Easton | first4 = Richard | last4 = Pocock | first5 = David P. | last5 = Dearnaley | first6 = Michelle | last6 = Guy | first7 = Steven | last7 = Edwards | first8 = Lynne | last8 = O'Brien | first9 = Amanda | last9 = Hall | first10 = Rosemary | last10 = Wilkinson | first11 = Rosalind | last11 = Eeles | first12 = Kenneth R. | last12 = Muir |date=November 11, 2008 |title=Sexual activity and prostate cancer risk in men diagnosed at a younger age|journal=BJU International|volume=103|issue=2|pages=178–185|doi=10.1111/j.1464-410X.2008.08030.x|pmid=19016689|s2cid=6339070| doi-access = free }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3072021.stm |title=Masturbation Cuts Cancer Risk | publisher= BBC News Online |date=2003-07-16 |access-date=2009-03-04}}, {{cite journal | journal=JAMA | volume=292 | issue=3 | page=329 | year=2004 | last1 = Giles | first1 = G.G. | last2 = Severi | first2 = G. | last3 = English | first3 = D.R. | last4 = Hopper | first4 = J.L. | title=Frequency of ejaculation and risk of prostate cancer | pmid=15265846 | doi = 10.1001/jama.292.3.329-a }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | journal=JAMA | volume=291 | issue=13 | pages=1578–86 | year=2004 | last1 = Leitzmann | first1 = M.F. | last2 = Platz | first2 = E.A. | last3 = Stampfer | first3 = M.J. | last4 = Willett | first4 = W.C. | last5 = Giovannucci | first5 = E. | title=Ejaculation frequency and subsequent risk of prostate cancer | pmid=15069045 | doi = 10.1001/jama.291.13.1578 | doi-access = free }}</ref> Two large studies examining the issue were<ref name="Harvard-does-freq-ejac">{{cite web
{{Unreferenced|date=June 2006}}
| last = Garnick
| first = Marc
| title = Does frequent ejaculation help ward off prostate cancer?
| work = Harvard Medical School Prostate Knowledge
| publisher = Harvard University
| date = 24 February 2011
| url = http://www.harvardprostateknowledge.org/does-frequent-ejaculation-help-ward-off-prostate-cancer
| access-date = 9 February 2013
| archive-date = 6 September 2012
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120906061330/http://www.harvardprostateknowledge.org/does-frequent-ejaculation-help-ward-off-prostate-cancer
| url-status = dead
}}</ref><ref name="BBC-2003-07-16">{{cite news
| title = Masturbation 'cuts cancer risk'
| newspaper = BBC News
| publisher = BBC
| date = 16 July 2003
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3072021.stm
| access-date = 9 February 2013}}</ref><ref name="NewScientist-2004-4-6">{{cite news
| last = Bhattacharya
| first = Shaoni
| title = Frequent ejaculation may protect against cancer
| newspaper = ]
| location = UK
| publisher = Reed Business Information
| date = 6 April 2004
| url = https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn4861-frequent-ejaculation-may-protect-against-cancer.html
| access-date = 9 February 2013}}</ref> "Ejaculation Frequency and Subsequent Risk of Prostate Cancer"<ref name="jama.291.13.1578">{{cite journal
| last1 = Leitzmann MD
| first1 = Michael F
| first2 = Elizabeth A. | last2 = Platz | first3 = Meir J. | last3 = Stampfer | first4 = Walter C. | last4 = Willett | first5 = Edward | last5 = Giovannucci
| title = Ejaculation Frequency and Subsequent Risk of Prostate Cancer
| journal = ]
| volume = 291
| issue = 13
| pages = 1578–86
| date = 7 April 2004
| doi = 10.1001/jama.291.13.1578
| pmid=15069045| doi-access = free
}}</ref> and "Sexual Factors and Prostate Cancer".<ref name="PMID 12887469">{{cite journal
| last1 = Giles
| first1 = Graham G.
| last2 = Severi | first2 = G. | last3 = English | first3 = D.R. | last4 = McCredie | first4 = M.R. | last5 = Borland | first5 = R. | last6 = Boyle | first6 = P. | last7 = Hopper | first7 = J.L.
| title = Sexual factors and prostate cancer
| journal = ]
| volume = 92
| issue = 3
| pages = 211–16
| date = August 2003
| doi =10.1046/j.1464-410X.2003.04319.x
| pmid=12887469| s2cid = 29430415
| doi-access = free}}<!--| access-date = 9 February 2013--></ref> These suggest that frequent ejaculation after puberty offers some reduction of the risk of prostate cancer. The US study involving 29,342 US men aged 46 to 81 years<ref name="jama.291.13.1578" /> suggested that "high ejaculation frequency was related to decreased risk of total prostate cancer".<ref name="jama.291.13.1578" /> An Australian study involving 1,079 men with prostate cancer and 1,259 healthy men found that "there is evidence that the more frequently men ejaculate between the ages of 20 and 50, the less likely they are to develop prostate cancer":


