If you detect blood in your sperm, you may be frightened, but there is no immediate need to visit the emergency department. Hematospermia, the medical term for blood in the sperm, does not typically indicate a major health concern.
According to Dr. Francisco Gelpi-Hammerschmidt, a urologist at Memorial Hermann, this blood typically does not have a clear origin and typically disappears on its own after a few days or weeks.
According to Gelpi-Hammerschmidt, the best course of action is typically to do nothing.
Note that this blood may be brilliant red, whereas your sperm may be pink or brown. Additionally, you may observe tiny blood clots in your sperm.
Most men will discover blood in their sperm between the ages of 30 and 40. If you are under 40 years old, you should normally not be concerned until the condition persists or is accompanied by other symptoms.
However, after the age of 40, crimson sperm may have more significant causes. Consequently, you should normally schedule an appointment with your physician.
Read on for information on 14 of the most frequent causes of hematospermia, as well as next steps.
1. Sexually transmitted diseases (STIs)
The following sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) can induce blood in the sperm:
With any of these sexually transmitted infections, you may suffer burning, painful urination, and discharge from your penis.
If you experience signs of a sexually transmitted infection or feel you may have been exposed to one, you should immediately cease sexual activity and get tested. A doctor can make a diagnosis and prescribe antibiotics or other therapies.
2. Prostatitis
Prostatitis, an infection of the prostate, is typically caused by a urinary tract infection (UTI).
In addition to blood in your sperm, the following may occur:
Frequent, painful urination
Painful ejaculation
Penis, testicular, or perineal pain
If you get prostatitis following a urinary tract infection, your doctor will likely prescribe antibiotics to treat the disease.
Another type of prostatitis, chronic pelvic pain syndrome, has an unclear origin and may require a broader spectrum of treatments, such as:
Your physician may prescribe alpha blockers such as alfuzosin and doxazosin.
pain medicines such amitriptyline and gabapentin help calm the muscles surrounding your prostate and bladder.
Dietary modifications: If you eliminate common bladder irritants, such as alcohol, coffee, and spicy foods, your symptoms may improve.
Physical therapy exercises for the pelvic floor can assist relieve tension in the muscles of the pelvic floor.
3. Urethritis
Urethritis is an inflammation of the urethra, the tube that conducts pee out of the body. This condition typically develops following an STD or other infection.
These are the three types of urethritis:
This most common type of urethritis is caused by gonorrhea.
This kind of urethritis has a known cause other than gonorrhea, such as a different sexually transmitted infection (STI) or inflammation of the urethra.
Non-specific urethritis refers to urethritis for which the underlying cause is unknown.
Additional leading causes of urethritis are:
Chemicals in items such as soap and spermicides can cause irritation.
The urethra is subjected to physical pressure from activities such as cycling.
In addition to blood in your sperm, you may observe:
Pain during urination or sex.
Itching at the urethral tip
pus or blood discharge from the penis
Antibiotics may be prescribed to treat urethritis. In addition, they may advise you to avoid riding a bicycle, using scented soaps and shower products, and anything else that could irritate your urethra.
4. Epididymitis
Epididymitis is an infection of the epididymis, the tube that stores and transports sperm at the rear of each testicle. It can be brought on by E. E. coli as well as bacterial illnesses such as chlamydia and gonorrhea.
In addition to blood in the sperm, epididymitis may also cause:
Painful or urgent urination
Exudation from your penis
Discomfort in the testicle
The enlargement of your scrotum
If you feel that you have epididymitis, it’s best to schedule an appointment with your doctor; this condition is typically treated with antibiotics for a week or two.
5. Prostatectomy
If your physician feels that you may have prostate cancer, he or she will most likely request a prostate biopsy. This treatment requires the collection of tiny tissue samples from the prostate gland using a needle. A expert will then check your tissue samples for the presence of malignant cells under a microscope.
You may notice blood in your semen for two to three months after a prostate biopsy, but this is a common and harmless side effect; up to 90% of men who undergo a prostate biopsy will experience this.
However, if the blood in your sperm persists for more than a few months or if the bleeding is excessive, you should consult a physician.
6. External radiation beam
Blood in the sperm can also be a side effect of external beam radiation, a standard treatment for prostate cancer. Up to 25% of men who get this treatment experience blood in their sperm.
Your care team may suggest the following treatment:
alone, in the initial stages of prostate cancer
In conjunction with other therapies, such as hormone therapy, for more severe instances.
To lower the risk of cancer recurrence after surgery or if you exhibit indicators of cancer recurrence
If the blood in your sperm is caused by external beam radiation, it will typically disappear on its own. If the bleeding persists for more than a week or two, though, you should consult a physician.
