Blood in your semen is called hematospermia. It may be stressful to see, but in many cases it's not a sign of a serious problem. It may be caused by an infection or inflammation. It's a common after-effect of a prostate biopsy, vasectomy, or other procedure. In some people, the cause isn't found but the bleeding stops over time.
Blood in semen may be caused by any of these:
- Enlarged vein in the prostate gland
- Enlarged prostate gland (benign prostate hyperplasia)
- Infection in any tube that sends fluid out of the penis
- Infection of the prostate gland
- Injury from prostate biopsy
- Injury to the pelvis or testicles
- Radiation therapy
- Sexually transmitted infection (STI)
- Vasectomy
In some cases, the bleeding may be caused by any of these:
- Bleeding disorder
- Frequent ejaculation
- Growth such as a polyp, cyst, or cancer tumor
- High blood pressure
- HIV
- Kidney disease
- Leukemia
- Liver disease
The health care team will ask you questions about your:
- Sexual history
- Recent injury
- Recent procedures
- Any other symptoms
To find the cause, a doctor will examine your penis. They will give you a digital rectal exam (DRE). This means a doctor uses their finger to feel for growths or other problems in the prostate area.