{{blockquote|he protective effect of ejaculation is greatest when men in their twenties ejaculated on average seven or more times a week. This group were one-third less likely to develop aggressive prostate cancer when compared with men who ejaculated less than three times a week at this age.<ref name="CancerCouncilVictoria">{{cite web
* Average energy in a tablespoon of semen: 2-7 k], 8-29 kilo]
| title = New findings on prostate cancer risk and sexual activity
* Average number of ] in the ejaculate of a healthy man: 40 million to 600 million (avg. 250 million)
| work = Cancer Council Victoria website
* Distance ] travels to fertilize an ]: 7.5-10 ] or 3-4 ]
| publisher = Cancer Council Victoria
* Sperm lifespan: 2.5 months from development to ejaculation
| date = 17 July 2003
* Sperm lifespan after ejaculation: 30 seconds to 6 days depending on conditions
| url = http://www.cancervic.org.au/media/media-releases/archived_media_releases/2003_media_releases/july_2003/new_findings_on_prostate_cancer_risk_and_sexual_activity.html
| access-date = 9 February 2013}}</ref>}}

==Other animals==
{{See also|Semen collection#By species}}
{{Trivia|date=July 2024}}
In mammals and birds, multiple ejaculation is commonplace.<ref name="Smith1984">{{cite book|first=Robert L. | last = Smith|title=Sperm Competition and the Evolution of Animal Mating systems|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OIh4DX7tk_0C|access-date=19 April 2013|date=28 December 1984|publisher=Elsevier|isbn=978-0-323-14313-4}}</ref><ref name="Conn2013">{{cite book|author=P. Michael Conn|title=Paradigms for the Study of Behavior|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xp9GBQAAQBAJ|date=22 October 2013|publisher=Elsevier Science|isbn=978-1-4832-6937-5}}</ref>{{Clarify|reason=Multiple orgasms in one intercourse event? With each partner? Unclear.|date=January 2020}} During copulation, the two sides of a ]'s penis are used sequentially. Alternating between the two sides allows for persistent stimulation to induce ejaculation without impeding the refractory period.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Johnston | first1 = S.D. | last2 = Smith | first2 = B. | last3 = Pyne | first3 = M. | last4 = Stenzel | first4 = D. | last5 = Holt | first5 = W.V. | year = 2007 | title = One-Sided Ejaculation of Echidna Sperm Bundles (''Tachyglossus aculeatus'') | url = https://eprints.qut.edu.au/14228/1/14228.pdf| journal = Am. Nat. | volume = 170| issue = 6| pages = E162–E164| doi = 10.1086/522847 | pmid = 18171162 | s2cid = 40632746 }}</ref>

