The symptom of blood in semen was described in the works of ancient physicians, including Hippocrates. In the nineteenth century, it was believed that blood appears in the semen of men who lead a too active sex life, constantly interrupt intercourse, or abstain from sexual contacts for too long a period.
Modern men who notice that blood comes out with sperm tend to suspect a likely development of a malignant process. However, statistics indicate that single or several repeated episodes of this phenomenon are possible without specific prerequisites. This occurs in about 80% of men under the age of 40. According to experts, if the blood appears in the semen no more often than once in 10 ejaculations, this should not be perceived as a serious cause for concern. However, the latter statement does not apply to men over 40. In this case, the presence of blood in the semen is a reason for a comprehensive examination, as blood in the seminal fluid may indicate the appearance of a malignant tumor. It is easiest to detect blood in semen using the so-called “condom test”: the semen is analyzed after it has been previously collected in a condom.
Two types of hematospermia are identified – true and false. With true hematospermia, the penetration of blood into the sperm occurs in the prostate, testicles and seminal ducts. In this case, the seminal fluid has a brownish tint. In false hematospermia, blood appears directly in the urethra, so it does not have time to mix with the sperm, and only blood streaks are found in the seminal fluid.
Why does blood appear in semen?
Blood appears in men’s semen as a result of various reasons, which in some cases are associated with serious diseases. If blood is secreted along with sperm after intercourse, it is likely that the bleeding occurred from the female’s genital organs, and the symptom was noticed incorrectly.
The reasons for the appearance of sperm with an admixture of blood are sometimes associated with bleeding in a person’s urinary system. In order to understand what this symptom means when blood loss is suspected, it is important to conduct a thorough examination of the ureters, kidneys, bladder and only then prescribe treatment. Sometimes with bleeding in the urinary tract, blood appears in urine and sperm.
The release of sperm with blood sometimes manifests itself in violation of the functions of the prostate gland. A man may develop prostatitis, as well as other diseases associated with impaired functioning of the seminal vesicles, seminal ducts, ejaculatory ducts, appendages of the testes, and the testes themselves.
One of the most common reasons why blood appeared in semen is the development of inflammatory processes or infections. These can be both bacterial and viral infections. What to do in this case can only be determined by a doctor after a comprehensive examination.
The presence of blood in semen sometimes accompanies diseases that are sexually transmitted. Another serious reason is injuries sustained both domestically and during various medical procedures. Most often, temporary traces of blood appear after a prostate biopsy. The appearance of blood together with sperm may occur with injections into the seminal vesicles or prostate gland, during nerve block anesthesia, crushing stones in the ureters.
Blood appears with obstruction, that is, when blocking the channels of the urinary system. In this case, blood vessels are sometimes damaged. With damage and weakness of blood vessels, blood also enters the sperm.
Benign tumors can also cause discharge of fluid with blood instead of sperm in men. At the same time, with malignant formations (tumor of the seminal vesicles, bladder, testicle), an admixture and clots of blood may appear in the sperm.
Blood may periodically appear in the seminal fluid with vesiculitis, epididymitis, orchitis. Other reasons for the appearance of blood in a man’s sperm may be high blood pressure, liver disease, leukemia, HIV.
Sometimes blood with sperm is not the only symptom. It is accompanied by other signs indicating the development of certain diseases. These may include scrotal swelling, burning during urination, increased blood pressure and temperature, etc.
How to get rid of blood in semen?
If a man has blood along with sperm several times in a row, he needs to tell the doctor about all the cases of blood occurrence, as well as about the symptoms that accompany this phenomenon. The doctor conducts an examination, palpation of the spermatic cords and testes, rectal examination of the prostate gland. The patient is also prescribed to undergo a spermogram and laboratory tests.
If the patient develops an oncological disease, modern research methods allow detecting it at an early stage. One of the informative studies in this case is an analysis to determine prostate-specific antigen.
With the detection of cancer, it is important to start timely treatment, since only a complete course of therapy at an early stage provides a positive result. Nevertheless, it should be taken into account that oncological diseases of the urogenital system, particularly prostate cancer, often initially proceed asymptomatically. When a man starts wondering why there is blood in the sperm, the second stage of the disease may have already begun.
Thus, treatment of hematospermia consists in the immediate prescription of therapy for the disease that provoked the manifestation of this symptom. For example, if a patient is diagnosed with prostatitis, a complex course of antibiotic treatment is administered. The presence of prostate adenoma requires reducing urinary obstruction, etc.
If blood is detected in the seminal fluid or blood is detected after sperm due to varicose veins of the prostate, their coagulation is performed. With persistent bleeding due to cysts, endoscopic techniques may be used.
