Bloody semen is frequently caused by infections, trauma, and prostate cancer treatments. Bloody semen often only occurs once, has no known cause, and is not dangerous. If you are over 40, have additional symptoms, or the blood doesn’t go away, consult a doctor. You could be rather frightened if you see blood in your semen , but there’s no need to rush to the hospital just yet. Blood in your semen is known by the medical abbreviation Hematospermia , which often doesn’t indicate a major medical concern.

According to Dr. Francisco Gelpi-Hammerschmidt , a urologist at Memorial Hermann , this blood frequently has no apparent origin and will typically go on its own within a few days or weeks, albeit occasionally being brought on by infections .

In most cases, Gelpi-Hammerschmidt advises waiting it out as the best course of action.

Between the ages of 30 and 40 is when you’re most likely to observe blood in your semen. If you have under age 40 , you typically shouldn’t be concerned until it persists or appears together with other symptoms.

Bloody semen, however, can have more significant causes after the age of 40 . Therefore, you should normally schedule a consultation with your doctor to be on the safe side.

Continue reading to learn more about the 14 most typical causes of hematospermia and what to do next.

1. STIKS TRANSMITTED BY SLEEP Your semen may contain blood if you have certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as:

Chlamydia and gonorrhea Even while these STIs don’t often cause symptoms, you could still experience burning, uncomfortable urine, and discharge from your penis.

Avoid sexual activity and get tested as soon as possible if you think you may have a STI or are exhibiting symptoms. An expert in medicine can establish a diagnosis and provide antibiotics or other therapies.

2. A urinary tract infection commonly causes PROSTATITIS blood in your semen 0, an infection of the prostate (UTI).

You may encounter the following in addition to blood in your semen:

uncomfortable and frequent urination unpleasant ejaculation Penis, testicles, or perineum pain Your doctor can often recommend antibiotics to treat prostatitis if it results from a UTI.

blood in your semen 1, a different type of prostatitis, has an unclear origin and may call for a broader spectrum of blood in your semen 2, such as:

To relax the muscles around your prostate and bladder, your doctor may give blood in your semen 3, such as doxazosin and alfuzosin, or painkillers like amitriptyline and gabapentin.

Dietary changes: Eliminating common blood in your semen 4, such as alcohol, caffeine, and spicy foods, may help your symptoms. Exercises for the pelvic floor might aid in physical therapy to loosen up tight pelvic floor muscles. urethritis 3. Your urethra, the tube that expels pee from your body, swells up at blood in your semen 5. The most typical development of this illness follows a STI or other sort of infection.

There are three different forms of urethritis:

The most prevalent kind is gonorrheal urethritis, which is brought on by gonorrhea. Nongonococcal urethritis: This kind of urethritis has a known etiology other than gonorrhea, like another STI or urethral irritation. Unknown causes of urethritis are referred to as non-specific urethritis in this diagnosis. Among the other primary causes of urethritis are:

irritation caused by chemicals found in goods like soap or spermicides Your urethra may experience physical pressure from activities like bicycling. You might observe the following in addition to blood in your semen:

discomfort when urinating or having sex itchiness at the urethral tip bleeding or pus coming from your penis Antibiotics may be recommended by a doctor to treat urethritis. They could also advise against riding a bike, using perfumed soaps and shower gels, and doing anything else that might aggravate your urethra.

EPIDIDYMITIS 4. The epididymis, the tube at the back of each testicle that stores and transports sperm, is infected with blood in your semen 6. E. coli and bacterial infections like chlamydia and gonorrhea are two possible causes.

Epididymitis can also result in: in addition to blood in your semen.

urgent or painful urination From your penis, expel your testicles hurt increasing scrotal swelling It is best to schedule a consultation with your doctor if you think you could have epididymitis because the blood in your semen 7 for this ailment typically entails taking antibiotics for a week or two.

Fifth, Prostate Biopsy Your doctor will likely order an blood in your semen 8 if they have any reason to believe you may have prostate cancer. During this treatment, a needle is used to take tiny tissue samples from your prostate gland. The presence of malignant cells will next be checked for by a professional using a microscope on your tissue samples.

After a prostate biopsy, up to Hematospermia 0 of people will see blood in their semen, but this side effect is frequent and not dangerous. You might notice blood in your semen for blood in your semen 9 after obtaining a prostate biopsy.

However, if the bleeding seems severe or if the blood in your semen persists for more than a few months, you should consult a doctor.

RADIATION OF EXTERNAL BEAM 6. One of the common prostate cancer treatments, Hematospermia 1, has the potential to cause blood in your semen. After receiving this medication, up to Hematospermia 2 of the patients observe blood in their semen.

Your medical staff might advise this course of action:

In the early stages of prostate cancer, on its own in more severe situations in conjunction with additional therapies, such as hormone therapy If you exhibit indicators of a cancer recurrence following surgery, to lower the risk of the disease returning, or both If external beam radiation caused the blood in your semen, it will typically go on its own. But if the bleeding persists for more than a week or two, you should see your doctor.

7. BRACHYTHERAPY Hematospermia 3 is a therapy for slow-growing and early-stage prostate cancer. Small metal pellets containing radiation are implanted during this surgery to eliminate cancer cells in your prostate.

Although brachytherapy often has fewer adverse effects than other radiation treatments, you can see blood in your urine and sperm for a few days after treatment Hematospermia 4.