In ]s, ejaculation is accompanied by a motion of the tail known as "tail flagging".<ref name="Ph.D.Pycock2007">{{cite book | first1 = Juan C. | last1 = Samper | first2 = Jonatjhan F. | last2 = Pycock | first3 = Angus O. | last3 = McKinnon | title=Current therapy in equine reproduction|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1vAJ2lbypRMC|access-date=18 April 2013|year=2007|publisher=Elsevier Health Sciences|isbn=978-0-7216-0252-3}}</ref> When a male ] ejaculates, his final ] may be slightly prolonged.<ref name="MechBoitani2010">{{cite book | first1 = L. David | last1 = Mech|first2 = Luigi | last2 = Boitani|title=Wolves: Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_mXHuSSbiGgC&q=wolf+ejaculation&pg=PA44|access-date=19 April 2013|date=1 October 2010|publisher=University of Chicago Press|isbn=978-0-226-51698-1|pages=44–}}</ref> A male ] usually ejaculates less than 15 seconds after ].<ref name="The pursuit of pleasure">{{cite book|title=The pursuit of pleasure|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LiyrEhQPmRsC|access-date=19 April 2013|year=1992|publisher=Transaction Publishers|isbn=978-1-4128-3867-2}}</ref> The first report and footage of ] in an aquatic mammal was recorded in a wild ] near ], Japan, in 2012.<ref name="spontaneous">{{cite journal|last1=Morisaka|first1=Tadamichi|last2= Sakai | first2 = Mai | last3 = Kogi | first3 = Kazunobu | last4 = Nakasuji | first4 = Akane | last5 = Sakakibara | first5 = Kasumi | last6 = Kasanuki | first6 = Yuria | last7 = Yoshioka | first7 = Motoi | last8 = Sakamoto | first8 = Kentaro Q. | title=Spontaneous Ejaculation in a Wild Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops aduncus)|journal=PLOS ONE|date=27 August 2013|volume=8|issue=8|pages=e72879|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0072879| pmid=24015280 | pmc=3755988|bibcode=2013PLoSO...872879M|doi-access=free}}</ref>

In horses, sheep, and cattle, ejaculation occurs within a few seconds, but in ]s, it can last for five to thirty<ref name="BonetCasas2013">{{cite book|author1=Sergi Bonet|author2=Isabel Casas|author3=William V. Holt|author4=Marc Yeste|title=Boar Reproduction: Fundamentals and New Biotechnological Trends|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ta9GAAAAQBAJ|date=1 February 2013|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=978-3-642-35049-8}}</ref> minutes.<ref name="Rodriguez-Martinez2010">{{cite book|author=Heriberto Rodriguez-Martinez|title=Control of Pig Reproduction VIII|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=em-TrWgAFSYC&q=boar+ejaculation+penis+semen&pg=PA15|date=1 April 2010|publisher=Nottingham University Press|isbn=978-1-907284-53-3|pages=15–}}</ref> Ejaculation in boars is stimulated when the spiral-shaped penis interlocks with the female's cervix.<ref name="DunbarO'Rand2013">{{cite book|author1=Bonnie S. Dunbar|author2=M.G. O'Rand|title=A Comparative Overview of Mammalian Fertilization|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zjnnBwAAQBAJ|date=29 June 2013|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=978-1-4757-8982-9}}</ref> A mature boar can produce {{Convert|250–300|ml||abbr=on}} of semen during one ejaculation.<ref name="Rodriguez-Martinez2010" /> In llamas and alpacas, ejaculation occurs continuously during copulation.<ref name="CebraAnderson2014">{{cite book|author1=Chris Cebra|author2=David E. Anderson|author3=Ahmed Tibary|author4=Robert J. Van Saun|author5=LaRue Willard Johnson|title=Llama and Alpaca Care: Medicine, Surgery, Reproduction, Nutrition, and Herd Health|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8sU0AwAAQBAJ|date=15 February 2014|publisher=Elsevier Health Sciences|isbn=978-0-323-24291-2}}</ref>

