Q&A: My Semen Changes Color—Should I Be Worried?

Yes, semen does often change color within a few minutes of ejaculation in the sense that it can dry up and get crusty, thus changing in consistency too.

That said, it’s not like semen magically changes color to something like pink or purple. It’s a slight change but one that many men and their partners notice.

Typically semen looks somewhat whitish or cloudy. It can be pretty fluid or more thick and can vary in volume, too.

Some men find that they ejaculate larger amounts if it’s been a while since they’ve last ejaculated. Men also sometimes notice changes in their semen properties based on diet, exercise, and their age.

That said, if you notice that your semen ever looks yellow-green or red, as if there’s blood in it, you should mention this to a healthcare provider.

Changes in the color of semen can sometimes be a sign of medical conditions that benefit from further evaluation by a healthcare provider. Such medical conditions aren’t always very serious, but they can be, so it’s always a good idea to mention bodily changes to a doctor or nurse.

Next Question:The Kinsey Scale & Kinsey Test

Since the release of the Kinsey movie, friends ask me about the Kinsey Scale and the test. How does one know where he or she falls on the heterosexual/homosexual rating scale? Is there such a thing as the “Kinsey Test”?

Read Dr. Debby Herbenick’s response.

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