What to Do When There’s Blood in Your Semen

It’s not common to notice blood in your semen because not a lot of men examine their semen after ejaculation. If you do notice blood, it’s typically not something to worry about. Blood in the semen is usually not a sign of a major health problem.

While blood in the semen is usually due to a harmless condition, it can indicate certain types of cancer that affect a man’s urinary tract or reproductive system. It’s smart to get checked out at W. Cooper Buschemeyer, III, MD, to ease your mind and rule out a potential health problem. 

Here’s what we recommend you do if you notice blood in your semen. 

Don’t panic

While blood in the semen is not normal, it’s not usually serious. 

It may be due to an infection, like a sexually transmitted disesae, tuberculosis, or a bacterial infection.  Blood in the semen can appear if a blood vessel bursts during ejaculation, kind of like when a blood vessel can burst when you blow your nose and cause a nosebleed. 

Trauma from a previous urologic procedure, like a vasectomy or prostate biopsy, can also cause blood to appear in the semen. 

If you experienced injury to any part of your reproductive system, like the testes, vas deferens, or prostate gland, it could cause blood to appear in the semen. 

Some benign disorders in the vesicles may be responsible. These include cysts or stones. If you have a blood clotting disorder or sickle cell anemia, blood in the semen may be a side effect. 

A man of any age may see blood in their semen, but it’s more common in those 30-40 years old. 

Rule out serious causes

In rare cases, blood in the semen can be a sign of certain types of cancer including:

• Testicular or epididymal cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Seminal vessel cancer
• Urethral tumors

Blood in the semen isn’t usually a first sign of these cancers, however. 

Other medical problems like severe, uncontrolled high blood pressure, HIV, liver disease, and leukemia can cause blood to appear in the semen. 

What happens at an appointment 

If you notice a one-off case of blood in your semen, it’s likely nothing to worry about. However, if you’re concerned, or you notice blood regularly, make an appointment at our office. We can do an exam and run any necessary tests to rule out serious conditions and put your mind at ease. 

Dr. Buschemeyer and team take a full medical history, evaluate your blood pressure, and conduct a physical exam to look for any unusual symptoms in your genitals, like redness, swelling, or lumps. He’ll also check your rectum for tenderness or a lump in the prostate. 

Depending on our findings, we’ll order specific screenings. These may include a urine culture check to look for infection, sexually transmitted disease screenings, and PSA (protstate specific antigen) tests to check for prostate cancer. Trust that we will do as thorough of an evaluation as your symptoms warrant. 

If you notice blood in your semen, don’t panic, but don’t just ignore it either. Contact Buschemeyer Urology, to set up a consultation and learn about screenings and, if needed, treatment options. Call one of the Texas offices today or use this website to arrange your appointment.