Men's Health

What causes blood in my semen?

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By , Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
Stylized illustration of sperm with small particles of blood floating around them.I noticed small streaks of blood in my semen. It happened once before, about one year ago. Do I have to worry about something serious, like cancer?

Most commonly, bloody semen happens after a man has a medical procedure. Many men who have a prostate biopsy will have some blood in their semen for several days afterward. A cystoscopy (a catheter insertion through the urethra into the bladder) can also lead to temporary hematospermia, especially if the doctor takes biopsies of the bladder lining.

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About the Author

photo of Howard E. LeWine, MD

Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing

Dr. Howard LeWine is a practicing internist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Chief Medical Editor at Harvard Health Publishing, and editor in chief of Harvard Men’s Health Watch. See Full Bio
View all posts by Howard E. LeWine, MD

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