7. Brachytherapy
Prostate brachytherapy is a treatment for early-stage prostate cancer with a modest growth rate. This surgery involves the implantation of small metal pellets containing radioactive material into the prostate to eliminate cancer cells.
Brachytherapy often has fewer adverse effects than other forms of radiation therapy; however, you may see blood in your sperm and urine for a few days following a brachytherapy procedure.
If the blood in your sperm persists for longer than this, you should contact your doctor immediately.
8. Malignant prostatic hyperplasia
As you age, you may develop benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate. In fact, almost one-third of individuals with a prostate will suffer symptoms by age 60, and approximately half by age 80.
In most situations, BPH causes urinary discomfort, but in rare instances, the enlarged prostate can compress the urethra, resulting in blood in the sperm. Other BPH symptoms include:
A constant and pressing need to urinate
Dribbling or a feeble stream of urine
Inability to initiate urinating
The treatment for BPH may include:
Your doctor may prescribe 5-alpha reductase inhibitors such as finasteride and dutasteride or alpha blockers such as alfuzosin and tamsulosin to relax your bladder and shrink your prostate.
Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may also propose one of several minimally invasive surgical procedures to improve your urine flow.
9. Vasectomy
As a method of contraception, a vasectomy entails closing up the tubes that transport sperm from the testicles to the penis. This brief outpatient procedure nearly always prevents conception.
After a vasectomy, the following adverse effects may occur:
Blood in your sperm for up to a week subsequently.
Your scrotum is bruised.
Swelling
Mild pain or distress
10. Injury
Physical trauma to the genitalia, perineum, or pelvis can result in blood in the sperm due to the rupture of blood vessels.
If you observe blood in your sperm following a pelvic or vaginal area injury, it is advisable to consult a physician. If the blood in your sperm doesn’t go away on its own, they can assist rule out a significant medical condition and provide further information on the next steps.
11. Cancer
Occasionally, a tumor might induce blood in the sperm, but this is a rare occurrence; it is usually not the first sign of malignancy.
However, blood in your sperm may indicate a number of different types of cancer, including:
The seminal vesicles are two glands located beneath the bladder that create fluids for sperm.
12. Cysts
Cysts, or noncancerous growths, can develop anywhere on the body. If you have cysts in your seminal vesicles or prostate, surrounding blood vessels may burst. This blood then exits the body in the form of sperm.
Both prostate and seminal vessel cysts are uncommon. They frequently do not entail symptoms or necessitate treatment, however you may observe:
Painful urination
Blood in urination
Frequent UTIs
Both varieties of cysts are treated by removing or draining them.
13. Prostate stones
Additionally, prostate stones, commonly known as prostate calculi, can cause blood in the sperm.
Typically, these stones form beyond the age of 50. They are frequently the result of persistent inflammation, but BPH can also cause them. This occurs because an enlarged prostate might restrict a portion of the ducts that lead from the prostate to the urethra.
Other prostate stone symptoms include:
ache while urination
Pelvic pain
Blood in urination
The majority of cases with prostate stones are asymptomatic. Nonetheless, if you do suffer symptoms, you should schedule a consultation with a healthcare professional who can assist you in obtaining an accurate diagnosis.
If your stones create symptoms, your physician will likely recommend endoscopic removal.
14. underlying health problems
Some illnesses that do not generally have a direct effect on the genitalia may also result in blood in the sperm.
Examples include:
If you see blood in your sperm coupled with any of the aforementioned symptoms, you should contact your doctor immediately.
When to seek medical care
Blood in your sperm may not necessarily be cause for grave concern. In reality, a lack of sexual activity after the age of 50 can lead to a buildup in the seminal vesicles, which can result in irritation and crimson semen.
Urologist and Medical Director at Bastion Health, Dr. Justin Houman, recommends consulting a physician or urologist anyway.
“There is no harm in being extra cautious to ensure that nothing important is happening in your urinary system or prostate,” explains Houman.
It is very crucial to contact a healthcare provider immediately if you:
Find blood consistently in your sperm
Are older than forty
Additionally exhibit urinary symptoms, such as discomfort or blood in the urine
Your physician may recommend:
If these tests do not assist pinpoint the cause, your doctor may offer imaging tests to look for apparent blockages or inflammation in your prostate, such as a transrectal ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI.
Insider’s takeaway
There are a variety of potential causes for blood in the sperm, but it is typically not a cause for concern if there are no other symptoms present.
However, because bloody semen may have a more serious reason in some circumstances, you should make an appointment with your doctor if it persists or if you’re over the age of 40. They can help determine the cause and provide additional information about your treatment choices.
Adam Barnes