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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 21 of 21. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jakeman on June 20, 2005, at 20:21:57
Interesting study. I had thought this was an urban myth. But maybe not.
~J
Does semen have antidepressant properties?Gallup GG Jr, Burch RL, Platek SM.
Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Albany, Albany, New York, USA. gallup@csc.albany.edu
In a sample of sexually active college females, condom use, as an indirect measure of the presence of semen in the reproductive tract, was related to scores on the Beck Depression Inventory. Not only were females who were having sex without condoms less depressed, but depressive symptoms and suicide attempts among females who used condoms were proportional to the consistency of condom use. For females who did not use condoms, depression scores went up as the amount of time since their last sexual encounter increased. These data are consistent with the possibility that semen may antagonize depressive symptoms and evidence which shows that the vagina absorbs a number of components of semen that can be detected in the bloodstream within a few hours of administration.
MeSH Terms:
Condoms/utilization
Depression/diagnosis
Depression/epidemiology
Depression/psychology*
Female
Humans
Male
Prevalence
Questionnaires
Semen/physiology*
Severity of Illness Index
Suicide, Attempted/statistics & numerical dataPMID: 12049024 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Posted by linkadge on June 20, 2005, at 21:09:09
In reply to Sex and depression, posted by Jakeman on June 20, 2005, at 20:21:57
Yeah, I read this study, although I don't think it means much for me.
Linkadge
Posted by Sarah T. on June 20, 2005, at 21:42:05
In reply to Sex and depression, posted by Jakeman on June 20, 2005, at 20:21:57
You can be sure that any antidepressant benefits experienced by the women from semen as a result of unprotected sex are overwhelmingly offset by the depression and numerous physical complications that result from contracting sexually transmitted diseases, some of which are fatal.
I'll be willing to bet that GG Gallup, RL Burch, and SM Platek, the authors of the study, are all males. Studies like this should not be funded until AIDS, cancer, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune diseases and *MENTAL ILLNESS* are eradicated globally.
Posted by Jakeman on June 20, 2005, at 21:53:07
In reply to Re: Sex and depression, posted by linkadge on June 20, 2005, at 21:09:09
> Yeah, I read this study, although I don't think it means much for me.
>
> LinkadgeOh come on Link, you're the man...
Posted by tealady on June 21, 2005, at 2:42:37
In reply to Re: Sex and depression, posted by linkadge on June 20, 2005, at 21:09:09
> Yeah, I read this study, although I don't think it means much for me.
>
> LinkadgeLOL, why not? I vaguely recall a few studies on this and they all seemed to agree as well..something I think about prostaglandins maybe stimulating contractions and lowering depression. ..and also modulating hormone levels etc
here's one
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=3637620&query_hl=17
But also in blokes I suspect similar effects may be from prostaglandins ?? Cause it makes no diff to you if you use condoms or not at least as far prostaglandins go, but fish oil may? (sorry Lar if You're reading this couldn't resist that one :-)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=2111571&itool=iconabstr&query_hl=20tea
Posted by Jakeman on June 21, 2005, at 5:30:04
In reply to This study should've never been funded » Jakeman, posted by Sarah T. on June 20, 2005, at 21:42:05
> I'll be willing to bet that GG Gallup, RL Burch, and SM Platek, the authors of the study, are all males. Studies like this should not be funded until AIDS, cancer, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune diseases and *MENTAL ILLNESS* are eradicated globally.Gordon Gallup and and Steven Platek are males. Rebecca Burch is female. They have published a number of papers in the area of biopsychology and evolutionary psychology, fields that I find quite interesting.
~Jake
Posted by Declan on June 21, 2005, at 15:30:18
In reply to Sex and depression, posted by Jakeman on June 20, 2005, at 20:21:57
This is Taoism, right? But what about a study comparing the response of men and women to semen, however you might do that?
Declan
Posted by linkadge on June 21, 2005, at 20:19:15
In reply to Re: This study should've never been funded » Sarah T., posted by Jakeman on June 21, 2005, at 5:30:04
I do believe studies like this should be funded.
Yes, I know there are problems with the drug's method of administration, but if there turns out to be a link, then research into the exact mechanism migh result in a safe and effective application.
Linkadge
Posted by linkadge on June 21, 2005, at 20:25:22
In reply to Re: Sex and depression » linkadge, posted by Jakeman on June 20, 2005, at 21:53:07
The body is a very dumb thing. It goes throwing around what might acutally save its life. Why can't it just get with the program??
Linkadge
Posted by Cecilia on June 23, 2005, at 3:48:38
In reply to Sex and depression, posted by Jakeman on June 20, 2005, at 20:21:57
I agree this study should never have been funded, because it`s absurdly bad science. Can these idiotic researchers really be so stupid as to not think there`s any difference between the two groups besides exposure to semen? It never occurred to them that maybe the women who didn`t use condoms were more likely to be in a monogamous relationship with someone they trusted and THAT was why they were less depressed? Cecilia
Posted by Gabbi-x-2 on June 23, 2005, at 14:41:03
In reply to Re: Sex and depression, posted by Cecilia on June 23, 2005, at 3:48:38
> I agree this study should never have been funded, because it`s absurdly bad science. Can these idiotic researchers really be so stupid as to not think there`s any difference between the two groups besides exposure to semen? It never occurred to them that maybe the women who didn`t use condoms were more likely to be in a monogamous relationship with someone they trusted and THAT was why they were less depressed? Cecilia
No kidding, it's like saying pet hair has antidepressant properties, when the reality is people who have a pet are less likely to feel lonely and depressed. I wonder if they tested any women in gay relationships.. Somehow I doubt it.*ugh*
Posted by Gabbi-x-2 on June 23, 2005, at 14:44:27
In reply to Re: Sex and depression Sarah T » Cecilia, posted by Gabbi-x-2 on June 23, 2005, at 14:41:03
I suppose it's not surprising, Male scientists and philosophers have been attributing magical powers to their d*cks for as long as their has been recorded history.