The semen of male dogs is ejaculated in three separate phases.<ref name="Kustritz2006">{{cite book|author=Margaret V. Root Kustritz|title=The Dog Breeder's Guide to Successful Breeding and Health Management|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rqIa-9jew_MC|date=2006|publisher=Elsevier Health Sciences|isbn=978-1-4160-3139-0|access-date=2015-10-21}}</ref> The last phase of a male canine's ejaculation occurs during the ], and contains mostly prostatic fluid.<ref name="FeldmanNelson2004">{{cite book|author1=Edward C. Feldman|author2=Richard William Nelson|title=Canine and Feline Endocrinology and Reproduction|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=elPuvsucuY8C|date=2004|publisher=Elsevier Health Sciences|isbn=978-0-7216-9315-6|access-date=2015-10-21}}</ref>


==See also== ==See also==
{{Portal|Human sexuality}}
* ] * ]
* ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
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==References== ==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
<div class="references-small">
<references />
</div>


==Further reading==
{{Commons category|Male ejaculation}}
* {{cite web | url=http://www.focusonfertility.org/resource_swimming_conception.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080112144449/http://www.focusonfertility.org/resource_swimming_conception.htm | archive-date=2008-01-12 | title=Swimming Toward Conception: The Semen Analysis | publisher=Focus on Fertility, American Infertility Association and Organon Pharmaceuticals USA Inc| date=2017-08-21 }}
* {{cite book|first=Tim|last=Glover|title=Mating Males: An Evolutionary Perspective on Mammalian Reproduction|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JEgy1tHA7b0C&q=elephant+mating+ejaculation&pg=PA105|access-date=28 May 2013|date=30 June 2012|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-1-107-00001-8|pages=105–}}
* {{cite book|first=Robert L.|last=Smith|title=Sperm Competition and the Evolution of Animal Mating systems|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OIh4DX7tk_0C|access-date=28 May 2013|date=28 December 1984|publisher=Elsevier|isbn=978-0-323-14313-4}}
* {{cite book|first=Peter B.|last=Gray|title=Evolution and Human Sexual Behavior|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5MBUpailj2gC&q=hyena+mating+ejaculation&pg=PA9|access-date=28 May 2013|date=1 April 2013|publisher=Harvard University Press|isbn=978-0-674-07437-8|pages=9–}}
* {{cite book|first1 = Michael D. | last1 = Breed|first2 = Janice | last2 = Moore|title=Encyclopedia of Animal Behavior|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vkRFAQAAIAAJ&q=ejaculation|access-date=28 May 2013|year=2010|publisher=Elsevier|isbn=978-0-08-045336-1}}


{{Reproductive physiology}}
===McGraw-Hill Human Sexuality Image Bank illustrations===
{{Sex}}
*
{{Human sexuality}}
*
{{Post-orgasmic diseases}}
*
{{Authority control}}
*


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Latest revision as of 13:03, 17 December 2024

Semen discharge from the male reproductive tract This article is about male ejaculation. For the female counterpart, see Female ejaculation. For other uses, see Ejaculation (disambiguation).

Ejaculation
A human male ejaculating
Identifiers
MeSHD004542
TEE1.0.0.0.0.0.10
Anatomical terminology[edit on Wikidata]

Ejaculation is the discharge of semen (the ejaculate; normally containing sperm) from the penis through the urethra. It is the final stage and natural objective of male sexual stimulation, and an essential component of natural conception. After forming an erection, many men emit pre-ejaculatory fluid during stimulation prior to ejaculating. Ejaculation involves involuntary contractions of the pelvic floor and is normally linked with orgasm. It is a normal part of male human sexual development.

It can occur spontaneously during sleep (a nocturnal emission or "wet dream"). In rare cases, ejaculation occurs because of prostatic disease. Anejaculation is the condition of being unable to ejaculate. Dysejaculation is an ejaculation that is painful or uncomfortable. Retrograde ejaculation is the backward flow of semen into the bladder rather than out of the urethra. Premature ejaculation happens shortly after initiating sexual activity, and hinders prolonged sexual intercourse. A vasectomy alters the composition of the ejaculate as a form of birth control.

