Blood in the Semen
Alternate Names : Hematospermia, Hemospermia
Blood in the semen is uncommon. Seeing it can make people
quite anxious, but it is rarely serious.
What is going on in the body?
Most cases of blood in the semen are from unknown causes.
It usually goes away on its own.
What are the causes and risks of the condition?
Most cases are from an unknown cause. Known causes include:
infections of the prostate gland, called prostatitis. Prostatitis may be
acute,
chronic,
or nonbacterial.
infections of the seminal vesicles, which are two structures that secrete
some of the fluid found in semen
infections of the urethra, known as urethritis. The urethra is the tube that
carries urine and semen to the outside of the body.
urethral strictures,
or narrowing in an area of the urethra. This may be caused by trauma or a
previous infection.
certain sexual habits, such as prolonged abstinence from or lack of sex
or unusually frequent sex
bleeding or blood clotting problems, such as hemophilia A
or hemophilia B.
Clotting problems can also occur in men who are taking too much of the
blood-thinning drug warfarin.
tumors or cancer,
a rare cause. The cancer may be in the prostate,
seminal vesicles, or urethra.
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