Blood in sperm is usually caused by blows to the genital region, inflammation in the prostate or testicles and tests such as prostate biopsy, but it can also indicate more serious problems, such as sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and cancer.
Depending on its cause, in addition to blood in the sperm, other symptoms may appear, such as swelling in the genital region, redness of the skin, wounds, discharge and pain or difficulty urinating.
In case of blood in the sperm, it is important to consult a urologist for an evaluation, especially if other symptoms appear. Treatment is not always necessary, but may involve medications, such as antibiotics and painkillers, and surgery.
Main causes of blood in sperm
The most common causes for the appearance of blood in sperm are:
1. Hits in the genital region
Injuries to the genital region, such as cuts or blows, for example, are the most common cause of blood in the semen before the age of 40 and, normally, the man does not remember them happening. Therefore, it is important to observe the intimate area to look for any cuts or other signs of trauma such as swelling, redness or bruising.
What to do: Normally, in these cases, the blood in the semen disappears after about 3 days and, therefore, no specific treatment is necessary.
Don’t ignore your symptoms!
The use of some medicines, especially anticoagulants, such as Warfarin or Aspirin, increase the risk of bleeding from small blood vessels, such as those found in the semen pathway, which can cause blood to escape during ejaculation, however, this type of bleeding is rare.
What to do: If the bleeding lasts more than 3 days to disappear, it is recommended to consult a urologist and take all the medications you are taking to assess the need to change any medication. See what care you should take when using anticoagulants.
3. Having had a prostate biopsy
After a prostate biopsy, which is an exam that uses a needle to remove a sample from the organ, it is common for blood to appear in the semen or urine due to the trauma caused by the needle and rupture of some blood vessels. See how a prostate biopsy is performed.
What to do: blood in the sperm is normal if the test was carried out at least 4 weeks ago. However, it is recommended to consult a urologist if the bleeding persists beyond this period, worsens, or develops a fever above 38 ºC, for example.
4. Inflammations of the prostate or testicles
Inflammations that can appear in the male reproductive system, especially in the prostate or testicles, are one of the most common causes of blood in the semen and, therefore, it is important to be aware of other symptoms such as fever, pain in the intimate area or swelling of the testicles. See other symptoms in Prostatitis and Epididymitis.
What to do: If inflammation is suspected, it is advisable to consult a urologist to identify the type of inflammation and begin appropriate treatment, which can be done with antibiotics, anti-inflammatories or analgesics, for example.
5. Benign prostatic hyperplasia
Prostatic hyperplasia, also known as an enlarged prostate, is a more common problem in men after the age of 50 and one of the main causes of blood in the semen in older men.
Typically, this problem is accompanied by other symptoms such as pain when urinating, difficulty urinating or a sudden urge to urinate. See other symptoms of prostatic hyperplasia.
What to do: It is recommended to have prostate exams after the age of 50, which may include a digital rectal exam and blood tests to identify whether there is a problem with the prostate and initiate appropriate treatment.
6. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
The presence of blood in sperm can sometimes indicate sexually transmitted infections, such as genital herpes, chlamydia or gonorrhea, especially when it appears after having sex without a condom, for example. See other signs that may indicate an STI.
What to do: If there has been intimate contact without a condom or if other symptoms such as discharge from the penis, pain when urinating or fever appear, it is advisable to consult a urologist for blood tests for various sexually transmitted diseases.
7. Cancer
Cancer is one of the rarest causes of blood in the semen, however, this hypothesis should always be investigated, especially after the age of 40 as prostate, bladder or testicular cancer can, in some cases, cause blood to appear in the semen. semen.
What to do: You should consult a urologist if you suspect cancer or undergo routine exams after the age of 40 to identify your risk of having cancer, starting the treatment indicated by your doctor, if necessary.
8. Urethritis
Urethritis is a type of urinary infection that causes inflammation of the urethra, which can cause symptoms such as pain when urinating, discomfort and burning in the intimate area, as well as discharge or semen with pus or blood.
Urethritis can be caused by bacteria transmitted during sexual intercourse, such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae e Chlamydia trachomatisor be a consequence of the use of a urinary catheter.
What to do: It is important to consult a urologist so that the diagnosis can be made and the most appropriate treatment can be initiated, which normally involves the use of antibiotics.
9. Urinary schistosomiasis
Urinary schistosomiasis is an infection caused by the parasite Schistosoma haematobiumwhich invades the urinary tract and causes symptoms such as fever, chills, cough, muscle pain, presence of blood in the urine and, in some cases, in the semen.
What to do: It is recommended that the doctor be consulted to confirm the diagnosis and treatment initiated, which is normally done with the use of the antiparasitic drug praziquantel orally, in 2 to 3 doses on the same day, which may be recommended to be repeated after 2 months.
10. Vasectomy
Vasectomy is a definitive sterilization surgical procedure that consists of cutting or blocking the vas deferens, which is the channel that carries sperm from the testicles to the penis, interrupting their elimination during ejaculation and, consequently, preventing pregnancy.
However, vasectomy can cause some complications, such as hematoma in the scrotum or blood in the semen, for example.
What to do: The presence of blood in semen immediately after vasectomy is considered normal. However, if it does not improve after a few days, it is recommended that you consult a doctor.