Phases

Stimulation

See also: Sexual stimulation, Orgasm § Males, Intravaginal ejaculation latency time, and Sexual arousal § Male physiological response

The normal precursor to ejaculation is sexual arousal of the male, leading to the erection of the penis, though not all arousals or erections lead to ejaculation, and ejaculation does not require erection. Penile sexual stimulation during masturbation or vaginal, anal, oral, manual, or non-penetrative sexual activity may provide the necessary stimulus for a man to achieve orgasm and ejaculation. With regard to intravaginal ejaculation latency, men typically reach orgasm five to seven minutes after the start of penile-vaginal intercourse, taking into account their desire and that of their partners, but 10 minutes is also a common intravaginal ejaculation latency. Prolonged stimulation either through foreplay (kissing, petting and direct stimulation of erogenous zones before penetration during intercourse) or stroking (during masturbation) leads to adequate arousal and production of pre-ejaculatory fluid. Infectious agents (including HIV) can be present in pre-ejaculate.

Emission phase

During the emission phase of ejaculation, sperm travels from the epididymis through the vas deferens mixing with fluids from the male accessory glands as it enters the urethra. During the expulsion phase, rhythmic contractions of the pelvic floor and bulbospongiosus muscles expel the semen from the penis through the urinary meatus in several spurts.
Video of a human male ejaculating

Once the penis has achieved sufficient stimulation for the man to reach orgasm, ejaculation begins. The initial stage of ejaculation, called emission, is controlled by a reflex in the sympathetic spinal cord. Sperm undergo their final developmental changes within the epididymis, where they are held until being ejaculated.

Expulsion phase

Ejaculation reaches its peak in the expulsion phase, which involves the discharge of semen from the urethral opening. This ejection is driven by coordinated contractions of the pelvic muscles, including the bulbospongiosus and pubococcygeus muscles. For the semen to be expelled out of the penis, the bladder neck stays shut while the external urethral sphincter is relaxed. These rhythmic contractions are part of the male orgasm under the control of a spinal reflex at the level of the spinal nerves S2–4 via the pudendal nerve. Although the external sphincter and pelvic muscles can be voluntarily controlled, any voluntary control during semen expulsion is not evident. The expulsion phase is considered an extension of the emission phase, triggered by reaching a certain level of spinal nerve activation. The typical male orgasm lasts several seconds.

Premature ejaculation is when ejaculation occurs before it is desired. Otherwise, if a man is unable to ejaculate after prolonged sexual stimulation in spite of his desire, it is called delayed ejaculation or anorgasmia. An orgasm that is not accompanied by ejaculation is known as a dry orgasm.

At start of orgasm, pulses of semen begin to flow from the urethra, reach a peak of discharge and then diminish in flow. The typical orgasm consists of 10 to 15 contractions, although the man may not be consciously aware of so many. After the first contraction, ejaculation continues to completion involuntarily. During this stage ejaculation cannot be stopped. The rate of contractions gradually slows throughout the orgasm. Initial contractions occur on average every 0.6 seconds with an increasing increment of 0.1 seconds per contraction. Contractions of most men proceed at regular rhythmic intervals through their duration. Many men also experience irregular contractions at the end of the orgasm.

Ejaculation usually begins during the first or second contraction of orgasm. For most men, the first ejection occurs during the second contraction, which is typically the largest, expelling 40% or more of total semen discharge. After this peak, the quantity of semen emitted by the penis diminishes as the contractions lessen in intensity. The muscle contractions of the orgasm can continue after ejaculation with no additional semen discharge. A small sample study of seven men showed an average of seven spurts of semen followed by an average of 10 more contractions with no semen expelled. This study also found a high correlation between number of spurts of semen and total ejaculate volume, i.e., larger semen volumes resulted from additional pulses of semen rather than larger individual spurts.

