Does your semen have a yellowish coloration when you ejaculate? Don’t be scared, maybe the cause is not so worrisome.
Sometimes, we deviate from our healthy way of living, resulting in organic symptoms and pathologies that we may not be aware of their origin.
But be careful, you should immediately investigate the cause of the yellowish color of your semen when you ejaculate.
In the following article, we give you the necessary information so that you know about its origin and how to treat it.
What is yellow semen?
Yellow semen is the yellowish male secretion that can be caused by age, which does not represent infertility or poor sexual performance. Likewise, after a time without ejaculating, it is normal for the semen to acquire this coloration.
Note: Others refer that yellow semen may be due to traces of urine, but it is normal for it to appear after weeks or months without ejaculating, since after this period of time, the spermatozoa die and stain the whole.
Likewise, a diet rich in onion , garlic, egg yolks or avocado can affect the yellowish color of the semen. In these cases it is not cause for concern, if they are not maintained for more than a day.
Some studies indicate that yellow semen can occur in men with leukocytospermia (1) , or also in patients who take vitamins to treat jaundice, due to the presence of hepatitis, pancreatitis, medications, among others.
Other changes can occur from dehydration or sexually transmitted diseases. To a lesser extent it may be related to a urogenital tract infection, but this problem is accompanied by other symptoms.
Causes of yellow semen
The causes that can generate the yellowish coloration of the semen are due to organic disorders, diseases or diet. Here we mention the most common:
Long time without ejaculating
When the man has not ejaculated for a long period of time, the first ejaculation is yellowish in color. In general, when the man returns to having a normal sexual life, the semen returns to its normal color.
The “Basic Semen Analysis Manual” , (2) establishes that “a yellowish color of the ejaculate is usually due to an increased content of flavoproteins that originate in the seminal vesicles, indicating a long period of sexual abstinence” .
Urine retained in the urethra
When ejaculation occurs and there are traces of urine in the urethra, due to urinary tract infections or pathologies such as benign prostatic hyperplasia, it is common to see the yellowish coloration of the sperm.
Note: This should be corrected with the treatment of the pathology that causes urinary retention.
Sexually transmitted diseases
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are those caused by microorganisms that are transmitted mainly by skin/mucosal contact or by fluid exchange during sexual intercourse.
It happens when the man acquired a sexually transmitted disease, causing an increase in the number of leukocytes in the urinary tract.
To highlight: An article in the “Cuban Journal of Endocrinology” mentions that a consequence of sexually transmitted diseases is leukocytospermia, that is, the abnormal presence of leukocytes in sperm due to a bacterial process. (1) This condition leads to a yellowish color in the sperm.
At the time of ejaculation, these leukocytes bind to the sperm, staining it yellow. Under normal conditions, these leukocytes are usually scarce in the seminal fluid or even absent.
Like the previous one, this should be corrected with the treatment of the pathology that causes the sexually transmitted disease.
Urinary infection
In the same context, when there is a urinary tract infection, it is normal for the immune system to attack the bacteria that are attacking it, increasing in response, the number of leukocytes present in any part of the urinary tract.
We already know that the increase in leukocytes in the urinary tract, which includes the urethra, can turn the semen color yellow at the time of ejaculation.
condition in the prostate
Prostatitis or inflammation of the prostate in men, generally caused by a bacterial infection, leads to an increase in leukocytes in the blood, which can appear in the seminal fluid at the time of ejaculation. It could also cause leukocytospermia due to the inflammatory process of the prostate.
Note: As in the previous ones, this problem should be corrected with the application of a treatment that corrects this pathology.
Advanced age
Age also influences the coloration of the seminal fluid in ejaculations. As age advances, the color of the semen changes, but it does not affect fertility.
Alcohol and cigarette consumption
The survival of the spermatozoa, as well as the quality of the seminal fluid are related to the state of health of the man.
We already know the consequences of the abusive consumption of alcohol and tobacco. These substances in the bloodstream (alcohol and nicotine) impoverish the quality of semen because the organs that produce it are weakened by the action of these harmful substances.
The consequence is that the spermatozoa are born dead or die in the first moments, causing an alteration in the coloration of the seminal fluid.
dehydration
Dehydration changes the coloration of urine. The greater the dehydration, the color of the urine will be more yellowish.
It happens then that if we are in a state of dehydration, the color of the urine accumulated in the urethra becomes darker and if an ejaculation occurs at that moment, the semen will drag those remains of urine, changing its color.
To highlight: For this reason, it is recommended to observe changes in the urine that can indicate the presence of dehydration and that can stain the semen.
Feeding
Likewise, there are foods rich in sulfur that can turn semen yellow, such as: onion, garlic, egg, broccoli or avocado.
Medicines
The consumption of B complex vitamins can also stain the seminal fluid yellow.
Treatment to eliminate yellow semen
There are various alternatives to eliminate the yellowish coloration of the semen. Here we give you some of them:
Eat foods rich in protein and vitamins
Keeping the body’s functions stable, including those related to reproduction, depends to a large extent on proper nutrition. The consumption of zinc , folic acid, vitamin B12 and other amino acids help to improve the quality of semen and sperm.
Avoid excess fat and sulfur
Foods rich in sulfur such as onion, garlic, eggs, fish and meat, avocado, among others, contain a large amount of sulfur, a chemical compound that can dye semen yellow if consumed in excess.
Important: Fats, especially those of animal origin, cause deterioration in the body if consumed in excess. The recommendation is to eat a healthy and balanced daily diet.
avoid cigarette
Nicotine has been proven to be carcinogenic, and despite the fact that the main affectation is in the respiratory tract, it also attacks other organs.
Cancer activates our immune system, causing a disproportionate increase in the blood of white blood cells and other defense elements that alter the color of the semen.
Moderate alcohol consumption
The harmful action of alcohol consumption is sufficiently documented. Alcohol damages the organs, interferes with their normal processes.
The abuse in the consumption of this type of substance affects the production of spermatozoa and the quality of the seminal fluid, affecting its coloration.
stay hydrated
The hydration of the organism is very necessary so that all the physiological and metabolic functions can be fulfilled with efficiency.
One of them is kidney function and the better we are hydrated, the less likely it is that the urine will take on a darker color than normal. Remember that the recommendation is to drink at least two liters of water a day.
Consume natural fruit juices
The consumption of industrialized products that contain artificial colors can cause a different coloration of the seminal fluid. Therefore, it is advisable to eliminate or limit the consumption of these types of products and replace them with natural fruit juices.
Go to the doctor if necessary
In any case, regardless of our suspicion of abnormal semen coloration, it is necessary to consult a specialist doctor, and verify if there may be other additional factors, who will recommend exploratory tests to verify the real cause of the semen. the anomaly.
Key takeaways
- Yellow semen is the yellowish male secretion that can be caused by age, traces of urine, diet, dehydration, etc. And in other cases due to a urinary tract infection.
- The yellow coloration in the semen is not synonymous with infertility, although there are people who believe so.
- We recommend having a balanced diet and a good daily intake of water to stay hydrated, if possible avoid smoking and moderate alcohol consumption.
- Always, regardless of what the suspicion is, we recommend going to a specialist doctor for a complete evaluation and ruling out that there are no other factors in addition to those already mentioned above.
University Professional in the area of Human Resources, Postgraduate in Occupational Health and Hygiene of the Work Environment, 14 years of experience in the area of health. Interested in topics of Psychology, Occupational Health, and General Medicine.