Nocturnal Emissions

What is Pollution?

In the medical field, “pollution” means the involuntary and uncontrolled emission of seminal fluid , mainly due to reflux . Unlike ejaculation proper , emissions are not generated by any appreciable physical sexual stimulation. Considering that this phenomenon occurs more frequently during the night, we speak more often of nocturnal pollutions . While remaining a physiological and normal act – just like a yawn or a cough – pollutions represent a rather embarrassing phenomenon for many more or less young boys and men.

Literal and symbolic meaning

Literally, the term pollution derives from the Latin “ pollutio, polluzionem ”, or from the English pollution , the translation of which refers to “contaminate” or “to stain”, or again “to pollute”. The analysis of meaning instead takes on a different, negative connotation, above all within the religious-ecclesial sphere: for the Church, pollution refers to a shameful, profanatory and sacrilegious act. Even during the Middle Ages, pollutions were interpreted in a negative and blasphemous key: even, according to a well-known popular belief, men affected by this problem were seduced by female-looking demons.

Pollution frequency

Pollution is a much more frequent phenomenon than one might think, although it is little discussed because it is considered a sort of taboo . Andrologists and sexologists consider pollutions, especially nocturnal ones, a physiological and natural phenomenon that can affect all men . In any case, pollutions are particularly frequent among adolescents, who have just opened their doors to the world of sexuality, therefore not yet fully mature from a sexual point of view; in this regard, it is no coincidence that nocturnal emissions are often accompanied by dreams with a more or less erotic content. Pollution has also been reported in many men who wish to observe chastity.

Generality

If masturbation is considered a voluntary and controlled emission of semen, pollution represents the exact opposite: in fact, the unexpected and involuntary release of seminal fluid during sleep is often the consequence of an erotic dream (in this regard, it is used also the term “wet dream”), and it is an absolutely uncontrolled and unconscious phenomenon which, however, does not reflect any pathological meaning.
What surprises many young boys is the fact that pollution is not necessarily accompanied by rubbing or in any case by physical genital stimulation, typical instead of masturbation.
Many affected men report that the sensations generated during emissions are almost the same as during masturbation and orgasm.
Some assumptions have been formulated in order to explain how the aforementioned uncontrolled seminal dispersion can occur:

• Some believe that pollutions coincide with puberty , thus configuring themselves as a sort of physiological initiation rite for the young boy who is becoming a man. In similar circumstances, the pollution represents the successful sexual maturation of the young; in any case, it must be pointed out that pollutions do not necessarily occur in all boys.
• When pollutions occur in adults, these could be considered a response of the organism to a prolonged period of sexual abstinence, during which no ejaculation is received.

In the light of these considerations, it is understandable that nocturnal emissions become a sporadic condition in those men who lead a sexually active life.
There is no type of specific therapy aimed at eliminating pollution.
In ancient times, it was believed that pollutions were caused by genital diseases, such as gonorrhea or diseases affecting the urethra; in most cases, however, the pollutions are not pathological. In any case, the doctor’s opinion can be a valid aid for any clarifications.

Female pollutions

Contrary to what one might think, pollutions – even if not strictly speaking – can also affect women: in fact, sometimes, a more or less intense excitement could occur during sleep, up to the achievement of orgasm . However, the term “nocturnal emissions” is certainly not the most appropriate word when referring to women; rather than female pollutions , it would be more appropriate to speak of a “secretive crisis” in which the woman manages to feel pleasure and to reach orgasm involuntarily, without any physical stimulus.

Summary

Pollution: in brief