Support Center & Knowledge base

Yes, blood-tinged semen is an indication that something is wrong with your body. According to medical terms, it is a condition called hematospermia which is an indication of many different ailments.

Let us see if it could have happened due to micro tear.

1. If you are having unprotected sex, make sure your partner is not menstruating or she has not been bleeding due to micro tear of her vaginal or anal tissues. In such cases, you can find blood in your semen, which is nothing to worry about.

2. If you have developed micro tears on the tip of your penis due to increased friction or if you have used two condoms which can cause greater friction and the resulting heat could rupture your delicate outer skin of your penis leading to micro tear and semen passing through such ruptured skin can pick up blood along the way while it comes gushing out.

3. If you had used condoms, you could have avoided bloody semen due to above reasons.

However, if you find blood in your semen inside your condom, you can be sure that it must have originated from your body as there are practically no chances of getting it from any external sources.

Let us explore some of the physical conditions that may lead to blood in semen:

Reasons for Bloody Semen:

1.      Urinary Tract Infection: Remember, blood in your semen is a clear symptom of a serious urinary tract infection or bladder infection, which requires immediate medical attention. You may have to consume a course of antibiotics to kill the infection. In such cases, you should drink lot of water, urinate before and after sex and wear condoms compulsorily to prevent infection spreading through mix of bodily fluids.

2·         STDs/STIs: It is found that untreatedSTD/STIis the prime reason for many men (below 40) to ejaculate a bloody semen. Immediate medical attention is required. However, man can still enjoy sex during treatment period by wearing a condom as it can provide the much needed protection so that they can be sure of not infecting their partners through sex.

3·         Prostate Infection / Prostatitis: It is an infection in the male prostate gland, which can cause blood to get mixed up with semen leading to bloody semen. This infection can be treated with antibiotics.

4·         Tuberculosis: If you have had TB ever in your life, there is always a chance for you to find blood in your semen as the bacterial infection can remain dormant in the body for years and show up after few years later. So, in such cases, you have to take immediate medical attention and get yourself a full course TB treatment again.

There can also be other causes for bloody semen. But you need not worry as it is not a life-threatening condition as you can get it rectified by screening your reproductive health completely and take proper treatment with an expert medical officer. The reasons could be

1. Kidney Stones / Calculi - It is a condition similar to kidney stones. Calculi are small crystalline formations that are passed through the male genitals causing rips and painful bleeding.

2. Hemorrhoid treatments - Injections to treat internal hemorrhoids can cause temporary bleeding which can get mixed up with your semen. It is only temporary and can stop automatically when the hemorrhoid is cured.

3. Liver disease - Liver disease due to excessive drinking or other maladies can show up as blood in the semen symptom

4. Hypertension - Witnessing blood in the semen is also a serious symptom of hypertension. If you are already suffering from hypertension and find blood when you ejaculate, then you need to visit your physician immediately as you may be going through chronic hypertension.

5. Hemophilia or other bleeding disorder - If you have suffering from any bleeding disorder you can find blood in your semen as blood may not clot after any small injury or skin tear

6. Urogenital Growth- You may have an abnormal urogenital growth such as a polyp or benign cyst which can cause blood to appear in your ejaculated load. You can try anMRIor ultrasound scanning to identify the growth and take treatment.

7. After effects of Medication - Some medications have the property to thin your blood and there is a possibility that blood might be thrown out through your passage leading to mixing up with your semen load. Inform your doctor and he might change the course of medicines.

8. Post Surgical Bleeding - If you had an operation or a biopsy or a prostate biopsy or even a vasectomy recently (within 4 weeks), it is very likely that blood will come through semen. It can be due to post surgical internal bleeding

The brave will never worry about the bloodshed right? There is nothing wrong about having sex during periods. But there are certain things that you need to be aware of:

1. Don't assume that your chance of pregnancy during periods is 0%.  While family planning by Rhythm method may be popular, but it is not reliable. For those with irregular menstrual cycle, ovulation may vary depending on stress, body condition, impacts of regular medication, exercise or lack of exercise etc., Sperm can stay alive inside the body for several days. So, it is entirely possible that sperm entered into the body on the day(s) of periods may stay alive and germinate the egg when it ovulates a few days later. This possibility cannot be ruled out.
2. For some women, a spotting or bleeding may happen during ovulation, which they may mistake as an early period. If you happen to have unprotected sex during that time, your chances of conception are high.
3. The blood flowing out of uterus carries lot of harmful bacteria which makes it more prone to infection. So, sex during periods comes with the imminent risk of getting infected through the blood directly. Wearing protection during periods is important to safeguard against infections including STDs and HIV. Condoms are the best when it comes to protection during periods. Condom is strong enough that no period blood can tear or permeate condoms and infect you.

