Blood in semen

The presence of blood in semen is one of the symptoms that cause a greater concern in men, especially if they are young and it is the first episode. Although the vast majority of patients directly link it to prostate cancer, the truth is that the causes of this condition are very diverse ; moreover, in the vast majority of cases it does not indicate any serious disease.

This condition is known clinically as hematospermia . Blood in semen can be bright red to brown in color; generally, the tone depends on the amount of blood. It may be the case that it does not happen again, that is, it is a single episode.

It generally affects young patients with an active sex life ; Ejaculating too often is one of the main reasons for blood in semen. It also occurs in people over 60 years old; in this case, the most frequent reason is the growth of the prostate gland.

Causes of hematospermia

Here are some of the most common causes of blood in semen.

Urinary infection

This is one of the main causes of this condition. UTIs make the tissues more inflamed . Thus, the capillaries that provide a greater amount of blood so that the cells can cope with the infection, can be broken more easily.

In this case, hermospermia occurs in isolation and in the vast majority of cases accompanied by other symptoms such as pain in the testicles. If it is a severe infection, some of its own warning symptoms are discomfort when urinating, fever and blood in the urine.

Cysts in the seminal vesicles

Another reason why blood can be present in semen. When the vesicles produce the secretion that they later contribute to the semen, the blood that is accumulated in the cysts present in them, comes out with said secretion; the result is a brown colored sperm since the blood in the vast majority of cases is old.

Trauma

It is a rare cause for this condition, but it can also occur. A trauma to the testicles can cause rupture of capillaries and therefore, the presence of blood in the semen. In this case, the blood looks fresh, bright red.

Sex life

A very active sex life can also lead to this condition. Ejaculation involves a very strong muscle contraction; thus, if a certain blood vessel ruptures, it can cause hematospermia.

In the same way, sexual abstinence can also cause the presence of blood in the semen. And it is that, those people who ejaculate very little, are more likely to form stones in the seminal tract. Thus, when they ejaculate, there is a small bleeding.

Prostate cancer

A prostate tumor can also cause hematospermia. Tumors form a set of new blood vessels to nurture the growth of tumor cells. Well, these glasses are much more susceptible to break; if they do, the presence of blood in the semen is a common consequence.

Symptoms of bloody ejaculation

Sometimes, depending on the cause, bloody ejaculation can be accompanied by other symptoms. Because urinary tract infection is one of the most common reasons for hematospermia, one of the most common warning signs is pain when urinating. In addition, pain can occur both when ejaculating and when evacuating.

In the most severe cases, other symptoms may occur such as fever, swelling and pain in the scrotum, and tenderness in the groin.

Diagnosis

In a case of hematospermia, it is advisable to go to the doctor. However, experts do not recommend going to the emergency room since in the vast majority of cases it is a symptom of a mild condition. Thus, it is best to request an appointment with the urologist.

The doctor first takes the patient’s medical history, in relation to the symptoms and the number of episodes in which blood has appeared in the semen when ejaculating. He then proceeds to perform a genital physical examination ; To do this, he performs a rectal examination, thus ruling out any type of pathology related to the prostate.

A common medical test is urinalysis , taking into account that one of the main causes of hematospermia is urinary infection. If necessary, the doctor may request a testical or transrectal ultrasound; are diagnostic tests that allow the testicles, prostate and seminal vesicles to be visualized.

Treatment of blood in semen

Treatment of hematospermia largely depends on the cause of the condition. As we have pointed out, one of the main reasons for the presence of blood in semen is urinary infection, which is treated with antibiotics .

In case of perceiving blood in the sperm, it is important to request an appointment with a urologist, who will make a diagnosis and establish an adequate treatment.

Is the presence of blood in the semen serious?

It is a condition that occurs in few cases. In the vast majority of them it is a benign condition, especially in young people. Prostate cancer as a cause of hematospermia occurs almost exclusively in people over 40 years of age.

Therefore, although blood in sperm is a cause for alarm and concern, it is rarely a symptom of a malignant tumor in young patients.

Prostate cancer

Finally, we want to explain in a brief and detailed way the symptoms of prostate cancer . Although it is the least common cause of the presence of blood in semen.

It is a type of tumor that does not cause symptoms in its early stages . As the disease progresses, warning signs appear such as urination problems, presence of blood in the urine and / or semen, erectile dysfunction, and even weakness in certain areas of the body such as the legs.