In medicine, there is no such thing as “clumpy sperm”, because sperm are very small cells in semen and cannot be observed with the naked eye. Therefore, the condition that many people mistakenly believe is actually clumpy semen.
Normal semen is a slightly viscous liquid, milky white like rice water and liquefies after 15-20 minutes of ejaculation. Semen is clumped into small white lumps or lumpy with tiny particles accompanied by a fishy smell and abnormal color. Other forms of clumping include rice-like lumps, yellow lumps, jelly-like lumps, transparent and not liquefied in the environment, and brown lumps like rust.
This condition can reduce sperm mobility and energy, making it difficult to reach and fertilize the egg, leading to infertility. Some forms can be signs of men suffering from male diseases such as epididymitis, prostatitis, orchitis, vas deferens inflammation… The cause may be that men do not ejaculate for a long time. This is also a normal physiological phenomenon and is common in people ejaculating for the first time, it does not greatly affect health, so you do not need to worry too much. This phenomenon improves after several consecutive ejaculations.
Habits such as wearing tight underwear, sitting in one place for too long, placing a laptop on the lap for a long time… cause the testicles to heat up, and the semen environment can change. Men who regularly smoke, drink alcohol, use stimulants, and are under psychological stress also affect sperm quality. Having male diseases such as orchitis, vas deferens inflammation, prostatitis… are also causes of this condition.
You should go to the Reproductive Support Center to be examined by a specialist, have a semen analysis and other necessary tests to determine the cause and appropriate treatment.
Embryologist at the Center for Reproductive Support, Tam Anh General Hospital System, looks for sperm under a microscope. Photo: Trinh Mai
To reduce the risk of sperm clumping, you should have a healthy and scientific diet to help improve overall health and reproductive health. A nutritious daily diet includes foods that are good for sperm such as bean sprouts, foods rich in zinc and vitamins, honey, seafood, blueberries to help increase the body’s natural testosterone levels. Avoid foods that negatively affect sperm quality such as alcohol, tobacco, stimulants, soy products, animal organs, etc.
Every day you should spend at least 30 minutes exercising and moderate physical activity, limit stress, sleep early and get 8 hours of sleep every night. Have sex three times a week, practice regular ejaculation habits, avoid long-term accumulation that can cause male diseases. Regular and moderate sex also brings many other benefits such as pain relief, improved sleep, stable blood pressure, and reduced risk of prostate cancer.