Feedback About wiseGEEK Login
Category: 
What Are the Common Causes of Red Semen?
Article Details
  • Written By: A. Gamm
  • Edited By: Kaci Lane Hindman
  • Copyright Protected:
    2003-2012
    Conjecture Corporation
Free Widgets for your Site/Blog
It is estimated that about 70% of jobs are found through networking.  more...

May 27 ,  1907 :  Bubonic plague broke out in San Fransisco.  more...

Red semen, also called hematospermia, is the result of blood in semen. The redness may range from a light pink to a dark red or brown. This condition often causes great alarm in the male and his partner, but hematospermia is typically a non-malignant symptom and the cause is usually unknown. Doctors speculate that the most common causes may be irritation or inflammation of testicular vessels or the urinary tract, trauma to the testicles, a sexually transmitted disease (STD), and rarely, prostate cancer.

Many doctors believe that red semen might be the result of irritation, inflammation or trauma. Usually, these discomforts that result in red semen are due to prolonged or rough intercourse, or the event of a prostate biopsy. In this case, a repeated case of hematospermia may only happen during these moments. A standard examination of the penis, rectal area and urine is done to verify this. The red semen will typically clear up with time and no further action is necessary.

Inflammations of the vas deferens, urethra, prostate, or seminal vesicles are occasionally due to a virus or infection. In this case, an STD may be the culprit and further action to deal with the STD must be taken. Another cause for irritation may be stones, in which case a doctor may offer different methods of relief. STDs and other inflammations are supposedly the number one cause of red semen in men under the age of 40.

Rarely, the red semen is a symptom of cancer, but prostate cancer is the most common type. This may be the case for men who have red semen and are over the age of 40. To rule out any malignant causes, extensive tests are performed. These include a cystoscopy and an ultrasound of the testicular area. While a tumor or cancer is considered a common cause, it is rarely ever the case.

Usually, an incident of hematospermia happens without the male or his partner noticing, so how often a person had discolored sperm is not typically known. When an episode is noticed, doctors recommend that the man have a check-up, but even after an examination, the reason why it happened is usually unknown. In this case, it is said to be benign and has a chance of happening again. If a man over 40 finds red semen, he may have to go through a more intensive examination, but even then, the doctor may not find the cause.

Related Videos

Discuss this Article

nanny3
Post 2

I never even knew you could have red semen. I’m sorry, but I think if that was any color other than normal, I would just be flipping out all over the place.

On top of that, how exactly is it that you are supposed to be registering this change of color?

I mean, I think most people are pretty side tracked once they could actually look at it with going to sleep or something equally relaxing.

Let’s just say, I’m glad I read the article in case this ever happens to me. But I sure hope this never does happen, because if it does, I’m going to lose it even with this excellent knowledge.

JessiC
Post 1

Believe you me, finding red semen is not a fun thing. It is incredibly scary, and very shocking.

My husband, bless his heart, is the father of two beautiful and rambunctious children.

And, while this is wonderful and we would have them no other way, occasionally he gets a good knee to the groin by complete and total accident from one of the two.

They just aren’t quite old enough to understand that this really hurts, and they have to be really careful around daddy in that area. I mean, how do you explain that to a five year old girl?

Well, he was unfortunate enough to get the daylights kicked out of him twice in one day. I don’t mean just a little jolt; I’m talking this poor man had to go lie down while I settled the kids down. He was plum nauseous from it.

He was later terrified by the presence of a pinky colored semen like he had never seen before.

The doctor checked him over thoroughly the next week, but assured him that it was likely from the blows he had taken and didn’t appear to be anything serious.

Post your comments

Post Anonymously

please enter the following code:

Login

username
password
forgot password?
or connect with facebook

Register

username
password
confirm
email