Hematospermia can be a distressing symptom for patients, but most cases are effectively managed by a primary care physician. The advent of transrectal ultrasonography trus has provided physicians with an important tool for evaluating patients with hematospermia and has relegated the role of studies such as intravenous urography, vasography, and seminal vesiculography to that of only historical interest. Introduction hemospermia or bloody seminal discharge is an uncommon clinical entity. Patient information hematospermia is the presence of blood in the semen. Hematospermia or blood in semen can be caused due to numerous medical conditions which affect the urinary tract system of the human body.
It can be caused by inflammation of the prostate or prostatitis. Hematospermia occurs in more than 80 percent of men undergoing prostate biopsy and lasts for an average of three to four weeks. Docdoc is asias leading patient empowerment company. For more details, see hematospermia and truspb, below. Hematospermia is a relatively frequent, distressing, and frightening symptom for the majority of men. The patients age, recurrence of hematospermia, and associated urinary symptoms, e. Hematospermiaa symptom with many possible causes ncbi. The most conditions which can cause hematospermia or blood in semen are conditions of bladder, urethra, testicles, the seminal vesicles, epididymis, and prostate. Among men age 40 or older, hematospermia is a slight predictor of cancer, typically prostate cancer.
It is a symptom that can cause great anxiety in patients despite usually being of benign etiology. Evaluation for hematospermia involves a digital rectal examination of the prostate to check the size and consistency, a urinalysis to check for urinary infection and blood in the urine, and a psa prostate specific antigen blood test. In men 40 years and older, iatrogenic hematospermia from urogenital instrumentation or prostate biopsy is the most common. In approximately half the cases, the etiology is declared idiopathic. Hematospermia is defined as frank blood in the ejaculate. Areas affected may include the bladder, urethra, the testicles, the tubes that distribute semen from the testicles known as the seminal vesicles, the epididymis a segment of the spermatic ducts that serves to store, mature, and transport sperm, and the prostate gland. Patients who do not volunteer information should be asked specifically about a recent prostate biopsy. Symptoms can occur due to a multitude of reasons, but are usually benign and. The process starts with the formation of the sperms in the testes. Hematospermia evaluation at mr imaging rsna publications online. Hematospermia, or blood in the ejaculate, usually follows a benign selflimiting course. The needles cause blood to escape into the ducts and glands that make. Hematospermia blood in semen the urology group of virginia. Hematospermia also known as haematospermia, hemospermia, or haemospermia is the presence of blood in ejaculation.
Pdf should every patient with hematospermia be investigated. It is almost always a benign condition that is not a sign of anything which would potentially pose a threat to a mans health. As with a prostate infection, medication will usually heal the problem in a short period of time. Etiology of 305 cases of refractory hematospermia and therapeutic. The sanguineous sperm hemospermia current appraisal. Blood in semen can be caused by many conditions affecting the male genitourinary system.
It usually affects men aged 3040 and usually does not indicate a serious condition. Though it is considered to be usually due to prostatitis and. Tuberculosis is also an uncommon cause of hematospermia. Hematospermia is the presence of grossly bloody or bloodtinged penile ejaculate. Should every patient with hematospermia be investigated. Although the condition is usually benign, significant underlying. Blood in the semen, or hematospermia, commonly occurs after a biopsy of the prostate. Although the differential diagnosis list is extensive, it is usually a benign, selflimiting. Abnormalities affecting reproductive function of male animals. The hematospermia of all the patients disappeared within 26 weeks, and 93. Hematospermia may naturally cause concern for men who experience it.
However, it can be a source of considerable anxiety in patients. Hematospermia, hemospermia, bloody urethral discharge how to cite this article. Trus and mri allow clear visualization of the seminal vesicles, prostate, and ampullary portions of the vas. The purpose of this article is to provide the primary care physician an algorithm for the evaluation and management of hematospermia based on frequency of occurrence and patient age. However, your doctor will treat your condition if you. It is distinct from hematuria blood in the urine and from bloody discharge or bleeding from the urethra, although these conditions may also be present depending on the etiology and aid in the evaluation. Hematospermia herbal treatment, prevention, symptoms. Hematospermia demystified harvard health blog harvard.
