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Question:
I recently started seeing a new man. We corresponded for a while before we met. Recently, we spent a weekend together and we slept together for the first time. My question is: Why would a man's semen have a rather unusually "pungent" odor. I have never encountered this before and I am in my mid-30's and usually enjoy oral sex, but can not bring myself to do this because of the odor of his semen. Please give advice...I really love this man and would like to build a long-term sexually healthy relationship. Thank you for the service.

Answer:
by Annette Owens:
(05/15/2004)
First of all, everyone is different and has different body odors. I do not know of any specific reason for why your boyfriend’s semen has a pungent odor. Any strong odor can always be caused by an infection. However, your boyfriend would most likely experience other symptoms such as unusual discharge, pain in the testicles or when urinating, and possibly fever. It may be related to his diet, but several other unknown causes related to his body chemistry may play a role. Here are a few ideas for you: Get nice smelling soaps, a soft sponge, and whatever “bath-tools” you can think of. Make a mutual bath a fun and initial part of your lovemaking. Some of the odor may be reduced or overshadowed by more appealing odors. You could experiment having oral sex with condoms, which is a good idea under all circumstances since he is a new partner. There are even flavored condoms for oral sex. Check out the Good Vibration’s website at www.goodvibes.com for ideas. I know that they carry one kind called “Kiss of Mint.” One thing that is important to remember is, that his odor may change over time. For example, some people who eat raw garlic on a daily base for health reasons perspire the odor of garlic through their entire body. Once they stop eating garlic, the odor stops after a while. Good luck! Annette Owens, MD PhD

Reviewed by Sexual Health Editorial Team

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