What Does Semen Taste Like? Health Facts About Sperm

Maybe your like

Medical News TodaySubscribeWhat does semen taste like, and can it change?

Medically reviewed by Avi Varma, MD, MPH, AAHIVS, FAAFP — Written by Peter Morales-Brown — Updated on March 31, 2025

Taste and smell
Diet
Health and the taste
Is swallowing semen safe?
Pregnancy
Summary

People have described the flavor of semen, or cum, as bitter, slightly salty, sweet, or metallic. Many fluids combine with sperm to create semen. These fluids feature different chemicals, with each influencing how the cum may taste.

There is no right or wrong way to feel about semen. Some people enjoy swallowing or tasting a partner’s semen, while others feel uncomfortable doing so. Likewise, some may feel self-conscious about allowing a partner or partners to taste their semen.

Open communication with a partner and gentle mutual encouragement can help partners feel less worried about all bodily fluids, including semen.

What does semen taste and smell like?

A couple in bed-1. — South Agency/Getty Images

Semen consists of many components, including sperm and several fluids. Each of these fluids adds different chemicals, with each influencing how semen might taste.

For example, semen contains ergothioneine, an antioxidant that commonly develops in mushrooms. As such, this may give semen a slightly meaty taste similar to uncooked mushrooms. Semen also contains fructose, a type of sugar that helps nourish sperm and may give semen a slightly sweet taste.

Other components present in semen that may influence flavor include:

amino acids
citric acid
phosphorous
potassium
zinc
calcium
sodium
various enzymes

The taste of semen varies from person to person. Most people describe the flavor as some combination of:

bitter or salty because it is alkaline
sweet because of the sugar content
metallic because of the minerals and vitamins

Semen is mostly water, which dilutes the smell, though many people do not notice a smell at all. When they do, they may describe a musky, salty, or slightly metallic smell.

When semen comes into contact with the vagina, which is very acidic, the smell and taste may change. When there is a fishy odor after vaginal intercourse, this may be a sign of a pH imbalance in the vagina called bacterial vaginosis. However, this is highly treatable.

Read on to learn more about bacterial vaginosis.

Does diet affect the taste of semen?

A person’s dietary pattern can influence their fertility and the quality of their semen. However, there is currently no definitive evidence to indicate that consuming a particular food or drink can alter the taste of semen.

Despite this, many people suggest that certain foods change the taste of their semen. Anecdotally, some believe that fruits, such as citrus fruits and pineapple, may improve the flavor of semen. While no research supports this, proponents suggest this may be due to the sugar content of these fruits.

Conversely, some may suggest foods that produce a strong odor, such as asparagus, may make semen taste or smell worse.

While no research supports that diet can change the taste of semen, evidence notes that it is possible for specific foods to change a person’s body odor. As smell can affect taste, it may be possible for specific foods to change the way semen smells or tastes.

Health and the taste of semen

At present, no research directly links any health conditions to affecting the taste of semen. However, certain conditions, medications, and lifestyle choices can affect sperm health and quality. As these factors may change the composition and quality of semen, they may also change its taste. These may include:

smoking
drinking alcohol
obesity
hormonal conditions
certain medications
varicoceles
exposure to chemicals or radiation
stress
mumps
sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

Health issues in the person who is tasting the semen can also affect its flavor. Medical conditions that can affect the body’s taste receptors include:

respiratory infections
middle ear infections
dental health problems
infections in the mouth or gums
recent surgery on the mouth, nose, or face
head or spinal cord injuries
some medical treatments, including radiation therapy for cancer and some antibiotics
exposure to chemicals, such as certain pesticides

Is swallowing semen safe?

The ingredients in semen are generally harmless. However, there are health risks that can relate to swallowing semen.

As semen is a bodily fluid, it can carry STIs. Therefore, exposure to ejaculate from oral sex can result in:

chlamydia
gonorrhea
syphilis
herpes
HPV
HIV

It is essential for sexual partners to undergo regular testing for STIs. The risk of getting an STI is higher if the person swallowing semen has an open sore in their mouth or on their lips.

Very rarely, an individual may be allergic to the proteins in semen and have an allergic reaction. Doctors call this seminal plasma hypersensitivity.

To help reduce the risk of transmitting STIs during oral sex, people need to use a form of barrier contraception, such as a condom.

»LEARN MORE:What STIs can you get from oral sex?

Can you get pregnant from swallowing semen?

It is a myth that swallowing semen or oral sex can directly cause pregnancy. A person will not become pregnant unless semen is able to encounter an egg.

The body digests semen like any other food. Some people worry that the semen will travel into the stomach and somehow make its way to the uterus or vagina, causing a pregnancy. However, this is extremely unlikely.

However, it may be possible to get pregnant if ejaculate from oral sex somehow gets into the vagina. This might occur if a male partner has intercourse with an individual with a uterus immediately after ejaculating from oral sex and semen remains on their penis.

Summary

The taste of semen will vary from person to person. Anecdotally, some suggest it may have a bitter, salty, sweet, or metallic taste. However, just like how food can taste different among people, individuals may also interpret the taste of semen differently.

