Yellow Semen

What is yellow semen?

Semen (ejaculate or cum) is a thick, sticky, jelly-like liquid that comes out of your penis, usually at the time of orgasm. It helps protect and transport male reproductive cells (sperm). Semen is usually whitish-gray. But sometimes, semen may be a different color, including yellow.

Yellow semen usually isn’t a cause for concern. But sometimes a health condition can turn your semen yellow. It’s a good idea to see a healthcare provider if you have yellow semen along with other symptoms.

Why is my sperm yellowish?

Your semen color can change for many reasons. Mild or temporary causes may give your semen a yellowish tint. In these cases, yellow ejaculate isn’t a cause for concern.

The following may increase the likelihood of yellow semen:

• Age. Semen color naturally changes as you get older. It may look light yellow.
• Certain foods. The color of certain foods and spices, as well as their vitamin and mineral content, can temporarily turn your semen yellow. Turmeric, onions, garlic, chives and asparagus are common causes of yellow semen. Your semen should return to its usual white-gray color after the foods leave your system.
• Going a long time without ejaculating (abstinence). If you practice sexual abstinence, old or unused sperm will break down and your body will reabsorb it. This sperm can turn your semen yellow.
• Needing to urinate (pee). Semen and pee leave your body through the same tube (urethra). When you have an erection and ejaculate, an internal urethral sphincter muscle squeezes shut to prevent pee from entering your urethra. But any traces of pee that remain in your urethra can turn your semen yellow, especially if you pee right before you ejaculate.
• Smoking. You might know that the nicotine and tar in cigarettes and other tobacco products can turn the skin around your fingers and fingernails yellow. But they can also turn your semen yellow.
• Certain medications and supplements. As your body breaks down certain medications (including rifampin and phenazopyridine) and vitamin supplements (including vitamin B), your semen may turn yellow-orange.

Some medical conditions can also cause yellow semen, including:

• Jaundice. Jaundice causes a high amount of the waste product bilirubin in your blood. Bilirubin is a yellow pigment that’s the byproduct of broken-down red blood cells. Your liver helps move bilirubin out of your body. But bilirubin can build up in your blood if your red blood cells break down too quickly or if you have a disease that affects your liver, like hepatitis. The whites of your eyes and your skin commonly turn yellow. But your semen may also turn yellow.
• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Certain STIs — including chlamydia, genital herpes (herpes simplex 2 or HSV-2) and gonorrhea — can cause your semen to look yellow-green.
• Pyospermia. Pyospermia occurs when there are too many white blood cells in your semen. The white blood cells damage your sperm, which causes your semen to turn yellow.

Can yellow sperm be fixed?

Treatment for yellow semen depends on its cause. Yellow semen may not be a cause for concern. But it could also indicate a problem that requires treatment. Treatments may include:

• Antibiotics for bacterial infections and certain STIs.
• Antivirals for viral infections.

Can yellow semen go away on its own?

It depends on the cause. Sometimes, your semen can return to its normal color without treatment. If you don’t have any other symptoms, wait a few days to see if your semen returns to a whitish-gray color. If your semen still looks yellow, talk to a healthcare provider.

Can yellow semen be prevented?

You can help avoid yellow semen by:

• Cutting back on high-sulfur foods.
• Quitting smoking.
• Using condoms to prevent STIs.

When should yellow semen be treated by a healthcare provider?

Schedule an appointment with a healthcare provider if you have yellow semen as well as any of the following symptoms:

• Abdominal pain.
• Feeling extremely tired (fatigue).
• Foul-smelling pee or semen.
• Peeing more than usual (frequent urination).
• Pain or a stinging/burning feeling when you pee (dysuria).
• Pain when you ejaculate (dysorgasmia or orgasmalgia).
• Signs of infection, including a fever and chills.
• Yellow eyes or skin.

Does the color of semen mean anything?

Semen is usually whitish-gray. Changes to your semen color may be harmless, or they may indicate a condition that requires treatment. Talk to a healthcare provider if changes to your semen color last more than a few days.

Why is my semen so jelly-like?

Healthy semen should be a thick, jelly-like consistency, similar to a raw egg. It contains proteins, vitamins and minerals, which help fuel your sperm and make the semen sticky.