Posted by linkadge on June 23, 2005, at 15:56:28
In reply to Re: Sex and depression .. Then again, posted by Gabbi-x-2 on June 23, 2005, at 14:44:27
I really don't see the harm in this. In science if you come up with a link like this, then I really think it is worth presuing. Personnally I don't see how a monogomous relationship would make you any less depressed at all. I mean about 95% of my church is on antidepressants, and they're not the type of people who go around sleeping with everbody. Depression does not show mercy just because an individual is morrally upstanding.
What if there was a link? Hormones are extrordinarily powerfull mood modulators. If someting so small can cause a chain reaction of events so profound as to cause the development of another human being, then it is concievable that they are strong enough to elicit changes in mood too.
Linkadge
Posted by Declan on June 23, 2005, at 16:08:05
In reply to Re: Sex and depression .. Then again, posted by linkadge on June 23, 2005, at 15:56:28
I''m with you there Link. I don't see anything particularly odd about the idea. All this hormonal stuff absorbed through the mucosa. Of course something in the condoms might be poisonous.
Declan
Posted by Gabbi-x-2 on June 23, 2005, at 16:29:57
In reply to Re: Sex and depression .. Then again, posted by Declan on June 23, 2005, at 16:08:05
> I''m with you there Link. I don't see anything particularly odd about the idea. All this hormonal stuff absorbed through the mucosa. Of course something in the condoms might be poisonous.
> DeclanWell I don't think it's actually harmful, and it does make a certain amount of sense, hormones are powerful, apparently people digest food better if they are not alone, because of hormone secretion, and heal better as well. But the argument goes both ways, if half the people in the church are in relationships and on anti-depressants it doesn't sound like the effect could be very significant, unless of course they aren't having sex.. which is possible.
However, I certainly don't have the knowledge to guess one way or another.At any rate it should certainly make many teenage boys happy.. "Come on honey, It'll make you feel better, I'm not kidding..."
Posted by Jakeman on June 23, 2005, at 19:35:40
In reply to Re: Sex and depression, posted by Cecilia on June 23, 2005, at 3:48:38
> I agree this study should never have been funded, because it`s absurdly bad science. Can these idiotic researchers really be so stupid as to not think there`s any difference between the two groups besides exposure to semen? It never occurred to them that maybe the women who didn`t use condoms were more likely to be in a monogamous relationship with someone they trusted and THAT was why they were less depressed? Cecilia
Perhaps the study is flawed. I don't know. I've been trying to find the full text version...does anyone have it? According to an article in New Scientist the researchers somehow controlled for the above mentioned variable.
Other research has shown that androsterone has mood elevating effects on women. I don't have the references readily available but I can check later.
I'm interested in any research that helps my understanding of human behavior, especially in regard to mental functioning. We know that we affect each other on a psychological level. The bio-psychologists are finding out that humans also impact each other due to our biological interactions, whether it be from semen, vaginal fluids, or sweat.
I cannot buy the argument that such research should be stopped.
best regards ~Jake
Posted by gromit on June 24, 2005, at 0:01:21
In reply to Re: Sex and depression Sarah T » Cecilia, posted by Gabbi-x-2 on June 23, 2005, at 14:41:03
> I wonder if they tested any women in gay relationships.. Somehow I doubt it.
Well, the study was about a possible AD effect of semen so I doubt it too. ;^)
Posted by Gabbi-x-2 on June 24, 2005, at 12:40:08
In reply to Re: Sex and depression Sarah T, posted by gromit on June 24, 2005, at 0:01:21
> > I wonder if they tested any women in gay relationships.. Somehow I doubt it.
>
> Well, the study was about a possible AD effect of semen so I doubt it too. ;^)Ha ha ha! Actually that was me who said that, don't blame poor Sarah.
Yes, I know it was the anti-depressant effects of semen, Mr. Smart*ss (teasing)
They would however have to test women who did not have the "semen content" in order to make a comparison.. no? That's why I was thinking of lesbian relationships.So there!
>
>
Posted by jay on June 26, 2005, at 18:21:31
In reply to This study should've never been funded » Jakeman, posted by Sarah T. on June 20, 2005, at 21:42:05
> You can be sure that any antidepressant benefits experienced by the women from semen as a result of unprotected sex are overwhelmingly offset by the depression and numerous physical complications that result from contracting sexually transmitted diseases, some of which are fatal.
>
> I'll be willing to bet that GG Gallup, RL Burch, and SM Platek, the authors of the study, are all males. Studies like this should not be funded until AIDS, cancer, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune diseases and *MENTAL ILLNESS* are eradicated globally.
>Yes, I agree with you whole-heartedly. But I do think there may be a bit of truth (a small amount) about not using a condem with sex. I of course don't condone this, but I think the deep intamacy felt when not using a condem may contribute a bit to feeling 'good...less depressed'. Also, let's look at this way...maybe the women who don't use condems are in very long-term, stable relationships. Just some general thoughts...again not suggesting to not use condems.
Jay
Posted by gromit on June 27, 2005, at 4:29:10
In reply to Re: Sex and depression » gromit, posted by Gabbi-x-2 on June 24, 2005, at 12:40:08
Posted by gabbii on July 10, 2005, at 13:58:44
In reply to Sorry couldn't resist... (nm) » Gabbi-x-2, posted by gromit on June 27, 2005, at 4:29:10
This is the end of the thread.
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