What is the reason for frequent nocturnal emissions in adult men?

Author: Yuan Yifeng, deputy chief physician of the First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine

Reviewer: Peng Jing, Chief Physician, Peking University First Hospital

Xiao Li is 19 years old and usually in good health. He occasionally has nocturnal emissions after puberty. But for some reason, Xiao Li has had frequent nocturnal emissions recently, even 4 to 5 times a week, so he went to the hospital for treatment.

After examination by the doctor, it was found that Xiao Li was suffering from seminal vesiculitis. His recent frequent nocturnal emissions were pathological and he needed to actively cooperate with the treatment.

So, in daily life, how can male friends distinguish whether they have normal nocturnal emission or pathological nocturnal emission?

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1. Spermatorrhea, is it a sign of illness?

For healthy adult men, nocturnal emission is a normal physiological phenomenon. It is not only a state of sperm self-renewal, but also a side reflection of male health.

Generally speaking, unmarried young men or married young men who are separated from their spouses are more likely to have nocturnal emissions. This is because young men have strong sexual desires, so the frequency of nocturnal emissions is relatively high. But this does not mean that nocturnal emissions only occur in young men, but also in older men!

As they age, the sexual desire of older men decreases, but it does not stop completely. Therefore, it is normal for them to have occasional nocturnal emissions.

The main reason why men have nocturnal emission is because of "overflowing semen". After entering puberty, as male sexual development matures, the reproductive organ testicles will produce sperm, and the seminal vesicles, accessory glands and prostate will secrete seminal plasma, and sperm and seminal plasma together constitute semen.

Once semen begins to be produced, it will gradually increase. When it accumulates to a certain amount, there is no place for it to stay in the body. At this time, the semen must be discharged from the body.

Generally speaking, it is normal for men to have 1 to 2 nocturnal emissions per week. However, if the following two situations occur, pathological nocturnal emissions should be suspected: ① Nocturnal emissions several times a night or several times a week, frequent nocturnal emissions during normal sexual life, or nocturnal emissions after only general contact with the opposite sex; ② When nocturnal emissions occur, men also experience symptoms such as soreness of the waist and knees, and mental fatigue.

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2. What are the causes of pathological spermatorrhea?

Clinically, pathological spermatorrhea may be caused by the following four reasons.

1. Lack of sexual knowledge and excessive attention to sexual issues

When men pay too much attention to sexual topics, their cerebral cortex will be in a state of continuous excitement, thus inducing nocturnal emission.

2. Excessive fatigue

Excessive fatigue, including excessive physical or mental exertion, can also induce male nocturnal emission.

3. Local stimulation

When a man's clothes are too tight or the bedding is too heavy when he sleeps, it will irritate the external genitalia and cause nocturnal emission.

4. Stimulation of inflammation such as balanitis, seminal vesiculitis or prostatitis

If a man is stimulated by inflammation such as balanitis, seminal vesiculitis or prostatitis, he may also have nocturnal emission. Therefore, for frequent nocturnal emission caused by this situation, targeted treatment must be carried out as soon as possible.

3. What are the precautions for treating frequent nocturnal emission?

To treat frequent spermatorrhea, you should pay attention to the following five points:

1. You should learn scientific sex knowledge , pay attention to adjusting your own mental state, and don't focus on sex topics for a long time.

2. Pay attention to the combination of work and rest . Those who are under great pressure from study or work, or who have great physical and mental consumption, should pay attention to rest more and do more outdoor sports, such as mountain climbing, playing ball, cycling, etc. A regular work and rest schedule can help reduce the possibility of frequent nocturnal emissions.

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3. Get rid of some bad habits that may cause nocturnal emission . For example, men should try not to wear tight pants all the time or take hot baths too frequently.

4. When men have frequent nocturnal emissions , they can refer to the three points mentioned above for self-adjustment. If the situation does not improve after self-adjustment, they should go to the urology or men's department of a regular hospital as soon as possible to further determine the cause and then receive targeted treatment.

5. It is particularly important to mention that older men should also pay attention to calculating their current frequency of nocturnal emissions. Once an abnormally high frequency of nocturnal emissions occurs, it is recommended to go to the hospital to check whether there are any reproductive or urinary system diseases, neurological diseases or endocrine diseases.