You should inform your doctor immediately away if the blood in your semen persists for a longer period of time.

8. BENIGNBENERAL PROSTATICAL HYPERTROPHY As you age, you may develop Hematospermia 5, a benign enlargement of your prostate. In reality, almost a third of men with prostate disease will feel symptoms by the age of 60, and roughly half by the age of 80.

The majority of the symptoms of BPH are related to the bladder, however occasionally an enlarged prostate can produce Hematospermia 6, resulting in blood in your semen. Other BPH signs and symptoms include:

a constant and pressing urge to urinate urine dribbling or a thin stream difficulty beginning to urinate Hematospermia 7 for BPH could include:

Medication: Your doctor may recommend 5-alpha reductase inhibitors like finasteride and dutasteride or Hematospermia 8 like alfuzosin and tamsulosin to relax your bladder and shrink your prostate. Minimally invasive surgery: Your doctor might also suggest one of various types of Hematospermia 9 to relieve your urine flow, depending on your symptoms. Vasectomy 9. In order to prevent pregnancy, a vasectomy entails cutting off the tubes that deliver sperm from the testicles to the penis. The quick outpatient procedure infections 0 stops pregnancy.

You might have the following adverse effects following a vasectomy:

Semen that contains blood for up to a week afterward an injury to your scrotum Swelling mild discomfort or agony 10. DAMAGE As a result of blood spilling from the injured blood vessels, infections 1 to your genitalia, perineum, or pelvis may result in blood in your semen.

The best course of action after suffering a pelvic or genital injury is to see your doctor, especially if you discover blood in your semen. If the blood in your semen does not disappear on its own, they can assist in ruling out a major medical risk and provide more information on what to do next.

A. CANCER Blood can occasionally appear in your semen, but this only infections 3 occurs as the earliest sign of cancer.

That stated, many forms of infections 5, such as: may detect blood in your semen.

Male sexual cancer 12. CYSTS Anywhere in the body, A infections 6, or non-cancerous growth, can develop. Cysts in your infections 7 or infections 8 can result in the rupture of infections 9 close by. Your semen then transports this blood outside of your body.

Dr. Francisco Gelpi-Hammerschmidt 0 and Dr. Francisco Gelpi-Hammerschmidt 1 cysts are both Dr. Francisco Gelpi-Hammerschmidt 2. They frequently don’t have symptoms or need to be treated, although you might observe:

unpleasant urination urine with blood in it recurring UTIs Both forms of cysts can be treated with either Dr. Francisco Gelpi-Hammerschmidt 3 or Dr. Francisco Gelpi-Hammerschmidt 4 them.

PROSTATE STONES 13. Your semen may also bleed if you take Dr. Francisco Gelpi-Hammerschmidt 5, also known as Dr. Francisco Gelpi-Hammerschmidt 6.

These stones usually appear after Dr. Francisco Gelpi-Hammerschmidt 7. They can also appear if you have BPH. They typically develop as a result of persistent inflammation. This occurs because some of the ducts from your prostate to your urethra can become blocked by an enlarged prostate.

These are some other signs of prostate stones:

suffering when urinating Pelvic pain urine with blood in it Prostate stones Dr. Francisco Gelpi-Hammerschmidt 8 won’t result in symptoms. However, if you do have any symptoms, you should schedule a consultation with a medical expert who can assist you in receiving the proper diagnosis.

Your doctor will probably suggest having your stones removed via Dr. Francisco Gelpi-Hammerschmidt 9 if they are causing you any symptoms.

14. UNDERLYING CONDITIONS OF HEALTH Some Memorial Hermann 0 may also result in blood in your semen even though they usually don’t directly affect your genitalia.

Examples comprise:

Both and are: It is best to visit your doctor as soon as you can if you experience any symptoms of the aforementioned diseases and discover blood in your semen.

WHEN TO SEEK MEDICAL CARE It’s possible that blood in your semen doesn’t necessarily indicate a significant problem. In reality, Memorial Hermann 1, which can result in inflammation and bloody semen, can be brought on by a lack of sexual activity in those over the age of 50.

Memorial Hermann 2, a urologist and the Medical Director for Memorial Hermann 3, nevertheless advises consulting a physician or urologist.

“There’s no harm in being overly cautious to make sure your prostate or urinary tract aren’t experiencing anything serious,” Houman opined.
It’s crucial to contact a healthcare provider right away in this case. Memorial Hermann 4 :

Frequently discover blood in your sperm are older than 40 years old Have urinary symptoms as well, such as pain or blood in the urine Your physician might advise:

an examination of your prostate and genitalia to look for abnormalities or STIs an examination of the urine for infections STI evaluation Prostate cancer detection using the Memorial Hermann 5 test They might also suggest imaging tests to look for obvious blockages or inflammation in your prostate if those tests don’t help identify the cause. Transrectal ultrasound, CT scanning, and MRIs are a few examples of these examinations.

INSIDER’S KEY LESSON There are several reasons why there can be blood in your semen, but most of the time there is no cause for alarm. You probably have nothing to worry about if you don’t have any other symptoms.

You should seek an appointment with your doctor if bloody semen persists or if you are over 40 because it could occasionally have a more serious reason. They can aid in locating the cause and provide more details regarding your treatment alternatives.