Anyone would be very scared if they saw blood coming out of their semen, wouldn't they? The first thing that comes to mind is, "Oh my God, is this cancer?" It's true, it's a terrifying experience. But in reality, this condition, which is blood coming out of semen, is often not as serious as you think. Today, let's talk about this condition, which is called `Hematospermia` , in medical terms.
What exactly is hematospermia?
Simply put, `Hematospermia` means that your semen contains blood. Semen is a white or grayish liquid. It is normal to feel a great shock when you see this. But we call it another name, which is `Hemospermia`.
The most important thing is not to panic when you see this. If this happens once or twice, it is usually not a sign of a major health problem. However, since this is not normal, it is definitely wise to see your doctor and talk about it.
Although this condition can occur at any age, it is more common in men between the ages of 30 and 40. It is difficult to say exactly how common this is, as many men do not have their sperm tested and are embarrassed to talk to a doctor about this.
Why does blood come with semen? Here are the main reasons
There can be several reasons why blood comes out with the semen. Most of the time, these are simple, non-serious reasons. Let's look at the main ones.
| Reason | Simple explanation |
|---|---|
| A small blood vessel bursts | This is the most common cause. Just like when we blow our nose too hard, the pressure during ejaculation can cause a small blood vessel in the vas deferens to burst. This is not serious. |
| Infections and Inflammation | It can be caused by bacterial or viral infections of the prostate, urethra, testicles, or seminal vesicles. It can also be caused by sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) such as gonorrhea or chlamydia . |
| Medical Procedures | Blood may be seen in the semen for about a week after a vasectomy , or for about 4 weeks after a prostate biopsy . This is normal. |
| Prostate Issues | As men age, their prostate gland swells. This is called Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) . It is not cancer. This swelling can also cause bleeding. |
| Other health conditions | It can also be caused by things like uncontrolled high blood pressure, blood clotting disorders, and liver disease. But these are somewhat rare. |
| Cancer | It can also be caused by cancer of the prostate, testicles, or bladder. But remember, blood in the semen is very rare because of cancer. It is not usually the first sign of cancer. |
Does the color of blood tell anything?
Yes, you can get a little idea from the color of the blood.
- Bright red: This is new bleeding. It means the bleeding has not been long.
- Pink: This also means new bleeding, but the amount of blood is less.
- Brown or reddish-brown: This refers to old blood. It means that a small amount of bleeding that occurred a few days ago is now healing and coming out. Seeing brown blood is often a good sign, meaning that the problem is healing on its own.
How do you find this, Doctor?
When you go to the doctor, he won't scare you. He'll ask you a few questions in a very friendly manner and, if necessary, run some tests.
Questions you can ask the doctor:
- When was the first time you saw blood with your semen?
- How many times has this happened?
- Details about your sex life (don't be shy, this is important for diagnosis).
- What medications do you take?
- Have you had any surgery recently?
Tests that can be done:
- Physical examination: The doctor will examine your genitals and the area around them.
- Digital Rectal Exam: A digital rectal exam is performed by inserting a finger through the rectum to examine the prostate gland for any swelling or lumps.
- Urinalysis: Check for a urinary tract infection.
- STI tests: Check for sexually transmitted diseases.
- PSA blood test: This blood test is done if there is a suspicion of prostate cancer risk.
- Imaging Tests: Sometimes a Transrectal Ultrasound scan, CT scan, or MRI scan can provide clear images of the organs inside the body and pinpoint the exact problem.
What are the treatments for this?
Treatment depends on the cause of your condition.
In most cases, if you are under 40 years old, have no other symptoms (e.g., urinary tract infection, pain, fever), and have only had this happen once, no special treatment is needed. It will go away on its own in a few days or weeks.
However, if the doctor finds a cause, he will prescribe the appropriate treatment.
- If there is an infection: Antibiotics will be given.
- If there is swelling: Anti-inflammatory drugs will be given.
- For BPH (enlarged prostate gland): Medications such as Finasteride (Proscar®) can be given to help shrink the prostate gland.
- Another disease: If this is caused by another disease, such as high blood pressure, that disease will be treated.
If something like this happens to you, it's best to avoid masturbation or sexual intercourse for a few days. If it causes an injury, it will have time to heal.
Take-Home Message
- It's normal to be alarmed when you see blood in your semen (hematospermia), but most of the time it's not serious.
- This can be caused by simple things like a small blood vessel bursting, infection, or prostate enlargement. Cancer is a very rare cause.
- If you are under 40, have no other symptoms, and this has only happened once, there is a good chance it will clear up on its own.
- However, the safest and best thing to do when you see something like this is to not be embarrassed or afraid, but to see your doctor and talk to him. Then you can find the cause and get treatment if necessary.
- Brown blood is usually old blood. Red blood is new bleeding.
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