8 expert tips on how to produce more semen

Why is semen quantity important to gay and bi men?

The amount of semen someone produces does not actually equate to “virility or youth,” but some gay and bisexual men still “find pleasure in the act of ejaculating, some find pleasure in consuming it, and some just enjoy the idea of having ejaculate inside of them, regardless of the quantity,” says sexual health expert Alex Garner, who is the senior director of strategic initiatives and communications for MPact Global, the leading global organization advancing queer health and human rights.

Garner tells Out that gay men should "feel comfortable with their bodies and sexual desires and should never feel ‘inadequate’ because of the quantity of ejaculate,” and that while “ejaculate is not the center of sexual acts, it is but one of a variety of ways to find pleasure.”

The reasons why some queer men love semen are varied, but Dr. Carlton Thomas, a gay gastroenterologist who focuses on queer health and a co-host of the podcast Butt Honestly with Dr. Carlton and Dangilo, says that “men who have sex with men often like the visual appeal of a large ejaculation and the perceived masculinity and validation it brings,” while many of the cis women he’s talked to are “completely grossed out by large ejaculations.”

Sofie Roos, a bisexual licensed sexologist, relationship therapist, and author at the relationship magazine Passionerad, primarily works with queer men in her practice. She says that people love having (or being covered in) big loads for both visual and tactile reasons. “Many gay and bi men simply find it sexy and hot when they or their partner cums a lot, both as it’s visually appealing but also as more volume leads to a stickier and wetter experience,” she explains.

Many people see large amounts of semen as “masculine, desirable and sexy” because they connect it to “testosterone, dominance and being sexually capable,” Roos says, but that doesn’t mean that everyone likes it. “Some prefer lots of cum, but there’s also men who like little semen for plenty of reasons, for example because they find it submissive or innocent, or simply because they aren’t into big loads or semen in general,” she says.

Do queer men feel anxiety about not ejaculating enough?

Queer men feel the pressure to cum during sex and often worry about the quantity of their semen — as no one wants to be seen as “shooting blanks.” Roos says that porn and social media are to blame and have led men to believe “everyone cums massively” when in reality “it’s actually an unrealistic ideal for most.”

This insecurity about “their masculinity, sexual function, health and desirability” causes some people to avoid sex, while others find themselves looking for solutions that are unhealthy, Roos says. “It pushes people to buy these products and supplements claiming to boost ejaculation while they in fact don't work, but only makes some people get rich on others’ insecurities,” she warns.

Roos also says that it’s normal for the quantity of your ejaculate to change over time, but if you notice “a sudden drop in volume, and if it doesn't go back to normal over time, then it’s a good idea to seek professional help, especially if this happens in combination with pain, discomfort, blood in the semen or other symptoms.”

Adult films and targeted ads are likely the biggest contributor to queer men feeling inadequate if they can’t ejaculate as much semen as their favorite porn star, according to Thomas. “Porn is also responsible for setting often unrealistic expectations in ejaculate volume,” he says. “We often have these toxic masculinity ideas placed on us by advertising that targets our sexuality. When in fact there is nothing about semen volume that makes a man more masculine or virile.”

Thomas says that anxiety comes when expectations don’t meet reality. “Men feel like ejaculation is like a fireworks show, the bigger the better, and we all want to feel like more than adequate,” he says.

This level of anxiety is real, which is why prioritizing pleasure and not the amount you cum and speaking “openly and honestly about sex without fear or judgment” is the key to creating “a stronger and healthier community,” Garner says.

“We can provide opportunities for people to discuss their sexual desires and explore their sexuality,” he says. “Our goal needs to be to do all we can to reduce anxiety in sex. That can be achieved with education, community, and by prioritizing pleasure.”

Tips for increasing your load

1. Drink more water

According to the Cleveland Clinic, seminal fluid is mostly water, mucus, and plasma, which means that you need to be drinking more water. “Hydration is important, and staying hydrated has many general health benefits,” Garner says.

2. Recalibrate your expectations

“It’s not the center of the experience and if the quantity of your ejaculate creates anxiety it is distracting from the pleasure of sex and the connection of people you might be with,” Garner says. “Get out of your head and enjoy yourself.”

Thomas agrees and reminds people that “semen volume varies considerably from person to person, and a larger ejaculate doesn’t necessarily mean better health, fertility, or sexual performance.”

3. Try edging

“Delaying the orgasm can help produce a stronger orgasm in the end and the act of edging, in and of itself, can be highly erotic and pleasurable and an excellent way to prolong pleasure alone or with partners,” Garner says.

4. Space out your orgasms

Roos says that it “takes a little time for the body to produce semen,” so you’ll have a bigger load if you don’t ejaculate every day. “So if you’d like to shoot extra semen for a specific occasion, then stay away from having a penis orgasm for at least two days,” she recommends.

5. Make lifestyle changes

It may not be sexy, but taking better care of yourself will ultimately help the amount of semen you produce, along with all of the other health-improving benefits. “Regular exercising, a good amount of sleep and a healthy and balanced diet will benefit your reproductive system, and will lead to more semen,” Roos says. “And even though the effect isn’t too dramatic, you’ll be noticing a positive change in the long run.”

6. Stay away from supplements

“There’s tons of supplements out there claiming that they will be making you shoot more semen during climax, but the science is lacking and there’s no proof that they actually work, and we are unsure about the eventual negative effects,” Roos says.

7. Avoid drinking alcohol and smoking

Thomas says that “avoiding smoking and heavy alcohol intake also helps,” so if you don’t want to “decrease semen volume,” you’ll need to find a new vice.

8. Check in with your doctor

According to Thomas, you should talk to your physician about “changing medications that affect ejaculation and correcting low testosterone levels” and get any “medical conditions affecting the prostate, seminal vesicles, or ejaculatory ducts” looked at and treated since they could be why you're not happy with the amount of semen your body produces.

Sources cited:

Alex Garner is a sexual health expert and the senior director of strategic initiatives and communications for MPact Global.

Dr. Carlton Thomas is a gay gastroenterologist who focuses on queer health and is the co-host of the podcast Butt Honestly with Dr. Carlton and Dangilo.

Sofie Roos is a bisexual licensed sexologist, relationship therapist and author at relationship magazine Passionerad.