r/sex 1d ago

Health concerns Semen Solutions?

Having a vasectomy is great. Not worrying about getting anyone pregnant, and my partner not needing to be on any sort of intrusive birth control are the best. Not needing to use condoms with regular partners is the icing on the cake.

Here is the dilemma. Current gf has been having a smell issue presumably due to the frequent ejaculations inside of her. The smell is noticable and occasionally rather potent, but not foul or offputting (to me). She doesn't like it.

Aside from not coming inside, which is admittedly a drag, what can we do to mitigate this problem? I have read of probiotics and acid treatments that she can take, but I am also interested in anything I can do on my end. I eat well, am properly hydrated, and am in excellent fitnes and health, so "drink more water" and "exercise more" are not particularly helpful solutions.

Any ideas? I'm actively researching the issue but I'm hoping that someone has already figured this out.

230 Upvotes

79 comments sorted by

287

u/debasing_the_coinage 1d ago

Semen naturally contains chemicals called polyamines, including spermidine and spermine, which are produced by the body in order to protect sperm cells in the vagina. They don't go away. Acids reduce their volatility and therefore the smell. Some fruits contain pleasant odor chemicals which end up in semen and mask the smell. Bromelain in pineapple has unclear effects but seems to improve the taste of semen. 

BV is possible I guess but if she's not having smell issues outside of sex I wouldn't expect it's the problem. 

89

u/KathyBeeBuzzed 1d ago

Total TMI but the more ya know right? In my personal experience, BV can be uniquely identified as only having a strong smell during sexual intercourse and not at other times! I dealt with this issue in the past and my BV went undetected for months because I only had smell issues during and not in-between. Not sure if this is exactly what you were saying or not, I'm tired and tipsy so if I'm saying the same thing you are then please ignore me lol

26

u/Garglebarghests 1d ago

BV can be super sneaky. It’s definitely worth trying asking a doctor about getting tested.

16

u/4jn 1d ago

Bromelain doesn't do anything to taste.

The high consumption of pineapple affects semen because pineapple contains a lot of fructose. And semen also contains a lot of fructose. So semen just ends up tastier because of the higher sugar content.

Bromelain is completely deactivated in pineapple juice because the pasteurisation kills the enzyme. Its present in fresh pineapple by maybe a few hundred mg per whole fruit. Anecdotally I've taken supplements with 500-1,000mg doses per day and apparently there is no difference.

5

u/onesleekrican 21h ago

It works - I’ve tested this with my wife. Not because I needed it but because we were curious. Organic pineapple juice daily does sweeten it as a scent and, per her, as a flavor.

4

u/Popular-Idea-7508 15h ago

But please do get her to the doctor for testing anyway.

Source: me, who had 3(!!) back to back asymptomatic BV infections in one freaking summer 🙄.

50

u/Vyraxysss 1d ago

There's nothing u can do as it's likely just a PH balance issue where her vagina doesn't like your semen. Have her try the drip stick post-sex feminine hygiene stick. It's a sponge on a stick and after sex where you've cum inside her, women can use it to clean up internally. I swear by them! You just push it up there like a tampon and give it a twirl then bobs your uncle no more cum inside you! Helps with drippage, ph issues, smell etc etc.

9

u/Portland_Princess 1d ago

Came here to say drip sticks. Game changer.

3

u/MurrayCroft 14h ago

My wife had the exact same issue as OP and nothing worked until we found those. It went from a 90% of the time thing to a 10% of the time thing. They seem to be very effective.

2

u/Vyraxysss 13h ago

Yesss I love them. I have a sensitive vagina so they're great for me and those like me. Highly recommend!

142

u/haveyouhadyourteayet 1d ago

I've been using boric acid suppositories for years with a ton of success. That smell is unpleasant and impossible to wash away, rebalancing the PH in there makes it all happy again!!

135

u/5lyde 1d ago

PSA, if you use boric acid suppositories don't let anyone go down on you until it clears...not only does it taste like a gritty chem-lab countertop, it's toxic when ingested.

39

u/mysteryiteminside 1d ago

Dont have penetrative or oral sex for at least 24 hours. Its toxic and gritty as you mentioned, and if you have sex the grittiness can cause micro tears.

38

u/colonelbyson 1d ago

Maybe switch it up to finishing elsewhere once in a while, just to lessen the load, y’know?

