# spermatophagy
## English
### Etymology

From spermato- +‎ -phagy.

### Noun

spermatophagy (uncountable)
* (biology) Phagocytosis of sperm cells.
** 1992, Acta Cytologica, volume 36, page 251:Spermiophagy and spermatophagy are produced in the female genital tract and male excretory duct system. In women, phagocytosis of spermatozoa is carried out by follicle cells, […]
** 2011, Alan J. Wein, Campbell-Walsh Urology‎, page 2534:Seminal vesical pigment is thought to derive from cellular byproducts of nonviable sperm ingested by the seminal vesical epithelium (spermatophagy).
** 2012, Davor Jezek, Atlas on the Human Testis: Normal Morphology and Pathology‎:Two of the affected seminiferous tubules contain numerous macrophages (MΦ) phagocytosing sperm (“spermatophagy”; c), whereas only a few remaining spermatogonia can be identified.
* (entomology) Of certain beetles, the consumption of fruits or seeds.
** 1975, Pest management papers, numbers 2-7, Simon Fraser University, page 37:Spermatophagy, a rare habit of feeding on seeds or the outer layers of a fruit, is typified by species in the scolytid genus Poecilips (Coccotrypes).
** 2010, Ingrid H. Williams, Biocontrol-Based Integrated Management of Oilseed Rape Pests‎:The degree of carnivory/spermatophagy and preferences for food depend on the food choices available to a carabid.
** 2014, Fernando E. Vega, editor, Bark Beetles: Biology and Ecology of Native and Invasive Species‎:Spermatophagy (or spermophagy) as used by bark beetle researchers denotes species breeding in seeds and the surrounding fruit tissues.
* (Christianity) The idea promulgated by Georges Le Clément de Saint-Marcq that the Eucharist involved the consumption of sperm.
** 2010, Wouter J. Hanegraaff, Hidden Intercourse: Eros and Sexuality in the History of Western Esotericism‎:It should then come as no surprise that, prior to his revelations on spermatophagy, Le Clément could have been a very prominent figure on both. At the same time, the idea of spermatophagy, wherever it was coming from, was as radical departure from the kind of arguments advanced in those circles, and, but for a few interesting exceptions, led to a general condemnation of Le Clément and the end of his personal career as a public figure. It just went too far.
** 2014, Jacques Lacarriere, The Gnostics‎:Let us pause for a moment and summarize this ritual in less outraged tones: we note the practice of owning their women in total community; agapes or orgies during which transient couples make love indiscriminately (it goes without saying that no sentimental choice is involved in these acts which are, let us repeat, conceived of as an ascetic discipline); the practice of coitus interruptus to avoid impregnation and in order to collect the sperm; finally, the consecration of the sperm which is transsubstantiated into the body of Christ and the Eucharist, in other words, spermatophagy.
** 2015, Tobias Churton, Gnostic Mysteries of Sex: Sophia the Wild One and Erotic Christianity‎:There are no Borborians there, no obvious instances of spermatophagy; instead we have a tragic Sophia related directly to the struggle of the soul in the world.

#### Synonyms

* spermophagy

#### Related terms

* spermatophagous