Glossary
Semen retention
Deliberately not ejaculating as a spiritual practice. The tradition promises a lot, the evidence doesn't follow.
What is semen retention?
Semen retention is deliberately not ejaculating, or reaching climax without ejaculating. Men who do it want to hold on to their semen. The idea comes from tantra and the Taoist tradition, which see semen as life energy. Scientific evidence for the health benefits that surround it is thin.
| Classical form | coitus reservatus, holding back during intercourse |
| In Dutch | zaadretentie |
| Also known as | sexual transmutation, holding back one’s seed |
| Origin | Taoist and tantric traditions, in which semen counts as life force (jing, ojas) |
| Category | a sexual practice, not a medical treatment |
| What the science says | the promised health benefits are not proven; the practice itself is not dangerous |
Where the idea comes from
In the Taoist and tantric traditions semen counts as concentrated life force, called jing or ojas, and whoever doesn’t waste it is said to keep that force and lead it upward instead of losing it. That comes with exercises using breath, attention, and the pelvic floor muscles, meant to stop just before climax or to reach climax without ejaculating. The classical form during intercourse is called coitus reservatus. Centuries old, that idea.
What the science does and doesn’t say
A long list of promises surrounds the practice: more energy, higher testosterone, sharper focus, better sleep. None of it is backed up. Those claims are not supported by research, the International Society for Sexual Medicine writes. The story leans on strong personal experiences and on a centuries-old tradition, not on a single solid study showing that it makes you physically healthier. Your body doesn’t store testosterone by skipping an orgasm. The level stays the same. Full stop. One thing to watch out for: it only becomes dangerous when someone clamps off the blood supply to hold back ejaculation.
Why men do it
For some it’s pure spirituality. For others a way to last longer and stretch out the pleasure. That last one I really do see happen in my work. Someone who learns to postpone the climax breathes more calmly, stays in the moment, and is often present longer and more attentively than a man who races straight for the finish. Just don’t confuse that tension with a health benefit. And if your partner does it? That says nothing about you, and nothing about how much he wants you.
Where you can go
If your partner thinks it harms his body, or improves it, your GP is the place for the facts, not a forum full of confident stories. I’m a gigolo and psychotherapist, not a doctor. About the medical side I say nothing. If you want to discover how longer and more attentive sex feels, I’m happy to talk it through with you, and to explore it with you through tantra.
Sources
- What Is Semen Retention? Does It Have Health Benefits?. International Society for Sexual Medicine, 2022. Gives that the health claims around semen retention are not supported by scientific research.
Related terms
- Tantra. The tradition semen retention belongs to and where the idea of sex as energy comes from.
- Edging. Stopping just before the climax, the technique underneath semen retention.
- Orgasm control. Steering when and whether someone climaxes, of which semen retention is a spiritual variant.
- Libido. The appetite for sex, which this kind of exercise doesn’t measurably raise.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about this term
What is semen retention?
Semen retention is deliberately not ejaculating, or reaching climax without ejaculating, so as to hold on to your semen. The idea comes from tantra and the Taoist tradition, which see semen as life energy. In Dutch it is called zaadretentie.
Is semen retention healthy?
The health benefits attributed to semen retention, more energy or testosterone, are not supported by research. Your body doesn’t store testosterone by skipping an orgasm. The practice itself is not dangerous, unless someone clamps off the blood supply to hold back ejaculation.
Who can you turn to with questions about semen retention?
For the medical side of semen retention, whether it harms or helps your body, your GP is the right place. If you want to discover how longer, more attentive sex feels, you can come to me, Victor, with no obligation and for free. I’m a gigolo and psychotherapist, not a doctor, so I make no claims about health.
Learn more
Still have questions about semen retention?
I'm Victor, a gigolo and psychotherapist. The medical side belongs with your GP, but I'm happy to talk with you about longer, more attentive sex. Feel free to send me a message. Asking costs nothing and commits you to nothing.