Hematospermia (Blood in Semen)

What is Hematospermia (Blood in Semen)?

Hematospermia (Blood in Semen)

Hematospermia refers to the presence of blood in the semen. It is not normal and can be an understandably alarming symptom for many men, particularly those who are sexually active. There are many potential causes for hematospermia, and while a large proportion of cases may end up being benign and self-limiting, we must always rule out more serious causes such as infections, cancers, obstruction, trauma, and systemic disease.

It is important to be as open and honest with your doctor as possible, to help us properly evaluate your condition and ensure that a serious diagnosis is not missed.

Need Male Doctors?

Visit our Men’s Clinics or drop us an email at hello@dtapclinic.com.sg for an appointment with our doctor.

What are the Causes of Hematospermia (blood in semen)?

Common causes of Hematospermia (blood in semen) may include (but are not limited to):

– Infections (in the form of urethritis, prostatitis, epididymo-orchitis): chlamydia, gonorrhea, schistosomiasis, HIVTuberculosis (TB), etc.

– Tumours: prostate, testicular, and bladder cancers, benign cysts, etc.

– Vascular: varicoceles, hemangiomas, prostatic telangiectasia, etc.

– Systemic diseases: hypertension, bleeding disorders, leukemia, lymphoma, etc.

– Trauma or iatrogenic (e.g. medications, instrumentation)

It is also important to distinguish between true hematospermia vs. other sources of bleeding such as blood in the urine (hematuria) or blood from a sexual partner that you notice during or after sexual intercourse.

When should I see a doctor?

The best thing to do if you notice blood in your semen is to make an appointment to see a doctor immediately.

This is especially important if you are of an older age (>40 years old), having recurrent episodes of bleeding, have other risk factors for cancer or infection, or are having other symptoms such as weight loss, bone pain, pain while urinating, etc.

Depending on your history and clinical findings, we would advise on further testing or treatment as appropriate.

What will happen when I see the doctor?

The most important part of the initial assessment will be a detailed clinical history and physical examination. Apart from describing your current problem and associated symptoms (e.g. pain passing urine, discharge, etc.), you should also inform your doctor of any past medical or surgical history, recent or regular medications, and family history for conditions like bleeding disorders or malignancy.

We would also ask about any potential sexual exposures or other risk factors for infection. We would then perform a physical examination, checking temperature and blood pressure, and looking in particular for any abnormalities such as tenderness, masses, or enlarged lymph nodes. It is also important to perform a digital prostate examination to look for any tumors or inflammation of the prostate.

Depending on your clinical history and examination, we would then advise on further investigations as appropriate. For instance, blood tests for full blood count, prostate tumor markers, and clotting factors may be needed. It is also common to run an STD urethritis screen for chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomonas, and other infections (Rapid STD Screening is available in our clinic with next day results).

If there are clinical suspicions for prostate or testicular cancer, you may have to do some imaging tests such as ultrasound, CT or MRI scans.

Is this dangerous for my partner?

We must first ensure there is no sexually transmissible infection that is causing the hematospermia.

Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV fall under this category and must be excluded through testing before we can safely say that your partner is not at risk.

If an infection is suspected or proven through testing, then it will be treated with the necessary medications – it would be prudent then for your partner to come for STD testing and STD treatment as well.

Will this affect my fertility?

Most causes of hematospermia will have no effect on male fertility. Read more about male infertility.

However, some types of testicular cancer can reduce reproductive capacity, and of course, will have to be excluded through appropriate investigations.

If you are concerned about fertility following an episode of hematospermia (blood in semen), semen analysis for fertility parameters can be performed at a later date.

My tests are all normal, but it’s not getting better?

Assuming your initial tests are all unremarkable, and your doctor says there is nothing serious to worry about, it is important to note that it may still take awhile before the ejaculate normalizes completely. At times, it can even take upwards of ten episodes of ejaculation to fully clear the ‘old blood’ that is present in the ejaculatory ducts.

Remember that the great majority of cases of hematospermia are self-resolving and benign. However, if you continue to have recurrent or persistent episodes of fresh blood seen, it may be necessary to get a referral to a urologist who may consider more invasive tests such as transrectal ultrasound, urocystoscopy (camera test) or biopsy.

There is also evidence that a trial of antibiotic therapy may be beneficial in some men, even with negative urine and semen cultures (i.e. no bacteria detected). For older males, it may be prudent to continue with a period of follow up or surveillance blood tests, especially for prostate cancer blood markers (PSA), even in cases where imaging is initially clear.

Speak to Our Doctors Today!

Men’s Clinic Branches

Hematospermia (blood in semen) can cause a lot of anxiety to men who experience it. A majority of cases are benign and self-limiting, but occasionally may be due to underlying infection or malignancy; hence, it is important to see a doctor promptly for a thorough evaluation.

If you or your partner have encountered blood in the semen, please call or visit any of our Men’s Health Clinics or drop us an email at hello@dtapclinic.com.sg for an appointment.

Related Articles on Men’s Health

Get the latest news and articles by our doctors

Our Branches
Health Info
Our Doctors

Request An Appointment

Speak to our doctors about your medical concerns today.

  Proudly Supporting:

Proudly Supporting:

© Copyright 2005 – 2022 Dr. Tan & Partners. All Rights Reserved.