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STDs (Expert Forum)
Yellowish semen...?
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
Welcome to the STD Forum, which is intended only for questions and support pertaining to sexually transmitted diseases other than HIV/AIDS, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, human papillomavirus, genital warts, trichomonas, other vaginal infections, nongonoccal urethritis (NGU), cervicitis, molluscum contagiosum, chancroid, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). All questions will be answered by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D. or Edward W Hook, MD.
Yellowish semen...?
by Freyman, Feb 26, 2005 12:00AM
I'm 34 and have had herpes since 19. Back then doctors told me I would only spread it when broken out, but reading your forum has shown me how little I thought I knew (thank you). I've been married for 4 yrs. (separated for 9 mo.). Last winter (over a year ago) my wife and I shaved our pubes and what seemed to be folliculitis (sp?) from shaving my scrotum spread onto my penis shaft, the base of which having hair that was shaved. I stopped shaving only a month later, but the tiny white bumps are more numerous now. I have actually plucked a colorless hair or two out of some of them, so I'm pretty sure that it is as stated above. This alone doesn't bother me, but in conjunction with the following I am curious about something.
About 3 years ago I got drunk one night and my hangover cure of a bunch of V8 seemed to cause an orange film to grow on the pubic hairs on my scrotum and around my pubic lymphatic sites. We lived in Nevada and I thought it was just a fungus. It has come about a few times since then, less orange without the juice, but rather cream-colored. My crotch tends to become sort of musty smelling then, and for at least a year my semen has been more yellow than white. My wife use to get yeast infections quite often, and so I wonder if I have had a yeast infection for a couple of years, or some other fungal, viral or bacterial infection. I have noticed that it seems to be worse when my diet has too much sugar. Are there tests that a doctor can perform to help? Do you have any suggestions? I appreciate your forum and your help. Thank you.
About 3 years ago I got drunk one night and my hangover cure of a bunch of V8 seemed to cause an orange film to grow on the pubic hairs on my scrotum and around my pubic lymphatic sites. We lived in Nevada and I thought it was just a fungus. It has come about a few times since then, less orange without the juice, but rather cream-colored. My crotch tends to become sort of musty smelling then, and for at least a year my semen has been more yellow than white. My wife use to get yeast infections quite often, and so I wonder if I have had a yeast infection for a couple of years, or some other fungal, viral or bacterial infection. I have noticed that it seems to be worse when my diet has too much sugar. Are there tests that a doctor can perform to help? Do you have any suggestions? I appreciate your forum and your help. Thank you.
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Feb 26, 2005 12:00AM
, Feb 26, 2005 12:00AM
Several symptoms/problems, likely all different; I doubt a single cause. The white bumps in the shaving area almost certainly were folliculitis, not herpes. Discoloration externally involving the pubic hair definitely has nothing to do with V8 juice (which in turn probably has no benefit against hangovers, but that's another story) or anything else you eat; as you suggest, it probably is a fungal infection.
Discolored semen, especially yellowish, tan, or brown, can mean infection, such as prostate gland infection. In theory it could be an STD, especially gonorrhea or chlamydia, but those are very unlikely to persist for a year, and would also cause abnormal discharge from the penis and/or painful urination. Yeast infection wouldn't cause this. Sugar intake probably is unrelated. However, diabetics are at increased risk for all kinds of infection, so you might check this out if you are at risk for diabetes (family history, overweight, etc).
If intermittent and darker (brown or visibly bloody), the most common cause is blood in the semen. Hematospermia--the medical term--occurs from time to time in many men, usually spontaneously and sometimes after trauma to the perineum (the area between the scrotum and anus), such as following a bike ride, off-road cycling, horseback riding, etc.
Bottom line: I would see a general physician; or if you like, a urologist. I doubt anything serious will be found, but the infection idea should be checked out.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
Discolored semen, especially yellowish, tan, or brown, can mean infection, such as prostate gland infection. In theory it could be an STD, especially gonorrhea or chlamydia, but those are very unlikely to persist for a year, and would also cause abnormal discharge from the penis and/or painful urination. Yeast infection wouldn't cause this. Sugar intake probably is unrelated. However, diabetics are at increased risk for all kinds of infection, so you might check this out if you are at risk for diabetes (family history, overweight, etc).
If intermittent and darker (brown or visibly bloody), the most common cause is blood in the semen. Hematospermia--the medical term--occurs from time to time in many men, usually spontaneously and sometimes after trauma to the perineum (the area between the scrotum and anus), such as following a bike ride, off-road cycling, horseback riding, etc.
Bottom line: I would see a general physician; or if you like, a urologist. I doubt anything serious will be found, but the infection idea should be checked out.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
