Shukra has sometimes been translated as Semen or Sperm or Spermatozoa which is found only in men. Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiiji clarifies that Shukra is a special tissue(dha'tu) and the final product of what we eat. What we eat gets transformed into chyle,blood,flesh,fat,bones,marrow and shukra. At each stage there are waste products. In the end, we get the cream of the cream- the shukra. Shukra can be further understood as consisting of three stages: 1. Pra'narasa (Vital Fluid or Lymph) 2. Semen 3. Seminal Liquid.

Pra'narasa has an important function in the human body esp. for spiritual aspirants. For an interesting discussion on this subject, please consult kamaleshvar's presentation that has been captured on a DVD from the July'2007 YEC (Yoga Educators Conference).