Men's Health: Analyzing the Psychological Meaning of Sexual Sex and the Truth About Nocturnal Ejaculation

What does sexual psychology include?

Psychological activities refer to the intangible thoughts and imaginations that occur in the cerebral cortex. Sexual psychology, specifically, revolves around thoughts and imaginations related to sexual characteristics, sexual desire, and sexual behavior.

Sexual psychological activity is a dynamic process that can generally include the following:

1. Sexual feelings: This refers to the subtle emotional relationship between sexual partners, or the views and attitudes held towards the opposite sex or one's own sexual partner, and the emotional experiences arising from this. It is these sexual feelings that psychologically contribute to sufficient attraction between the sexes.

2. Sexual awareness: This refers to self-awareness of one's feelings, role, and status regarding sex. For example,

the awareness of whether one is male or female is a fundamental form of sexual awareness. Another example is the sexual desire that emerges in adolescents after puberty, a desire to be close to the opposite sex.

3. Sexual Knowledge: Any knowledge related to sexual issues, including physiological, psychological, moral, medical, and cultural aspects, once heard, seen, understood, or observed, can become knowledge, deeply imprinted in the mind, thus influencing sexual psychological activities.

4. Sexual Experience: Refers to feelings and memories related to sexual issues. After engaging in sexual activity, practice and experience are gained, leaving a deep "imprint" on the cerebral cortex. These experiences will be reawakened during subsequent sexual behavior and psychological activities, subtly influencing future sexual behavior and psychological activities.

5. Sexual Responsibility: Unlike animals, sexual behavior between men and women strictly adheres to social morality and family norms, meaning it must conform to social norms and fulfill social responsibilities. This sexual responsibility is also an important aspect of sexual psychological activities, constantly guiding or restraining one's sexual behavior.

6. Sexual Attitudes: Refers to views and attitudes towards sexual issues. Views on sexual issues are influenced by both traditional prejudices and scientific understanding, resulting in both correct and incorrect perceptions. For example, regarding the understanding of sex, a scientific attitude views sexual desire as a normal physiological and psychological activity, as the saying goes, "Food and sex are human nature." Another view considers sex to be obscene, dirty, and vulgar, with the saying "Lust is the root of all evil," and so on.

These six aspects constitute the important content of sexual psychology. These six aspects coexist, influence each other, permeate each other, and are interconnected to form a complete sexual psychological activity.

Sex psychology is the science that studies the psychological activities and laws of human sexual behavior. It is an important branch of psychology and also a comprehensive interdisciplinary subject.

The research objects of sex psychology include the development and changes of human sexual psychology, human sexual perversions, differences in male and female sexual psychology, sexual psychological adaptation in marriage, and various other issues. In sex psychology, it is necessary to explore both the biological basis of sexual psychological phenomena, such as the biological origin of sexual behavior and the physiological and anatomical basis of sexual psychology, and the sociological basis of sexual psychological phenomena, including the relationship between sexual behavior and family and marriage, and the relationship between sex education and sexual morality. Therefore, sex psychology is closely related to medicine, physiology, biology, ethics, sociology, and other fields.

The psychological content studied by sex psychology actually includes the psychology of love, mate selection, psychological responses to intercourse, sexual psychological disorders, psychological responses and hygiene during pregnancy, family planning psychology, psychology of sexual crimes, and the sexual psychological characteristics and adjustment of people with disabilities, etc.

In short, sex psychology studies the psychological processes accompanying sexual activity. Sexual psychology corresponds precisely to physiological activity; only by combining sexual physiology and psychology can the entire process of sexual activity be completed. The view that emphasizes physiology while neglecting psychology, including the approach of emphasizing physical aspects while neglecting psychological aspects in the analysis and treatment of sexual dysfunction, will not easily achieve the desired therapeutic effect.

What is nocturnal emission? What is the difference between nocturnal emission and spermatorrhea?

Ejaculation refers to a type of ejaculation that occurs outside of sexual intercourse. Traditional Chinese medicine classifies nocturnal emission into nocturnal emission and spermatorrhea. Nocturnal emission is when there is a dream; spermatorrhea is when there is no dream, or when ejaculation occurs due to sexual stimulation. Although the symptoms of the two conditions differ, their onset and causative factors are largely the same. Spermatorrhea often develops gradually from nocturnal emission. The onset of nocturnal emission is a signal of male puberty, a joyous event marking the beginning of sexual maturity and indicating that the boy has reached adulthood. Normal nocturnal emission is mostly a spontaneous overflow of semen, as simple as spitting out saliva, and does not affect health. Excessively frequent nocturnal emission or spermatorrhea may be a sign of a medical condition.

Modern medicine believes that spermatorrhea is caused by dysfunction of the spinal cord central nervous system, particularly the spinal cord center and ejaculation center. Long-term masturbation, excessive sexual activity, and many other factors can overburden the spinal cord center, causing a shift from enhanced excitation to weakened inhibition.

Is Nocturnal Emission Really Harmful to the Body?

"Semen overflows naturally when full" is perhaps a common experience for every mature man; few men have never experienced nocturnal emission. The problem is that some young men are terrified of it. Many boys, starting in puberty during middle school, become particularly sensitive to various physiological and psychological phenomena, with nocturnal emission being the most perplexing. Of course, everyone's mindset is different. The main concern is whether nocturnal emission is actually harmful to the body.