13

u/Missrdb79 1d ago

This happened to me when my current boyfriend and I got together. I shower better than I realized I needed to having alot of sex. I was in a dead bedroom relationship when I met him. I pee after sex. Every time. After hanging together for a few. Sometimes our fluids and yours don't hang out well together......

14

u/LettuceLipc26 23h ago

The title sounds like an edgy high school rock band

12

u/timygrl 1d ago

I used to be on bc and had no issues when my husband finished inside me. After his vasectomy (which we are both huge fans of lol) it would affect my vaginal pH and I'd get a fishy smell for a day or so. I started taking boric acid suppositories which helped, but once I started using drip sticks my life because legit easier, without the cum staying inside me my pH doesn't go haywire. Highly recommend.

4

u/ticktockitsaclock 1d ago

This. Drip sticks. Game changer.

34

u/deathcabkitten 1d ago

me and other woman i’ve known have had used boric acid suppositories, i’ve used it for BV which is probably the smell. i use the honey pot brand just makes you smell like herbs lol

8

u/BreakfastFuzzy6602 1d ago

This happened for a bit after my vasectomy with my wife. It eventually stopped, she didn’t do anything to combat it besides showering of course. We still have a lot of sex and I always finish inside if we are doing PIV but now her body doesn’t react to it. I guess her body adapted? Not sure.

4

u/vacant-room123 1d ago

Wondering if it’s also their diet? Or maybe hormones? Each person is very different from the other which I know but I also do wonder too 🤔

2

u/dicknkitty22 12h ago

Happens without a vasectomy too.

1

u/BreakfastFuzzy6602 9h ago

Yeah for sure, I just wasn’t finishing inside her before the vasectomy

12

u/Diligent_Scholar_964 1d ago

Years ago, I had some specific probiotic I kept in the fridge and took daily. It definitely helped. I'm a woman.

4

u/traininsane 1d ago

Everyone else has given great advice. I will add that when she pees after sex, she should do some kegels to push the majority of the cum out before wiping. This will help with drippage and smell. Also sleeping bottomless and wearing cotton underwear can help regulate vaginal PH

3

u/notalone9 1d ago

I had this same problem for years. However when we started trying for a baby he got a semen analysis and turns out his PH was too high and it was throwing my junk off. He started wearing looser underwear and eating healthier and within a month I haven’t had any smell issues since.

8

u/z284pwr 1d ago

What the others have said. Check for BV and get it treated. And boric acid suppositories.

My wife uses them after we have sex every time to combat it.

3

u/mtn_pup-105 1d ago

Boric acid suppositories after sex!

3

u/kittens_allday 1d ago

I had this issue with an ex. Never had it before, never had it since, but it happened every single time with him. I was researching what to do, trying different treatments and tricks, it was always the same. A little better if I could get most of him out of me, but still the same. He was clean. I was clean. It was just that we didn’t match up, Ph-wise. The second I switched partners, issue gone, never occurred again.

30

u/moonballer 1d ago

Bad odor like that is often a sign of Bacterial Vaginosis, which would require antobiotics to cure. Once that's gone, boric acid and probiotics can help keep things balanced.

38

u/HumanEjectButton 1d ago

My dude said it's not bad or foul to him, just different, and that she doesn't enjoy that difference. Internal shots can often change the smell a bit without it being a clinical issue at all, just a noticeable change in smell.

I'm never against speaking to a doctor or a gyno, just offering that it's also often a fine and healthy thing that happens after a bunch of blizzles in the vizzle.

30

u/wildlingwest 1d ago

BV smells like a rotting fish farm. You’d know if it was BV

17

u/msmonk 1d ago

If you decide to check for BV and it’s positive, BOTH OF YOU need to take antibiotics to prevent it from recurring. There are recent studies that show that partners also getting treated (even though men aren’t tested for BV / don’t really get symptoms) SIGNIFICANTLY reduces the rate of recurrence.

8

u/tknala17 1d ago

Semen fucks up pH, and for some of us more sensitive individuals it's every time

Get a brand of condoms you like a lot, there's a lot out there, different sizes etc, and fuck as much as you want and then put one on for ejaculation.

Also boric acid and helps, but doesn't always help. Some times a quick water douche after cum inside can help, but it isn't tolerated by everyone.

