Does Semen Have Antidepressant Properties?
It's weird psychology study time again. If there was ever research guaranteed to make women suspicious of male researcher's motivations it's this one. Pointed out to me by a kind email correspondent (thank you!), this study tests a hypothesis put forward by Ney (1986) suggesting that prostaglandins, a component of semen, may actually be useful in treating depression.
No condom = less depression?
Inspired by this, Gallup, Burch and Platek (2002) decided to look for a correlation between condom use and levels of depression in undergraduate women. Their headline results were as follows:
- Women having sex without condoms (often using alternative methods of contraception) were less depressed than those using condoms.
- Numbers of reported suicide attempts were proportional to consistency of condom use (less consistent use was associated with fewer suicide attempts).
- For those not using condoms, depression scores increased with the time since they last had sex.
While there's all sorts of objections flying around my head, this last one sounds particularly unconvincing. After all there could be all sorts of reasons why those who had sex more recently are less depressed, right?
But consider the fact that there was no relationship between depression scores and time since last having sex for those reported using condoms most or all of the time. Then this last finding is a little stronger.
A closer look does, however, reveal one contradictory result: that those who always used condoms had considerably lower depression scores than those who usually used condoms. This is the reverse of the headline trend.
More questions than answers
The authors are the first to admit that their data are preliminary, correlational and raise more questions than they answer. Like all good scientists they consider all sorts of alternative explanations for their findings. These include whether using an oral contraceptive, being in a relationship or taking part in high-risk activities might have an effect on depressive scores.
The authors also consider different ways of testing the hypothesis further - all of which would probably require much more work in convincing an ethics committee. In fact, this may well be one of those situations where the intrusive nature of a more conclusive study is just not warranted when balanced against the potential gain in knowledge.
Still, never say never. And if there's anything in it, no doubt we'll start seeing a new sight on the high street: 'Semen Cafes'. This time, for real.
» Read more weird psychology studies.
References
Gallup, Burch, & Platek. (2002). Does Semen Have Antidepressant Properties? Archives of Sexual Behavior, 31(3), 289-293.
Ney, P. G. (1986). The intravaginal absorption of male generated hormones and their possible effect on female behavior. Medical Hypotheses, 20, 221-231.
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And here I was thinking that men were the major cause of depression in women. Oh, well.
This reminds me of the old SatireWire (R.I.P.) "report" Women Who Drink Are More Fun to Study.
I have to say, the correlative nature of this study makes me highly suspicious, since I would figure a woman's mood, attitude, and outlook would influence her (or, perhaps indirectly, her choice of partner and therefore his) contraceptive choices much more than the reverse.
Still, fertile ground for further research. Perhaps it would be helpful to investigate whether prostaglandins have the same modulating effect when delivered through other means. An oral dose perhaps?
I think it is more likely a biological response to the idea of impregnation. Bodies have a funny way of prepping themselves for things and for 'helping' us to want to reproduce.
I personally think that people would be more relaxed when using contraception as they do not have to the risk of pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases. The condom is the only guaranteed way to stop these happening. So i would say that this study needs more consideration.
That women using birth control other than condoms get more depressed as time since sex increases than women using condoms seems simple enough. I would bet that women are statistically more likely be using non-condom birth control if they are in a serious relationship than if the sex is more casual (and vice versa). And of course not having sex for a while when you're in relationship is going to be more worrisome than gaps in sex when you aren't.
If a proportionate number of lesbians are depressed, it means nothing. If more lesbians, proportionately, are depressed, then it may mean something. If a greater number of lesbians, proportionately, are NOT depressed, then it means nothing. Then again, depression amongst homosexuals is typically societal due to the feeling of being outcast, unacceptable, etc. Even happy homosexuals have anger at the heterosexual world, in general, due to the constant attempts at suppression of their natural sexual orientation. So, maybe we should research the levels of depression in gay men, too. Either way, I'm a happy lesbian despite my lack of semen. Cheers!
this article is really nice thanx for sharing it
Do I have this right?
Men aren't depressed, 'cause they have the sperm. Women without sperm are depressed.
And...
Men like to have sex more than women do.
So...
Do I see a mutually beneficial arrangement here?
prostiglandins..(sp) aren't they the little buggers responsible for period pain? that's what period pain medication targets anyway... interesting how the thing that causes so much pain physically might cause emotional/mental stability...
It's way too early to analyze these findings, for one. Secondly, the analysis is speculative, and in the realm of science can not be respected because it is not falsifiable or anywhere close to being validated. And only a dolt would make me explain why - because anybody who knows anything about the scientific method, etc.
Surely there could be other factors that affect the results here, for example it is common knowledge that the use of a condom somewhat results in a less 'sensual' experience during love-making; therefore it could be down to the sensations during the love-making rather than the actual in-take of semen.
However, I must say that this study is very interesting.