Currently, there is no evidence to suggest that diet can affect the taste of semen. However, a person’s dietary pattern can affect the quality of their semen.

Some people may enjoy the taste of semen, while others may not. Therefore, it is important to practice open communication with sexual partners.

A person can still enjoy oral sex even without swallowing semen. For example, using a condom will prevent semen from entering the mouth after ejaculation.

People who feel anxious about the taste or flavor of semen may want to try performing oral sex without allowing their partner to ejaculate and then manually stimulating their partner to orgasm. This can be just as pleasurable but may help new sexual partners or people uncomfortable with semen feel more confident.

Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses
Sexual Health / STDs

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

About bacterial vaginosis. (2023). https://www.cdc.gov/bacterial-vaginosis/about/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/std/bv/stdfact-bacterial-vaginosis.htm
About STI risk and oral sex. (2024). https://www.cdc.gov/sti/about/about-sti-risk-and-oral-sex.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/std/healthcomm/stdfact-stdriskandoralsex.htm
Halliwell B, et al. (2018). Ergothioneine – a diet‐derived antioxidant with therapeutic potential. https://febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/1873-3468.13123
How pregnancy happens. (n.d.). https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/pregnancy/how-pregnancy-happens
Johnson J, et al. (2020). The high content of fructose in human semen competitively inhibits broad and potent antivirals that target high-mannose glycans. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7163146/
Male fertility. (2018). https://www.nutrition.org.uk/nutrition-for/men/male-fertility/
Male infertility. (2024). https://www.urologyhealth.org/urology-a-z/m/male-infertility
Mason MM, et al. (2022). Ejaculation: The process and characteristics from start to finish. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9997041/
Moretti E, et al. (2023). Human sperm as an in vitro model to assess the efficacy of antioxidant supplements during sperm handling: A narrative review. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/12/5/1098
Taste and smell. (n.d.). https://health.uconn.edu/tasteandsmell/facts/
Taste disorders. (2023). https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/taste-disorders
Watson S. (2024). What's that smell? Get rid of body odor. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/whats-that-smell-common-and-less-common-causes-of-body-odor
What does semen taste like? (2018). https://goaskalice.columbia.edu/answered-questions/what-does-semen-taste
What is a sperm allergy? (n.d.).https://www.issm.info/sexual-health-qa/what-is-a-sperm-allergy/

Share this article

Medically reviewed by Avi Varma, MD, MPH, AAHIVS, FAAFP — Written by Peter Morales-Brown — Updated on March 31, 2025

Latest news

US vaccine guideline changes challenge clinical practice, insurance coverage
Exercise prevents muscle loss as we age: Here's how
Moving just 5 more minutes each day could boost longevity
New Mount Sinai AI tool aims to improve access to cancer clinical trials
Early menopause not linked to higher diabetes risk, study finds

Related Coverage

What causes watery semen, and does it affect fertility?Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M.D., MPH
Ejaculating multiple times per day, living with certain medical conditions, and having nutritional deficiencies can all cause watery semen. Watery…
READ MORE
Why does semen color change and what does it mean?Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M.D., MPH
Why does semen color vary and what does it mean? Read on to discover the causes of change in semen color and texture, and what these may mean.
READ MORE
Thick semen: Everything you need to know
Semen consistency, volume, quality, and color can naturally change from day to day. We look at the causes of unusually thick semen and its…
READ MORE
How does disability affect sexuality?Medically reviewed by Jennifer Litner, PhD, LMFT, CST
Sexuality and disability can have a complex relationship, but not always. Learn how disability, and discrimination, may affect sex.
READ MORE
How to talk with a doctor about sexual health
Learn how to confidently discuss sexual health with a doctor. Tips for patients, sexual health guidance, and what to expect at an appointment.
READ MORE

Tag » What Does Semen Smell Like

What Does Semen Taste Like? Health Facts About Sperm

Health Conditions

Health Products

News

Original Series

Podcasts

General Health

Health Tools

Quizzes

About Medical News Today

Find Community

Follow Us

What does semen taste and smell like?

Does diet affect the taste of semen?

Health and the taste of semen

Is swallowing semen safe?

Can you get pregnant from swallowing semen?

Summary

How we reviewed this article:

Latest news

Related Coverage

Semen Smell: Why It's Fishy, Like Chlorine Or Rotten Eggs, And Mo

What Does Semen Smell Like And Why? - Medical News Today

What Does Semen Smell Like? What Does It Say About Your Health?

What Is The Color And Smell Of Healthy Sperm? - Vinmec

What Your Semen Says About Your Health - Verywell Health

What Does Semen Smell Like? The Truth - YourTango

Can Semen Cause A Smelly Vagina After Sex? | Vaginal Odour | Patient

Is His Semen Normal? - Cosmopolitan

What Does Semen Smell Like? : R/NoStupidQuestions - Reddit

Why Does My Semen Smell So Good To Me? - Quora

Why Does Sperm Smell Like Sweat? - Quora

Why My Semen Smells Like Rotten Eggs | Your Doctors Online

What Does Sperm Smell Like? Does It Smell Bad? - LoyalMD

Contact