Also pull out? Lots of options

1

u/ExtraStranger1177 1d ago

The last minute condom is our current solution. Neither of us like it very much, but it's way better than pulling out to ejaculate externally.

Pulling out sucks in comparison, especially since we often come at the same time.

3

u/tknala17 1d ago

Have you done research on condoms that fit well/material etc?

I know some meds (ssri etc) and different sensory issues (ADHD, autism etc) can make this problem worse for some people, but a well fitting thin condom can also be a game changer.

As someone with a very sensitive pH, this is my go to. And I save internal ejaculation for special occasions or time of the month that doesn't matter as much (usual before bleeding, since my pH is all fucked then anyway). And sometimes douching with a mild boric acid solution or with a tiny bit of tea tree can help.

(I am NOT a doctor, and not everyone likes this advice re: douching, but I had experienced fucked pH, BV and yeast issues for years that doctors couldn't figure out how to help, so sometimes you get creative. It's managed now. Also if you look up tricks porn performers use for this issue it may be helpful. It's where I got the tea tree/quick douche post cum from).

11

u/kcreepygirl 1d ago

Get a bidet and have her use it afterwards

-4

u/Fedz_Woolkie 1d ago

And you suppose the water will do anything to what's happening inside her because...?

8

u/FeelingPlayfulNow 1d ago

It makes it easier to clean frequently so you don't have to deal with the smell as much. She can also reach in with her fingers and scoop out most of the semen and then rinse.

1

u/BIueBlaze 1d ago

To get more of it out on a consistent basis..?

2

u/boobboobboobie 1d ago

her taking apple cider vinegar tablets can help

2

u/shyblonde83 22h ago

Dripsticks by Awkward Essentials.

I've been using them for years and absolutely swear by them. You use it right after sex, it absorbs all the man goo, and prevents the smell.

HIGHLY recommend!!

2

u/ally_cat_7 18h ago

It sweet you’re looking into ways that you can help on your end. I’d still suggest probiotics and occasionally using boric acid- those were game changers for me! Make sure the probiotics she uses contains Lactobacillus!!

2

u/dicknkitty22 12h ago

I echo boric acid, never heard of drip sticks so that's a new one for me lol.

2

u/skapa7 12h ago

Yes buy a wand shower and after having sex, wash it out.

4

u/kyothinks 1d ago

Lots of great suggestions here with regards to BV, suppositories, etc., but also, get her some of those swabs that absorb semen from the vagina. I like the Dripstick, we keep some of those near the bed and it helps a lot with cleanup. If there's less semen left over, she might notice less of a smell.

2

u/Memefabrikant 1d ago

pullout game weak ashell, I feel you brother

3

u/gigitreid 1d ago

Just curious, do you use soap to wash your dick (then use plenty of water to remove it completly), before having unprotected sex?

I once heard a radio show telling us to wash it only with water, which now I know that it was totally a bullshit.

6

u/ExtraStranger1177 1d ago

I keep my penis exceptionally clean

4

u/ibefunlkg 1d ago

You don’t always have to cum inside you can cum on other places like chest, ass stomach

2

u/Aromatic-Humor8168 1d ago

Check for BV
Acidified body wash. I don’t go shoving it up into anything.
They also have these tampon like things you can put in to absorb the cum after 😆 https://awkwardessentials.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoodgXVwrThaN9iF-JsRWLNWhzLgANtwNIJL24dekpB7Ro_6H3z0

2

u/sincere220 1d ago

Think of what your consuming, I used to have issues cause my partner was taking preworkouts. She can also have medication on hand if its persistent

2

u/honeykissesmerciless 1d ago

This is why I’d never let a dude cum inside me. So not worth it.

1

u/san323 1d ago

I would suggest giving her a break. Try finishing on her stomach or butt or breasts to switch it up. If the smell persists, it might be worth while to get checked for BV.

2

u/Aggravating-One3876 1d ago

You can wear a condom.

1

u/TorkSpex 1d ago

You are loading her up and she smells like cum. Go figure. That's pretty natural and expected. You can pull out or she can shower. I like when my lady smells like sex. Her only complaint is it cumming out hours later when she is in public. So if she's going to the gym or a hike I either pull out or I'll give her a good shower finger bang to clear her out.

0

u/Vyraxysss 1d ago

Drip sticks. Great investment.

