Blood in the semen before age 40 usually does not mean a serious problem and therefore tends to disappear alone after 2 or 3 days without the need for specific treatment.
Already the appearance of blood in the semen after the 40 years of age may in some cases be a symptom of some serious health problems, such as vesiculitis or prostatitis, that need to be treated and it is necessary to consult a urologist to identify the cause and start treatment.
However, in any case, if blood sperm appears frequently or if it takes more than 3 days to disappear, it is recommended to go to a urologist to assess the need to start some type of treatment to cure the problem or relieve the symptoms.
What can be blood in semen?
The most frequent causes of blood in semen are minor strokes or inflammations in the male reproductive system, however, bleeding can also occur due to medical tests such as prostate biopsy or more serious problems such as sexually transmitted diseases or cancer, for example.
1. Shocks in the genital area
Injuries to the genital area, such as cuts or bumps, for example, are the most frequent cause of blood in semen before the age of 40, and usually the man does not remember to have happened. It is therefore important to look at the inner area to look for any cuts or other signs of trauma such as swelling, redness or bruising.
- What to do: Normally, in these cases, blood in the semen will disappear after about 3 days and therefore no specific treatment is required.
2. Use of anticoagulants
The use of some medicines, especially anticoagulants such as warfarin or aspirin, increase the risk of bleeding small blood vessels in the semen tract, which can lead to blood leakage during ejaculation.
- What to do: If the bleeding lasts more than 3 days to disappear, it is recommended to consult a urologist and take all medicines that are being taken to evaluate the need to exchange some medicine. See how care should be taken when using anticoagulants.
3. Having a prostate biopsy
Prostate biopsy is a type of invasive examination that uses a needle to remove a sample of the organ, so bleeding in the semen and urine is very common due to needle trauma and rupture of some blood vessels . See more about how prostate biopsy is done.
- What to do: Bleeding is normal if the test has been done within 4 weeks before the appearance of blood in the semen, and it is recommended to consult the urologist only if excessive bleeding or fever occurs above 38 ° C.
4. Inflammation of the prostate or testicles
Inflammations that may appear in the male reproductive system, especially in the prostate or testicles, are one of the most common causes of blood in semen, so it is important to be alert to other symptoms such as fever, pain in the intima, or swelling of the testicles. See other symptoms in Prostatitis and Epididymitis.
- What to do: If inflammation is suspected, it is advisable to consult a urologist to identify the type of inflammation and initiate the appropriate treatment, which can be done with antibiotics, anti-inflammatories or analgesics, for example.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia
Prostate hyperplasia, also known as enlarged prostate is a very common problem in men after 50 years and a major cause of blood in semen in older men. Usually, this type of problem is accompanied by other symptoms such as pain when urinating, difficulty urinating or urge to urinate suddenly. See the other common symptoms of this problem.
- What to do: It is recommended to have prostate exams after age 50, which may include taking rectal examination and blood tests to identify if there is any problem with the prostate and initiate appropriate treatment.
6. Sexually transmitted diseases
Although rare, the presence of blood in semen may be a sign of the development of sexually transmitted diseases, such as genital herpes, chlamydia, or gonorrhea, especially when it comes after having sex without a condom, for example. See other signs may indicate an STD.
- What to do: If there has been intimate contact without a condom or other symptoms such as discharge coming out of the penis, painful urination or fever, it is advisable to see a urologist for blood tests for various sexually transmitted diseases.
7. Cancer
Cancer is one of the rarest causes of blood in semen. However, this hypothesis should always be investigated, especially after age 40 because prostate, bladder or testicle cancer can in some cases cause blood to appear in the semen. semen.
- What to do: A urologist should be consulted if cancer is suspected or routine exams after the age of 40 to allow identification of the risk of cancer, initiating treatment indicated by the physician if necessary.