With a network of more than 23,000 doctors under contract and extensive proprietary data on outcome, price, and experience, we help patients find the highest quality care for their unique medical needs. Evaluation and treatment of hematospermia american family. Most often the causes of hematospermia are idiopathic and only simple investigations are required for evaluation. Hematospermia spuria definition of hematospermia spuria.
Hematospermia is defined by the presence of blood in the semen typically occurring in men younger than 40 years of age. To reiterate, malignant cancers of the testicle and prostate are. Hematospermia remains a symptom that is difficult to treat, especially if it is recurrent or persistent in nature. We hypothesize that 5mg of finasteride daily for two weeks preceding trus prostate biopsy and one week following will reduce hematuria and hematospermia commonly seen as complications. Hematospermia is also common after radiation treatment for prostate cancer, occurring in as many as 25 percent of patients after external beam radiation and 17 percent after brachytherapy.
The reproductive system begins with the testicles that are located in the scrotum. Hematospermia is the word used to describe the presence of blood in the semen. Hematospermia also called hemospermia is the presence of blood in the semen. American college of radiology end user license agreement. Blood in the semen is actually a fairly common condition. In the event there is some sort of blockage in the urethra or seminal vesicles, a physician can normally identify the problem with examination and take action to clear the blockage. While alarming, blood that appears in semen after ejaculation is rarely related to major health concerns and is generally caused by a treatable sexually transmitted infection sti or a urinary tract infection uti. If you are under the age of 40, have no urinary tract symptoms, and no risk factors for other medical conditions, the blood in your semen will disappear on its own.
Hematospermia or blood in the semen is a benign condition and 95 % of the time we do not find a cause. The reported incidence of hematospermia following a biopsy varies between 5. Hematospermia causes also include inflammation of the urethra. Fortunately, it doesnt always signal a major medical problem. Important associated symptoms include hematuria, difficulty starting or stopping urine flow, nocturia. Hematospermia definition of hematospermia by medical. Visible blood in ejaculatehaematospermia or haemospermiais usually an isolated symptom, and its incidence is unknown. The semen is composed of secretions from the testes, epididymis, urethral glands, prostate gland, and seminal vesicles. Hematospermia less commonly hemospermia refers to the presence of blood in semen or ejaculatory fluid. Haematospermia is defined as the appearance of blood in the ejaculate. Other causes include congenital or acquired cysts of the seminal vesicles or ejaculatory duct and less commonly prostate cancer.
A recent study by miami researchers pegged the incidence of hematospermia following truspb at 84%. Pdf hematospermia or hemospermia is defined as the presence of blood in ejaculate. Radiologic procedure rating comments rrl us pelvis prostate transrectal 8 o mri pelvis without and with iv contrast 8 this procedure is indicated if trus is negative or inconclusive. History of present illness should note the duration of symptoms. Hematospermia is a term used to describe blood in the semen that occurs during ejaculation. On average, hematospermia lasted three and a half weeks before resolving on its own. Hematospermia is marked by the presence of blood in the semen.
Pdf hematospermia is a disconcerting symptom that produces extreme anxiety in sexually active male patients. Hematospermia definition of hematospermia by the free. If hematospermia persists beyond 2 months, further workup is recommended to determine the cause. In most cases, it is benign and self limiting, often caused by inflammation or infection of the. Appropriateness criteria, appropriate use criteria, auc. Hematospermia is liable to continue on and off, but it is usually selflimited and carries with it no increased risk of any other disease, nor is the patient felt to be putting his sexual partner at risk.
Nevertheless, locally advanced disease can cause lower urinary tract symptoms obstructive or irritative, hematospermia, a decrease in ejaculate volume, and erectile dysfunction if the cancer extends beyond the prostate to involve the. In the past, urologists have generally regarded haematospermia as a benign. Hematospermia vera definition of hematospermia vera by. It often invokes considerable anxiety and is frightening for the. The purpose of our study is primarily to evaluate the effects of 5mg finasteride on hematuria and hematospermia commonly associated with prostate biopsies. The condition is often selflimited and resolves within 12 months. Hematospermia is a disease of any one of the many organs of the male reproductive system. For those who have been exposed to this word before, you probably have just shuddered in your seat. The clear secretions from the urethral glands account for a tiny amount of the semen, the milky white prostate gland secretions account for a. Hematospermia is usually associated with inflammatory conditions of the seminal vesicles or prostate.