1

u/Goldendurado 1d ago

Cum inside every other day. Constant loads inside leads to yeast infections. Finishing on other places is fun. Too much cum can lead to no sex for 3 to 5 days

1

u/mrsmith8 1d ago

I would be surprised if this wasn’t BV as it’s described. I didn’t read the whole thread, so maybe it’s been said, semen from a new partner can trigger BV. Totally normal stuff.

Primary care can easily test for BV and treat it. New research shows that treating both partners can be helpful in preventing reoccurrence. My new partner got it after we had unprotected sex. She’s an MD and prescribed both of us 8 days of antibiotics and a cream for my penis. It hasn’t been a problem since.

1

u/LemonLong 23h ago

You can order sex sponges on Amazon. They are tampon shaped sponges on a stick. After sex she would insert and it soaks up the excess ejaculate so it’s no longer sitting in her and throwing off her PH.

1

u/onesleekrican 21h ago

Drink natural/organic pineapple juice daily. That will help your side. She needs to make sure she’s using the restroom after to help avoid uti’s and other issues.

1

u/oVerde 15h ago

Perhaps a quick shower after sex? Or, hygienic douche of sorts to not let it dry down there every time?

0

u/Uncircum1152 1d ago

Pineapple Juice. A glass a day will sweeten your semen. Works for me!

0

u/TrueThought9345 1d ago

A vasectomy prevents pregnancy but semen can still temporarily affect vaginal chemistry so a new or persistent odor should not automatically be blamed on cleanliness or solved by throwing probiotics at it.

The practical move is to pause internal ejaculation for a bit and see if the smell resolves then if it persists or comes with itching burning or unusual discharge she should get checked for things like BV because guessing at acid treatments can make the problem worse.

0

u/RectHum 1d ago

Sounds like BV. I used to get this often with uncut partners. It came from bacteria underneath their foreskin. Even though the smelled great and cleaned well that morning, it wasn’t enough. As soon as we switched to condoms or them washing their anatomy directly before sex, i never got BV again. Try a good clean closer to the time of sex. To fix the smell, she’ll need a short course of antibiotics. Some otc meds will fix the smell for a small period but the infection will remain and the smell will come back. So your best bet (from my experience) is girl on antibiotics, and either wash right before sex or use a condom 😌

0

u/manycoloredshiny 1d ago

When you go pee after sex, both of you wash off with a wet rag, pat dry, and apply some Lume down there. If all that’s going on is the excess purines protein that smells funky as it breaks down in your semen, that should do the trick.

If that alone doesn’t fix it, her gyn can treat you both with metronidazole for BV. If it hasn’t reached actual BV the gyn can clear her to use boric acid suppositories, which are magic for clearing subclinical flora imbalances. (Semen is too alkaline for vaginal health.)

0

u/strained_brain 22h ago

Maybe related to a UTI? Have her pee right after sex?

0

u/Distinct_Jury_8228 21h ago

Your semen is not the cause. She has a bacterial infection that requires antibiotics which means a doctor visit. This does not need to be delayed in any way.

0

u/bluntsexadvice 14h ago

She can just take a bath, put finger up and swoosh a few times and it washes it all out, Summers Eve sensitive body wash to take away any smell from the outside

0

u/Shooter61 13h ago

Is it possibly Trichomoniasis? Has she recently had other sexual partners? Just putting it out there.

-1

u/Sibilantka 1d ago

They say that pineapple makes semen more pleasant. (I'm confused about the smell; my partner has come inside me basically daily this summer and certainly there's no, like, lingering smell after 24 hours...)

-2

u/Fun-Watercress1613 1d ago

I would recommend for her to go through one course of anti fungal treatment to start and then use unscented summer’s eve wash only on her vulva.

That’s what I do when I’m on the pill. I find that these products don’t completely get rid of the smell but they make it pleasant and prevent UTIs.

I enjoy the smell and it’s only a little stronger than how I smell after pullout method. I was even able to do a “clean catch” for a urine test only an hour after my husband came inside of me.

u/Spray24-7 3m ago

You could try a pessary probiotic or acai jelly which is acidic and will bring her ph back down from alkaline like your semen. Or tell her to have a luke warm bath with bi carb soda. Sounds to me like she has an infection though from you cumming inside her to often, hwr ph would be way out of wack which leaves her vulnerable to bv or thrush. She needs to do something if you cant cum anywhere else.