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Blood in the semen

• Overview
• Treatment

Alternative Names:

Semen - bloody; Blood in ejaculation

Home Care:

Minor injuries may be treated with rest, applying ice, and monitoring symptoms. Major injuries may require reconstructive surgery.

Infections can often be treated with antibiotics taken by mouth (or intravenous antibiotics if symptoms are severe).

Blockages are typically treated with surgery. If cancerous tumors are the source of obstruction, radiation or chemotherapy may also be indicated.

Call your health care provider if:

Always call your doctor if you notice any blood in semen.

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

The doctor will perform a physical examination. The doctor will look for fever, swollen lymph nodes, a swollen or tender scrotum, discharge from the urethra, or an enlarged or tender prostate.

To help diagnose the cause of the problem, your doctor will ask medical history questions, such as:

• How much blood was in the semen?
• Was microscopic blood ever noticed in the past when the semen was examined for another reason?
• When was this first noticed? Is it present all the time?
• Is there anything that seems to have caused this symptom?
• What other symptoms do you have?

Tests that may be done include:

• Urinalysis
• Urine culture
• Semen analysis
• Semen culture
• Ultrasound of pelvis and scrotum

• Review Date: 7/23/2007
• Reviewed By: Marc Greenstein, DO, Urologist, North Jersey Center for Urologic Care, Denville, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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