Generally, semen is white or gray in color. However, it can turn yellow due to several factors.
These include long gaps between ejaculations, eating foods that are rich in sulfites or preservatives, and some medications. Moreover, smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can also change the quality of semen.
Yellow sperm can also be caused by sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia or gonorrhea. If left untreated, these conditions can lead to serious health complications.
Causes
When it’s not caused by a sexually transmitted disease (STI) or infection, yellow semen is usually nothing to worry about. However, if it is accompanied by other symptoms, such as pain or bleeding when you urinate or ejaculate, fever, or pain in the back, abdomen or genital area, make an appointment with your doctor immediately.
A number of factors can change the color and density of sperm. For example, consuming foods that are rich in sulfur—like garlic or onions—or taking certain medications can give the sperm a yellowish tint. Similarly, dehydration can also negatively impact sperm color.
Other causes of yellow sperm include smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and a poor diet. All of these can affect sperm quality, so making healthy lifestyle changes—such as quitting smoking and limiting alcohol intake—can help improve the appearance of sperm.
Some STIs, such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, can also turn your semen yellow. This is because the bacteria can infect your prostate gland or other organs, causing an inflammation that results in yellow semen. If you’re diagnosed with an STI or other health problem, your doctor will prescribe treatments to help cure your condition and get your semen back to normal. Treatment options can vary depending on the cause of your symptom, but may include antibiotics, injections, surgery or other procedures.
Treatment
A man should always see a doctor if his semen has turned yellow. A doctor will determine the underlying cause and treat it accordingly. Infections such as STIs or prostate gland problems can lead to yellow semen. Yellow semen is also a symptom of some medical conditions including jaundice and liver disease.
Sometimes a yellow color in semen can be caused by urine left behind after ejaculation. This happens when the urethra, which carries urine and semen out of the body, is blocked. The semen and urine then mix together causing it to have a yellow color. In this situation, a man should avoid sexual contact until the doctor can examine him for infections.
Men should also be careful about what they eat. Certain foods can change sperm color. For example, eating sulphur-rich foods like garlic and onions can cause the semen to become yellow. Drinking alcohol and taking medications can also affect sperm color. These include some antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs, and antidepressants.
In some cases, a yellow color in semen can indicate that a man has an STD, such as herpes or gonorrhea. These infections can cause yellow semen and other symptoms such as pain when ejaculating and a foul smell. In this case, a doctor will prescribe antibiotics to clear up the infection. A doctor can also recommend safe sex practices and regular STI screenings to help prevent spreading these infections.
Prevention
Normally, sperm is clear or white, but it can be yellow depending on a person’s health, lifestyle, and genes. If a man notices that his semen is yellow, he should consult a doctor. Treatment options may include medication and diet changes.
In some cases, yellow semen can be an indication of a sexually transmitted disease. STIs and STDs like chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, and more can cause yellow sperm due to leukocytospermia, or the presence of too many white blood cells in the seminal fluid. Practicing safe sex and getting tested for STDs regularly is one way to prevent yellow semen, as well as other symptoms like a yellow discharge from the penis or painful ejaculation.
Other causes of yellow semen can be less serious. For example, it is common for older men to have a slightly yellow tint to their semen, which can be normal and caused by age or benign things like certain vitamins and medicines. A yellow hue to semen can also be an indicator of jaundice, a medical condition in which excess bilirubin builds up in the body due to a malfunctioning liver.
Some foods can also affect the color of semen, such as those that contain sulfur, including garlic, onions, and chives. Changing diets and drinking more water can help prevent this. Some medications can also change the color of a man’s semen, such as drugs used to treat tuberculosis or vitamin B supplements.
Other symptoms
As we age, our semen naturally changes shades and can take on a light yellow hue. This is completely normal and not a cause for concern. It can also become yellow if you eat certain foods that contain dyes or sulfur, such as turmeric, onions, and garlic. The color may also change if you haven’t ejaculated in a while and your first ejaculation contains old semen that has mixed with urine.
Certain sexually transmitted diseases can also turn a man’s semen yellow, including gonorrhea and chlamydia. A doctor can confirm whether these STDs are causing your yellow semen by conducting tests on your saliva or blood. Besides changing the color of your semen, these diseases can lead to other symptoms, such as pain or discharge during sex.
Another condition that can cause yellow semen is hepatitis. This can be caused by sexually transmitted infections or nonsexual contact, such as through blood transfusions or shared needles. Hepatitis A, B, and C can all lead to yellow semen because of the way they affect the liver.
If you have a medical condition that causes your semen to be yellow, your doctor will prescribe treatment accordingly. For example, if your yellow semen is due to an STI/STD, your doctor will give you antibiotics to treat the infection. If your yellow semen is due to a liver disease or prostate gland infection, you will receive medication that treats the condition.
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