Period sex can be safely tried with a condom.

Sex during periods is good if you don't mind sticking your gun in the mess. Scientifically, period sex is regarded as the excellent option to relieve menstrual cramps and tension brought on by PMS. It is found that orgasm experienced during periods can help women flush out unused uterine deposits (hormonal lining) making periods shorter and less painful.

It is a known fact that women experience greater spike in their libido during periods. When it is properly done, women are sure to enjoy sex during periods. So, if you are sure of sex during periods, we give below some valuable tips to make it enjoyable for you and her alike:

-          Maintain it clean: Clean the area around your vulva with warm water and a mild soap. Make sure the soap is not getting inside, which may affect the natural pH of the vagina leading to infections.

-          Do it under shower: Doing the act under the shower is a great way to enjoy and remain clean, without having to deal with the mess.

-          Use a candle to diffuse bloody smell: If the bloody smell during periods bothers you, then you can light up a candle which can diffuse the odd smell of blood.

-          Use a condom: To keep your cleaning time to a minimum, use a condom. It can also prevent spread of infections including STDs and HIV.

-          Wash it: Wash your organs thoroughly as soon as the game ends to prevent bacteria from causing any infection

-          Never wear a tampon: Don't allow him to indulge in sex with a tampon inside. It is like inserting two knives in a single sheath. A chance of tampon being pushed too far into the cervix is high, which can make it painful and difficult to remove. Which can be risky at sometimes leading to medical attention

-          Talk to your partner: During periods woman's cervix comes down a little to flush out uterine lining. So, there is a chance of your partner bumping against your cervix with his organ, which may be painful. So, talk to your partner about how you feel. If you are not comfortable with any position, talk to him and make sure the act is enjoyable to you both.

-          Respect cultural sensitivity: Some women don't like the idea of period sex and some cultures and religions don't permit sex during periods. If she is not ready for sex during periods due to reasons whatsoever, you should respect her decision and wait for those 3 days.

Tissue micro tear refers to a painful tear in the tissue lining. If you happen to indulge in little too zealously with your partner and then later feel that your skin is little hurt afterwards? That is micro tear. When something is abrasive or too harsh on your skin, it can tear the flesh and open up tiny tears in your flesh. These tiny wounds might seem harmless but they could potentially make you contract anSTD.

Tissue micro tears can happen for quite a lot of reasons. When there is too much of friction and lack of natural or other lubrication, then the tissue in the vagina or anus (at the mouth) might get damaged leading to micro tear.

Micro tears are a direct pathway into your circulatory system that it can pave way for viruses and germs to get into your body and cause an infection. Micro tear puts you at a high risk for transmitting or contractingSTD. This is why condoms and lubricant go hand-in-hand, and why HIV is still prevalent among people who use condoms for anal sex.

Micro tears are very common in the anus and it is very dangerous, which needs to be treated immediately and effectively. Your anus is the super highway for bacteria to get in to your body, so having open wounds there, no matter how tiny those may be, you are highly vulnerable for infection.

Certain reasons identified to cause micro tears include:

-          Spermicide condoms

-          Textured condoms (happens only for people with sensitive skin)

-          Too much friction and not sufficient lube

-          Too big or hard toys or body parts without any foreplay

The best way to prevent tissue micro tears is to use loads of silicone based lubricants.

Fordyce Spots are small bumps that can appear on the edge of your lips, inside your cheeks. It can also appear on the foreskin of the penis, on the shaft or on scrotum for men and on the vulva and labia for women. The spots are also called as Fordyce Granules. This is nothing but enlarged oil glands in our body called Fordyce glands.