Alfred Kinsey measured the distance of ejaculation, in "some hundreds" of men. In three-quarters of men tested, ejaculate "is propelled with so little force that the liquid is not carried more than a minute distance beyond the tip of the penis." In contrast to those test subjects, Kinsey noted "In other males the semen may be propelled from a matter of some inches to a foot or two, or even as far as five or six and (rarely) eight feet". Masters and Johnson report ejaculation distance to be no greater than 30–60 cm (12–24 in). During the series of contractions that accompany ejaculation, semen is propelled from the urethra at 500 cm/s (200 in/s), close to 18 km/h (11 mph).

Refractory period

Most men experience a refractory period immediately following an orgasm, during which they are unable to achieve another erection, and a longer period before they are capable of achieving another ejaculation. During this time a male feels a deep and often pleasurable sense of relaxation, usually in the groin and thighs. The length of the refractory period varies considerably, even for a given individual. Age affects the recovery time, with younger men recovering faster than older men, though not always.

Whereas some men have refractory periods of 15 minutes or more, others are able to experience sexual arousal immediately after ejaculation. A short recovery period may allow partners to continue sexual play relatively uninterrupted by ejaculation. Some men may experience their penis becoming hypersensitive to stimulation after ejaculation, which can make sexual stimulation unpleasant even while they may be sexually aroused.

Some men are able to achieve multiple orgasms, with or without the typical sequence of ejaculation and refractory period. Some of those men report not noticing refractory periods, or are able to maintain erection by "sustaining sexual activity with a full erection until they passed their refractory time for orgasm when they proceeded to have a second or third orgasm".

Volume

The force and amount of semen that is ejected during ejaculation varies widely among men, containing between 0.1 and 10 milliliters (for comparison, a teaspoon holds 5 ml and a tablespoon, 15 ml). Adult semen volume is affected by the time that has passed since his previous ejaculation; larger semen volumes develop with longer abstinence. The duration of the stimulation leading to ejaculation can affect the volume. Abnormally low semen volume is known as hypospermia and abnormally high semen volume is called hyperspermia. One possible underlying cause of low volume or complete lack of semen is ejaculatory duct obstruction. It is normal for the amount of semen to diminish with age.

Quality

Main article: Semen quality

The number of sperm in an ejaculation varies widely, depending on many factors including the time since the previous ejaculation, age, stress levels, and testosterone. Longer time of sexual stimulation immediately preceding ejaculation can result in higher concentration of sperm. An unusually low sperm count, distinguished from low semen volume, is known as oligospermia, and the absence of any sperm from the semen is termed azoospermia.

Development

During puberty

Diagram of the male pelvic and reproductive organs
See also: Spermarche

The first ejaculation in males often occurs about 12 months after the onset of puberty, generally through masturbation or nocturnal emission (wet dreams). This first semen volume is small. The typical ejaculation over the following three months produces less than 1 ml of semen. The semen produced during early puberty is also typically clear. After ejaculation this early semen remains jellylike and, unlike semen from mature males, fails to liquefy. A summary of semen development is shown in Table 1.

Most first ejaculations (90%) lack sperm. Of the few early ejaculations that do contain sperm, the majority of sperm (97%) lack motion. The remaining sperm (3%) have abnormal motion.

As the male proceeds through puberty, the semen develops mature characteristics with increasing quantities of normal sperm. Semen produced 12 to 14 months after the first ejaculation liquefies after a short period of time. Within 24 months of the first ejaculation, the semen volume and the quantity and characteristics of the sperm match that of adult male semen.

Semen development during puberty
Time after first
ejaculation (months)
Average volume
(milliliter)
Liquefaction Average sperm concentration
(million sperm/milliliter)
0 0.5 No 0
6 1.0 No 20
12 2.5 No/Yes 50
18 3.0 Yes 70
24 3.5 Yes 300

^a Ejaculate is jellylike and fails to liquefy.
^b Most samples liquefy. Some remain jellylike.
^c Ejaculate liquefies within an hour.

Control from the central nervous system

There is a central pattern generator in the spinal cord, made up of groups of spinal interneurons, that is involved in the rhythmic response of ejaculation. This is known as the spinal generator for ejaculation.