Statistics show that about 80% of unmarried adult men have experienced nocturnal emission. According to my survey of 112 male university students, 34.8% experienced it about once a month; 6.3% once a week; 28% occasionally, without a regular pattern; and only one person (0.9%) had never experienced it. Another survey found that 43.5% of university students experienced it once a month, 33.9% 2-4 times a month, and 12% more than 4 times a month. This indicates that nocturnal emission is very common among university students. However, many of these individuals still have a fear of it. Of the 4.4% who felt justified, 8.4% felt ashamed. However, since university students' sexual psychology is more mature than that of middle school students, the vast majority recognize it as a normal physiological phenomenon or are indifferent to it. In the student surveyed, 85.7% believed that nocturnal emission was a normal physiological phenomenon, 9.8% were unsure, and only 2.7% worried about it causing "kidney deficiency."

Ejaculation caused by erotic dreams during sleep is called nocturnal emission; nocturnal emission while awake is called spermatorrhea.

Usually, the vast majority of nocturnal emissions in unmarried young people are considered normal physiological phenomena of "spontaneous overflow of semen." Even married adults who have not had sexual intercourse for a long time, or men with normal marital relations, sometimes experience nocturnal emission, which is not surprising. However, if nocturnal emission is too frequent, more than three times a week, or occurs while awake, and is accompanied by fatigue or other discomfort afterward, it is considered pathological. The causes may include phimosis, prostatitis, or excessive erotic thoughts affecting the sexual center's control. This is caused by functional disorder.

Due to the influence of traditional beliefs, some people think "one drop of semen is worth ten drops of blood," and therefore feel anxious after nocturnal emission, fearing they will be anemic and weak. In fact, this worry is completely unnecessary. Due to historical limitations, the ancients could not analyze and test the composition of semen, but modern people can. According to scientific measurements, sperm accounts for less than 5% of semen; the main component is water, with about 60% seminal vesicle fluid, about 30% prostatic fluid, and small amounts of fructose, albumin, fat, enzymes, inorganic salts, and trace elements. While these substances do contain nutrients, for the human body, the loss of 2-5 ml of semen each time is negligible, and the lost amount can be quickly replenished by the body's strong reserves. Moreover, some young men only release urethral bulb gland secretions during sexual arousal and prostatic fluid when not sexually aroused, not actual semen. Therefore, healthy adolescents who have not engaged in sexual activity... Under normal circumstances, 1-3 nocturnal emissions per month, or even slightly more, are not abnormal and will not cause kidney deficiency, harm the body, or deplete vital energy.

Since nocturnal emissions can be normal or pathological, how do we distinguish between them? This should mainly be considered from the frequency of occurrence and whether there are systemic symptoms afterward. Normal nocturnal emissions are infrequent, about three or four times a month, or even less, and there is no discomfort afterward. Pathological nocturnal emissions are different; they are frequent, even more than twice a week, and some people experience seminal emission upon seeing a beautiful woman, unable to control themselves with the slightest sexual stimulation, resulting in excessive seminal emission. In Chapter 12 of *Dream of the Red Chamber*, "Wang Xifeng's Poisonous Scheme of Unrequited Love: Jia Tianxiang Gazes into the Mirror of Love and Lust," Jia Rui is a typical example of seminal emission upon seeing a beautiful woman. Although he was warned and advised by a lame Taoist priest, he ultimately could not change his ways and was beyond help. Some people experience dizziness, tinnitus, fatigue, memory loss, lower back pain, weak legs, vivid dreams, palpitations, etc., after frequent nocturnal emissions. If you become anxious or stressed about this, Self-blame and fear can further aggravate systemic symptoms, creating a vicious cycle. Therefore, one should maintain a calm and normal attitude towards nocturnal emission.

Some people say that young men who don't frequently experience nocturnal emission must have a problem, but this is not necessarily true. Some physically healthy men rarely experience nocturnal emission. Their cerebral cortex has well-developed excitation and inhibition regulation functions, and their nocturnal ejaculation center is rarely in an excited state. Coupled with a positive mindset and less concern about various sexual stimuli, they can go a long time without nocturnal emission.

Others ask: Since nocturnal emission is a physiological phenomenon that almost all normally developing men experience, why is there such a large difference in frequency and amount? For example, some men experience it every few days, while others only experience it once every few weeks, or even not for months. Some experience a large amount each time, while others only have a few drops. This is related to each person's constitution, physical condition, diet, lifestyle, higher nervous and endocrine activity, and the intensity and frequency of sexual information received; it cannot be a one-size-fits-all situation. For example, those with strong constitutions tend to have more semen, which can overflow. Even if it occurs more frequently, as long as there are no underlying health issues, it's considered normal and there's no need to worry unnecessarily. Those who are weak or have a history of neurasthenia may become anxious after even a few nocturnal emissions, feeling their bodies can't handle it. Those with normal nervous system function, even if they receive more sexual information, may not experience frequent nocturnal emissions. Conversely, those with unhealthy thoughts, low-level interests, uncontrollable desires, watching pornography, reading erotic books, and poor physical health may experience excessive nocturnal emissions. In such cases, it's necessary to consult a doctor for diagnosis and treatment, which may involve tonifying the kidneys and astringing essence, clearing heat and reducing fire, or harmonizing the heart and kidneys, depending on the patient's specific condition and a differentiated treatment plan.