What Your Semen Says About Your Health

Semen is the cloudy, white fluid that is released from the penis during ejaculation. It consists of sperm cells (called spermatozoa) and a nutrient-rich liquid called seminal fluid. The purpose of seminal fluid is to transport sperm cells and enable their survival for up to five days so that fertilization is possible.

This article answers some of the common questions about semen. It also explores what the color, consistency, and smell of semen say about your health.

What Is Semen?

Semen is composed of seminal fluid populated with sperm cells. With every ejaculation, about 100 million sperm cells are released from the penis.

Sperm cells are produced in the testicles. From there, the cells enter a coiled tube called the epididymis where they are stored and mature under the influence of hormones from the testicles and pituitary gland.

Thereafter, the sperm cells migrate to a long, muscular tube called the vas deferens where they combine with seminal fluid secreted by two ejaculatory ducts. The end product is semen.

The seminal fluid itself is composed of fluids from three organs:

• Cowper's gland is a pea-sized organ that secretes fluids that function as a lubricant and helps neutralize acids to keep sperm cells alive.
• Prostate gland is a walnut-sized gland that secretes fluids that keep semen in a liquified state while providing nutrients and enzymes that nourish and protect sperm cells.
• Seminal vesicles are a pair of tube-shaped glands that secrete fluids rich in fructose (a sugar that helps fuel sperm cells) and prostaglandins (a type of fat that triggers the contraction of vaginal muscles to propel the sperm up the vaginal canal).

During ejaculation, powerful contractions of muscles (called bulbospongiosus and pubococcygeus muscles) propel semen out of the penis through a long tube called the urethra.

Semen Volume

The volume of semen that is released during ejaculation can vary. A 2012 review of studies published in the Journal of Andrology suggests the average volume is 3.4 milliliters (mL). This is roughly two-thirds of a teaspoon.

Semen volume may impact male fertility. Research suggests having a higher-than-normal semen volume corresponds with a low lower sperm count. This is due to the dilution of sperm cells.

On the other hand, a lower-than-normal semen volume (less than 1.5 mL) also corresponds to a lower likelihood of fertility. Consistently low semen volumes may be due to a condition such as retrograde ejaculation in which semen flows back to the bladder rather than out of the body.

Low semen volumes may also be a sign of other medical conditions. A 2014 study in Fertility and Sterility evaluated over 9,000 males with an average age of 38. They found that people with low semen volumes were nearly two times more likely to have high blood pressure or heart disease than those with normal semen volumes.

Low semen volumes are not always a sign of infertility or illness. They can also be a sign of dehydration or recent ejaculation.

Semen Taste and Smell

Semen often smells like chlorine or ammonia and tastes slightly sweet due to its high fructose content. That being said, the taste and smell of semen can vary from one person to the next.

Certain foods can alter the taste and smell of semen, making it more bitter, pungent, or musky. These may include foods like:

• Alcohol
• Asparagus
• Cabbage
• Coffee
• Dairy
• Garlic
• Meats
• Onions

Other foods are said to make semen smell or taste milder or sweeter, including celery, parsley, and pineapple.

Smoking tobacco can also alter the taste or smell of semen. In addition, cigarettes can reduce the quality, count, and motility of sperm and make it harder for your to conceive.

Another factor that can influence the smell or taste of semen is an infection. These include urinary tract infections (UTIs) and sexually transmitted diseases like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis.

Semen Color and Consistency

Normal semen is generally an off-white or slightly yellow color. The consistency should be similar to that of an egg-white or be slightly jelly-like. There may sometimes be jelly-like globules in the semen, which is normal if you are dehydrated or have not ejaculated in a long time.

Changes in semen color are often of little concern, but certain colors may suggest a health problem.

Red or Brown

If your semen has a red or brown color, it may be a sign of blood. While this may seem alarming, the condition (called hematospermia) is usually not serious.

Causes of hematospermia include:

• Ruptured blood vessel
• Enlarged prostate
  
• Epididymitis (inflammation of the epididymis, most often due to an infection)
• Orchitis (inflammation of the testicle, most often due to an infection)
• Sexually transmitted diseases
• Testicular trauma
• Kidney or bladder stones
• Recent prostate biopsy
• Recent vasectomy

The good news is that most cases of hematospermia clear on their own without incident. Rarely is blood in semen a sign of cancer.

Yellow or Green

Semen with a pronounced yellow or green color may be the sign of an infection. There are other possible causes as well.

Some of the common and uncommon causes of yellow or green semen include:

• Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis
• Prostatitis or the inflammation of the prostate gland, often due to an infection
• Jaundice or the buildup of a yellow pigment called bilirubin due to conditions like hepatitis and gallstones
• Pyospermia, a condition linked to male infertility in which high concentrations of white blood cells in semen damage and weaken sperm cells)

Summary

Semen, composed primarily of seminal fluid and sperm cells (spermatozoa), is typically off-white or slightly yellowish with a consistency similar to egg whites. It often has a slightly ammonia-ish scent and can vary in flavor from sweet to salty to bitter.

Semen quality varies from person to person. With that said, certain issues may be a sign of an infection or infertility. These include foul-smelling semen, abnormally colored semen, or high or low volumes of semen after ejaculation. Abnormalities like these should be investigated, particularly if the symptoms are persistent or worsening.

A Word From Verywell

Talking about semen with your healthcare provider may be uncomfortable, but don't let discomfort get in the way of your good health. If needed, ask for a referral to a urologist who specializes in diseases of the genital and urinary tract.

A urologist can walk you through what is needed to investigate the abnormality. This may involve a procedure known as a semen analysis if there are concerns about fertility. Other lab or imaging tests may be ordered depending on your symptoms and the suspected cause.