One development of male early adolescence that has received scant research attention is first ejaculation, also known as “semenarche.” Preliminary findings across the first ejaculation research indicate a cultural taboo is firmly in place in contemporary America (Adegoke, 1993; Downs & Fuller, 1991; Gaddis & Brooks-Gunn, 1985; Shipman, 1971; Stein, 1990; Stein & Reiser, 1994). Without taking this taboo into account, it is difficult to understand why the majority of American males report high levels of interest but very low levels of communication about the experience (Tables 1 and 2), and why parents and other adults rarely talk with early adolescent boys about first ejaculation. The purpose of this paper is to provide additional data to support the existence of a first ejaculation taboo.
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This paper appears to be the first to review the existing studies of first ejaculation (Adegoke, 1993; Downs & Fuller, 1991; Gaddis & Brooks-Gunn, 1985; Kinsey, Pomeroy, & Martin, 1948; Shipman, 1971; Stein, 1990; Stein & Reiser, 1994). Although the research is scant, a few trends can be identified. First, American boys report high levels of interest but low levels of communication about first ejaculation. Studies are unequivocal on this point. For the vast majority of American adolescent males, their response to the experience–whether they felt surprised, prepared, fearful, curious, or happy–is cloaked in silence. Although many are curious, the vast majority of boys tell no one (Tables 1, 2, and 3). One researcher explained: “Many of them tried to hide the stains on sheets and pajamas; they were consumed with wonder and curiosity but dared not ask about it” (Shipman, 1971, p. 333). One participant in another study recalled, “I was curious to see–I wasn’t expecting to have sex or anything. It was just generally–I didn’t know exactly how–would it happen again? It had never happened before” (Stein & Reiser, 1994, p. 378). These contradictory responses–interest and silence–appear to occur regardless of whether first ejaculation was a result of nocturnal emission or masturbation.