Have you ever happened to have semen with blood in it? It’s a disgusting picture for anyone who sees it. But before you start panicking, let’s talk about what it could be: hematospermia. Yes, that is a lot to take in, but no fear, we will dissect it for you.
What is Hematospermia?
Hematospermia is a pathology during which blood is present in the semen. It may not be as common as you think, and even better, most of the time it is not a reason to worry. But undoubtedly, it may spark fear and apprehension when it takes place.
Causes of Hematospermia
Here on, we will explore what could be the reasons for this strange occurrence in your semen.
1. Infections: Yet another reason for having blood in the ejaculation is infections. It can be the case that the prostate, the seminal vesicle, and other reproductive organs are attacked by such infections. STDs like gonorrhoea or chlamydia could also be a potential cause of hematospermia.
2. Inflammation: Prostate inflammation or epididymitis, as well as some other inflammations of reproductive organs, can result in blood in semen as the latter mixes with the former.
3. Trauma: Sometimes abruption of internal genitalia or reproductive organs causes hemospermia. This may include injuries taking place during sex, surgeries, or heavy exercise and can be considered a major cause of hematospermia.
4. Medical Conditions: People with other medical conditions such as benign prostate enlargement (BPH), prostate cancer, or urethral strictures can also have hematospermia as a live symptom.
5. Medications: Blood thinners or anticoagulant medications might make you more prone to bleeding, including bleeding into your semen.
6. Rare Causes: In rather rare instances, structural abnormalities of the reproductive system or bleeding disorders may be responsible for hematospermia.
Symptoms of Hematospermia
Besides the blood in the semen, you might not have any other symptoms. Yet, if it is due to an infection, you might have symptoms like pain in the genital area, burning while urinating or ejaculating, or fever.
Now, the big question: in which case should hematospermia be a cause for concern?
1. Frequency: In case there are no other hematospermia symptoms, it is a good chance that it is not that urgent. Nevertheless, if it happens more frequently or if there are other symptoms along with it, it is advisable to consult your doctor.
2. Duration: You should certainly get in touch with a doctor if the blood in your semen lasts for a couple of weeks. Persistent hematospermia can be both a warning sign for and a consequence of some underlying diseases that need immediate medical care.
3. Other Symptoms: Keep an eye out for any other signs or hematospermia symptoms, in particular, pain and/or discomfort in the penis, difficulty urinating, and/or during ejaculation. These can be indications of an infection or sickness that requires immediate medical attention.
4. Age: Age is a variable that determines the level of your anxiety related to the presence of hemospermia. Male pattern hair loss can occur irrespective of age, though it is more severe in men over 40. As the person gets older, the chances of prostate-related causes also increase.
5. Risk Factors: In case of any additional risk factors like prostate history, recent genital trauma, or STD (Sexually transmitted disease), you should not ignore hematospermia and think of it as a small matter to be addressed later.
What to Expect at the Doctor’s Office
1. Medical History: It could be expected that your doctor will begin by talking to you about your medical background and probably about any health issues you have recently experienced like injuries, accidents, or sexual activities.
2. Physical Exam: The physical examination will be the genitalia inspection and the digital rectal exam (DRE) will be conducted to measure the prostate.
3. Tests: The doctor may recommend some tests based on your hematospermia symptoms and clinical history, for instance, urine tests, blood tests, semen analysis ultrasound or MRI. It can help to know the issue better.
4. Treatment: The procedure for the treatment of hematospermia depends on the reason. Diagnosis often leads to no treatment specifically labelled if it is linked to minor trauma or infection. However, it could happen that a disease would be diagnosed, and the prescribed treatment would be applied.
Final Thoughts
Even though hematospermia may be very Bizarre, the reality of things is it usually is not a red alert. For numerous things, it will fix itself, even without any medical care. However, don’t take it for granted, in case you experience some other alarming sign. Seeing the doctor is very beneficial in that it will either find out the disease’s origin or seek treatment for it.
Do not ignore the fact that your health is very valuable and, as the saying goes, it is always better to be safe than sorry. You must not hesitate to consult a medical expert if you have any questions abouthematospermia or other health disorders.
Suppose you are also seeking medical help for urological issues. In that case, you can contact and book an appointment with Dr Saket Narnoli, who is known to be the Best Urologist in Dhanbad Providing Excellent Urological Services. With a tailored treatment plan and lifestyle modifications, hematospermia can usually be managed successfully.