Semen Retention and Female Attraction in the Ancient World

Last Updated on January 26, 2026 by The Unbounded Thinker

The idea that semen retention causes female attraction is not just a modern idea. Ancient celibates, such as the Buddhist monks and Catholic priests, experienced female attraction.

For as John Powers in his book, A Bull of a Man, writes:

“Once upon a time in India, a homeless man dressed in garments made from cast-off rags took an afternoon nap beneath a tree. As he dreamed, he developed an erection. A group of six women passing by noticed his condition and naturally, decided to have sex with him. One by one, they mounted him and took their pleasure, and when the last was finished, they continued on their way, praising him as “a bull of a man”. The homeless man was a Buddhist monk, forbidden by his religious vows from engaging in any sexual act”.

“In some stories, young attractive women travel great distances into the wilderness and face dangers from wild animals and bandits in order to seduce unwilling ascetics. Many of these men are old and have been celibate for decades. All initially resist the temptresses’ advances, and there is no indication that the intercourse is particularly pleasurable for the women. Their satisfaction appears to derive mainly from seducing a celibate man with no interest in sex.”

From my perspective, it seems that the celibate Buddhist monks radiated powerful accumulated sexual energy, which stimulated the thoughts of lust in women, making them to really desire sexual intercourse with them. The fact that six women would mount a celibate monk, despite the fact that he was asleep, and then refer to him as “a bull of a man” implies that the monks had great sexual power.

It seems that the ancient women knew that semen retention results in a healthy sex drive and high energy levels that boost sexual stamina, and they wanted to experience this sexual power. Their actions suggest a realization that the masculine principle was intensified by sexual abstinence, and this intense masculine energy was something they wanted to experience directly.

Additionally, the attraction described in these stories appears to be driven not only by desire but also by an egoic challenge on the part of the women. the women’s satisfaction came from the act of seducing a man who had renounced sex entirely. In this sense, the fact that the men did not want sex intensified the women’s motivation, transforming sexual pursuit into a symbolic contest that involved proving that feminine sexuality could overpower even the most disciplined commitment to celibacy.

Anyway, many Catholic priests who practiced celibacy, openly complained about sexual temptations from women. Medieval church writings repeatedly show that priests were warned to be careful around women because women eventually desired their presence.

Many medieval women expressed emotional attachment to celibate priests because these priests were the only men who listened to them without demanding physical intimacy. In a society where most relationships between men and women were defined by sexual expectation, the priest offered something different. He listened and comforted without treating women as objects of sexual desire. For many women, this created a deep emotional bond, which sometimes developed into attraction.

During the Middle Ages, women were often viewed through a narrow sexual lens. This is why the celibate priests were unique in the eyes of women. The priests never defined women by sexual usefulness. Instead, they treated women as souls equal before God. For many women, this was rare and deeply meaningful. Because of this, many women grew attached to the priests. Their restraint and self-control created a form of attraction rooted in dignity and emotional presence.

This information is from my book, The Ultimate Truth About Semen Retention and Female Attraction.