To map the neuronal activation of the brain during the ejaculatory response, researchers have studied the expression of c-Fos, a proto-oncogene expressed in neurons in response to stimulation by hormones and neurotransmitters. Expression of c-Fos in the following areas has been observed:

Hands-free ejaculation

Although uncommon, some men can achieve ejaculations during masturbation without any manual stimulation. Such men usually do it by tensing and flexing their abdominal and buttocks muscles along with vigorous fantasizing. Others may do it by relaxing the area around the penis, which may result in harder erections especially when hyper aroused. Hands-free ejaculation can also be achieved by prostate stimulation alone, either internally (with the use of sex toys, fingers or performing anal sex or pegging) or externally (such as perineum massages), although prostate orgasms without ejaculation (dry orgasms) are also possible.

Perineum pressing and retrograde ejaculation

Perineum pressing results in an ejaculation which is purposefully held back by pressing on either the perineum or the urethra to force the seminal fluid to remain inside. In such a scenario, the seminal fluid stays inside the body and goes to the bladder. Some people do this to avoid making a mess by keeping all the semen inside. As a medical condition, it is called retrograde ejaculation.

Health issues

For most men, no detrimental health effects have been determined from ejaculation itself or from frequent ejaculations, though sexual activity in general can have health or psychological consequences. A small fraction of men have a disease called postorgasmic illness syndrome (POIS), which causes severe muscle pain throughout the body and other symptoms immediately following ejaculation. The symptoms last for up to a week. Some doctors speculate that the frequency of POIS "in the population may be greater than has been reported in the academic literature", and that many POIS sufferers are undiagnosed.

It is not clear whether frequent ejaculation has any effect on the risk of prostate cancer. Two large studies examining the issue were "Ejaculation Frequency and Subsequent Risk of Prostate Cancer" and "Sexual Factors and Prostate Cancer". These suggest that frequent ejaculation after puberty offers some reduction of the risk of prostate cancer. The US study involving 29,342 US men aged 46 to 81 years suggested that "high ejaculation frequency was related to decreased risk of total prostate cancer". An Australian study involving 1,079 men with prostate cancer and 1,259 healthy men found that "there is evidence that the more frequently men ejaculate between the ages of 20 and 50, the less likely they are to develop prostate cancer":

he protective effect of ejaculation is greatest when men in their twenties ejaculated on average seven or more times a week. This group were one-third less likely to develop aggressive prostate cancer when compared with men who ejaculated less than three times a week at this age.

Other animals

See also: Semen collection § By species
This article contains a list of miscellaneous information. Please relocate any relevant information into other sections or articles. (July 2024)

In mammals and birds, multiple ejaculation is commonplace. During copulation, the two sides of a short-beaked echidna's penis are used sequentially. Alternating between the two sides allows for persistent stimulation to induce ejaculation without impeding the refractory period.

In stallions, ejaculation is accompanied by a motion of the tail known as "tail flagging". When a male wolf ejaculates, his final pelvic thrust may be slightly prolonged. A male rhesus monkey usually ejaculates less than 15 seconds after sexual penetration. The first report and footage of spontaneous ejaculation in an aquatic mammal was recorded in a wild Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin near Mikura Island, Japan, in 2012.

In horses, sheep, and cattle, ejaculation occurs within a few seconds, but in boars, it can last for five to thirty minutes. Ejaculation in boars is stimulated when the spiral-shaped penis interlocks with the female's cervix. A mature boar can produce 250–300 ml (8.8–10.6 imp fl oz; 8.5–10.1 US fl oz) of semen during one ejaculation. In llamas and alpacas, ejaculation occurs continuously during copulation.

The semen of male dogs is ejaculated in three separate phases. The last phase of a male canine's ejaculation occurs during the copulatory tie, and contains mostly prostatic fluid.

See also

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Further reading

Human physiology of sexual reproduction
Menstrual cycle
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