Fordyce spots can be more visible on circumcised organ particularly during an erection. These appear from the glands. It may slightly vary in size for men and women and depending on the location of the spot. It can be anywhere between 1mm to 3mm in size.

No. They are not contagious. It is common for people to assume Fordyce Spot happens due to viral infection and fear that they may contract it from their partners. The anxiety increases manifold when they happen to see these spots for the first time with a new partner.

People tend to get panic when they spot Fordyce spots in their own genitalia, particularly during the first time when they happen to see this unwanted lump sneaking its head out. As it not caused due to virus or bacteria, you need not worry about spreading. So, Fordyce spots are not contagious and you can have sex with a partner having it, if you are ok.

It is always recommended to use a condom to protect yourself from anything including Fordyce Spots.

If you find it embarrassing to have sex with your partner having spots on your shaft, you can choose a coloured condom which can give the spot a good cover allowing you to enjoy a happy time with your partner.

Yes, it is normal. It is estimated that close to 30% of the general population has atleast seen one incidence of Fordyce Spots in their life. Fordyce spots are found to occur more commonly among males compared to females, though it can potentially affect both men and women of all ages from as small as 3 to as old as 80.

Fordyce spots are completely normal and it can never harm your partner in any way. So, there is  nothing to worry about if you get it or if you find your partner having it.

Fordyce Spots never go away by itself without any treatment. You need to take treatments and follow medical procedures, if they pose a cosmetic problem. Though there are laser treatments available to remove them, it can cause a scar. There are also peeling methods involving certain chemicals by trained doctors, again too can lead to a scar on your skin.

It is advisable to go through proper medication and wait until it disappears normally without leaving any scar. Trying the above methods can lead to permanent scar on the skin and it can become too uncomfortable to hide to your partner.

STDis the acronym of Sexually Transmitted Disease andSTDstands for Sexually Transmitted Infection. These diseases are also called as 'Venereal Disease' in general. Though majority of these diseases are curable through proper treatment when detected early, not treating it can cause dire consequences including Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID).

These diseases are contagious, meaning; it can spread through sexual contact. When bodily fluids of a infected person has unprotected sex with his or her partner, there is a greater risk of these diseases spreading to the other person. So, using condom is the easiest and safest way to protect oneself from getting STDs / STIs through sex.

Condoms are known to provide great protection and it is estimated that condom is 98% effective in giving protection against venereal diseases. This goes to say that if 100 men has sex with 100 infected women using a condom, then only 2 out of 100 might get infected and 98 can walk away safely

There is not much difference in general.STIrefers to a broader range of infections, usually used by members of the medical community. WhereasSTDis used by common people, media and online forums specific to sexual related diseases. Both are infections and both are prone to lead to many complications and are dangerous.

Both require immediate and full course of treatment to arrest its spread. The two terms are used interchangeably under normal circumstances.

There are a number of diseases that are mentioned as STDs. Generally, STDs are broken down into four categories depending on the source of the infection; namely, bacterial, viral, parasitic and fungal. Let us see each one of them.

Bacterial infections

• Chlamydia

• Gonorrhea

• Syphilis

• Shigella

• Bacterial Vaginosis

• Nongonococcal Urethritis (NGU)

• Cervicitus and Urinary Tract Infections

• Lyme Disease

Viral Infections

• HIV/AIDs

• Hepatitis

• HSV 1 and 2 (herpes)

• HPV (genital warts)

• Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

Parasitic Infections

• Pubic lice

• Trichomoninasis (Trich)

Fungal Infections

• Yeast Infections

All of the above are curable, when it is diagnosed early and proper course of treatment is followed.

Without any discrimination of class, race or age, anyone who has unprotected sexual contact with an infected person is prone to get STDs. It is not limited only to those who have penetrative sex with an infected partner. Infection can spread even through oral and manual sex alike. Even while using condom, there is always a possibility of getting STDs, if condom is not properly worn or condom breaks during sex.  Both men and women are equally prone to getSTDinfection if they indulge in unprotected sex with an infected partner.

In short, it doesn't matter what your gender is, who you're having sex with, or what type of sex you're indulging in, you are always at risk of contracting STDs if you are having an unprotected sex with an infected person and you need to be aware.

