About semen retention
This is a topic that’s been bubbling up more and more—in conversations and in sessions. Some men I meet are already practicing semen retention and feeling the benefits. Others haven’t heard of it before. So I thought I’d write a little something here, just as an invitation to explore.
Semen retention is an ancient concept, rooted in traditions like Taoism. In Taoist philosophy, ejaculation is seen as a release of vital life force—called jing. The idea is that while women naturally lose energy through menstruation and childbirth, men lose theirs primarily through ejaculation. So it makes sense that some men feel a little tired or depleted after climax.
That doesn’t mean ejaculation should be suppressed. This isn’t about restriction—it’s about awareness.
One of the beautiful ideas in Taoism is that orgasm and ejaculation aren’t the same thing. That men can learn to experience full-body, expansive orgasms without necessarily releasing. With breath, movement, and body awareness, pleasure can be circulated through the body instead of released all at once.
And when that happens, something shifts. Instead of a sharp peak and a sudden drop, the energy builds and moves—more like a wave than a spike. It can feel sensual, empowering, and deeply nourishing.
But everyone is different. Some men feel energised after ejaculation, others feel drained. The point is to notice, to listen, to experiment. This is about being in relationship with your energy—not controlling it, but understanding it.
There are so many reasons why someone might want to try this. And there are many benefits men speak about—some physical, some emotional, some more subtle. I love hearing real stories from people exploring these practices, and one of my dear guests offered to share his experience:
‘‘Thoughts on semen retention
Why?
I think for most men the reason why they do it is because it’s a showcase of discipline, strength and control of your natural urges. You don’t have to be a slave to porn or your lizard brain.
Frequent masturbation and porn consumption can feel like an addiction. Something in the back of your brain is telling you that it’s not good for you. You need to make a change.
How?
There’s no one way to go about it. The most important thing is not giving up if you relapse. Everyone does. To not beat yourself up or become too down hearted. You just start again.
What I did was give myself small targets and then increase them over time. For example you might begin on 3 days and then progress to 5 days then a week. There is no time limit or anything, every person is different.
Benefits
This will vary from each individual. In my own experience, I feel stronger and I believe retaining the sexual energy allows me to use it in other areas of my life. A lot of the benefits are in the mind:
Better self-esteem
Mental clarity
Stronger decision making
Better productive use of my time
A more positive attitude’’
I love hearing these kinds of reflections from people I know, rather than reading about something online. I can confirm that my guest has an amazing energy, he is very confident and there is a magnetism about him, which could also be because of this practice :)
This journey, like everything else in tantra, is about connection and intimacy with yourself. About being in relationship with your body, your energy, and your pleasure in a deeper way. There’s no “right” way to do this, just an invitation to listen, experiment, and honour what feels true for you.
Love,
Rosie x