Do you constantly check the color, texture and other features of your semen out of fear of prostate cancer?
Does prostate cancer even affect the appearance of semen?
About 269,000 American men every year are diagnosed with prostate cancer.
About 41 percent are between 65 and 74, and about 31 percent are between 55 and 64.
Prostate cancer can cause numerous symptoms.
“We discourage men from being too concerned about semen color or consistency, given that, as men age, semen volume and consistency can vary,” says Matthew Allaway, DO, a urologist who specializes in detecting prostate cancer and the developer of a prostate biopsy technique that improves cancer detection.
“When men present with blood in their semen (hematospermia), a urologist should perform a urinalysis, PSA test and a digital rectal exam.
“Interestingly, blood in the semen is very rarely associated with prostate cancer.”
Blood in semen. Grekoriz/Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
In other words, if you notice blood in your semen, don’t panic and don’t fear the worst, BUT … don’t delay in seeing a urologist, either.
Common causes are a urinary tract infection, a sexually transmitted disease, an enlarged or inflamed prostate, and a recent procedure such as a bladder exam. Thus, prostate cancer wouldn’t be at the top of the list, but it still makes the list as a possible (though rare) cause.
Blood in the semen can present as pink, red, maroon or brown.
Dr. Allaway is the founder and CEO of Perineologic, a medical device company focused on the development and delivery of technology to improve the safety, precision and efficiency of healthcare options in the field of urology.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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