Yes, absolutely possible. There are quite a few numbers of diseases that can still pass through due to sexual contact even though they are not considered to be STDs. The following are the diseases are identified to get transmitted through skin-to-skin contact:

• A cold or flu

• Molluscum

• MRSA

• Head lice

• Ebola

• And more.

If you are little cautious and don't give into the rush of hormones, you can always safeguard yourself from giving or taking STDs. The following are to be strictly followed to play it safe.

-          Be honest about your health and communicate it with your partner.

-          Your partner may be in the best of shape, but still make sure he or she doesn’t have any open wounds or bumps in her private parts or over other portions of her / his skin.

-          Be sure to gently inspect his or her body by touching before indulging in penetrative sex.

-          Learn safe ways to indulge in manual, oral, vaginal and anal sex.  If you couldn't learn from tons of tips available in the net, you can always consult a sexologist and follow his or her recommendations diligently to stay safe.

-          InstallSTDChecker App and make sure you get vaccines periodically.

-          Get tested every six month and visit your doctor atleast once in six months to ensure you are in sound health.

-          Insist on protected sex with a new partner(s) and get tested often even if you are in a monogamous and long-term relationship with a single partner.

-          Always pay attention to symptoms. If you find anything uncomfortable, painful, itching, rashes, then you should immediately visit your physician without a delay. Remember, early detection of STDs is very vital for getting a complete cure.

-          Ask questions, post your doubts on relevant forums and get yourself clarified. Don’t leave anything to chance and suffer.

Getting tested for STDs is the first step towards having a healthy sex life. It is also a significant step to achieving peak sexual wellness. It can give a lot of confidence and make you feel good about yourself, which in turn, can boost your confidence to have a healthy sex life. In fact, it is important to get yourself screened for STDs periodically. Remember, STDs can be treated effectively if it is diagnosed early.

Let us see some of the reasons why people don't get tested.

1. Fear or anxiety about testing procedures
2. Fear of taking treatment if proven positive
3. Lack of access to testing centers
4. Assuming testing it too expensive

You can start with your regular doctor. Tell him that you would like to get tested forSTDand he will sure refer you to the right place. You can check for a sexologist in your area by googling and visit him or her.

A sexologist would be an ideal person to refer you where to get yourself tested. Sexologist can also recommend you other things needed to have a healthy sexual health.

When you are sitting in queue for testing, don't feel embarrassed. Instead, feel happy that you are sitting among likeminded people who are concerned about their sexual health and wellbeing.

There is no need to feel guilty, after all, you are making efforts to remain healthy and taking precautions to stay away from unwanted infection and treatment thereafter.

Personal Discussion

The testing procedures at all the clinics, hospitals or testing centers are mostly similar. Initially, the doctor or testing executive may ask your few questions such as

-          When was the last time you had unprotected sex?

-          Have you had sex with any new or unknown partner?

-          What type of contraceptives used?

-          What are the symptoms or feelings that you found to be unusual?

The questions may vary, but you can very well assume that it will be in these lines. Yes, it can be bit awkward or embarrassing. Don't worry. They are professionals and they would be seen worst cases. So, don't worry what they will think about you. They will not judge you badly; rather look at it from the medical point out of you. The questions are meant to understand your problem, rather than think bad about you. These questions are part of their medical procedures and in the end, they wanted you to lead a healthy life and enjoy as much healthy sex as possible.

Physical Examination

You will have to remove your clothes, and a doctor would examine your body for any symptoms of an infection such as a rash, sores, bumps or minor discharge etc., It will last only for few minutes.

Urine sample

You will be asked to provide your urine samples by using the toilets provided there.

Swabs

Sometimes you will be given a swab to collect samples around your genitals for a close study under a microscope. This will be done only when you a clear infection. This should not be confused with a swab being inserted into your penis. That is a different test and that is used long back.

Blood sample

You will have to provide your blood sample for analysis.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Based on the physical examination and other blood samples, the doctor would be able to ascertain your physical condition and recommend a treatment based on your condition.

Remember, being healthy is very sexy. Testing can help you stay in sound health and it can clear your mind and allow you to indulge in sex without any mental worries. Getting tested periodically is highly recommended to enjoy a healthy sex life.