After sex, I notice a very unpleasant fishy odor in my semen. Is it due to inflammation or infection? (Tung, 22 years old, Hanoi).
Normally, semen is cream or grayish white in color. In the case of light yellow color, it may be due to long-term abstinence from ejaculation, causing sperm to stagnate and increase viscosity, affecting the ability of sperm to move. This condition can be easily improved by increasing the frequency of sex. In addition, some foods such as turmeric, onions, garlic or some antibiotics or vitamins such as B1 can also cause yellow semen, which is not harmful to health.
Semen changes color and has an unusual odor that warns of many diseases. When semen turns dark yellow, it may be caused by diseases that cause jaundice and accumulation of bile pigments. There are usually few symptoms in the genital tract. If yellow semen combined with a foul odor, swelling, pain or painful urination is often a sign of genital tract inflammation.
Semen that has a foul or fishy odor can be caused by bacteria, microorganisms or a sign of infection or sexually transmitted disease. In some cases, semen with a strong sweet smell can be an early sign of diabetes.
If semen turns green, it may be due to an infection in the prostate or surrounding tissues. Brown or red semen indicates a leak or a broken blood vessel around the seminal vesicles. Ejaculation with a lot of bloody fluid can be due to prostate cancer, prostate tuberculosis or seminal vesiculitis…
For the most accurate assessment, you should go to the hospital for a semen analysis when you have the above abnormal signs.