[NakedScientist (OP)]

A little known fact is that historically doctors have used bull semen to treat stomach ulcers, with some success.

Now for the science bit...

Semen contains a class of substances called Prostaglandins which are made by the prostate gland, hence their name. They are have a number of roles in the body including regulating blood flow and in promoting inflammation.

When the stomach lining is damaged, as in a peptic ulcer, it can be encouraged to repair itself more quickly if the blood flow to the injured area is increased. This can be achieved by taking natural prostaglandins (as in semen), or synthetic prostaglandin-like agents which have the same effects as the natural compound, such as the drug 'misoprostol' which is marketed as an anti-ulcer agent.

However, before you all throw away your antacids and resort to nature's remedy, we have no idea what the ideal 'dose' is, or indeed whether human semen contains sufficient prostaglandins to produce any effect at all. Nor is anyone likely to carry out a 'trial' in the near future... Probably better to stick to the Zantac...

TNS

[chris]

Sort of related :

"US researchers are warning that men who delay fatherhood until later in life may be reducing their chances of success.

Semen analysis from 97 healthy men with normal fertility aged between 22 and 80 showed semen volume and sperm motility declined with increasing age.

Per year, on average, the volume of semen decreased by 0.03ml whilst motility dropped by 0.7%, progressive motility decreased by 3.1% and the total progressive motile sperm count decreased by 4.7%.

At age 50 the chances of abnormalities in motility, volume and sperm count were 80%, 30% and 15% respectively, increasing to 100%, 80% and 50% by age 80."

Reference : Human Reproduction 2003 18:447-454

[paulat]

Semen a substitute for happy pills ?

Researchers have concluded that hormones in semen may improve a woman's mood. A recent study found that women exposed to their partner's semen, either vaginally or orally, were happier than women having equal amounts of sex, but using a condom.

I'm slightly suspicious about this because the kind of person who practises 'unsafe' sex, i.e. without a condom, is more likely to be in a long term loving, trusting relationship and is therefore, on the whole, likely to feel happier and more fulfilled surely ?

Link :

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2067223.stm

PT

[Exodus]

Going on from this topic... could the low levels of stomach ulcers found in essex women (Smith.R et al, 2003) be linked to this?

Thats Economics...

[chris]

So as well as writing the paper, did you supply the "materials" used by the study subjects in your cohort of essex girls ?

[Donnah]

Does anyone know why a lawyer and a sperm are alike?

[chris]

no - but I'm sure you're about to tell us !

[Exodus]

i think i know the answer, but its too rude to state.

Thats Economics...

[chris]

That never stopped your before...

[Donnah]

Too rude?  What are you thinking?[:0]!?

What do you mean, you're sure I'm about to tell you?  Don't tell me you've noticed that I have no problem expressing my opinion[8D]!

They are alike because each has about a one-in-a-million chance of becoming a decent human being.

All kidding aside, I've worked with lawyers, and some of them are fantastic people, in my opinion (oops, there's that opinion thing again).

[chris]

I heard something somewhere along the same lines regarding father christmas, an intelligent iraqi president and a good woman driver... can't quite remember the punch line though !!!

Seriously though, why do we let lawyers get away with fleecing us the way they do, rotten swines!

C