White Sperm

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You ever turned on the lights after having sex and saw something on the sheets that weren’t normally there? Ok, you don’t have to admit it out loud, but if you’re like me in my younger days you probably ran to the good ‘ol Web and Googled. Your semen color says a lot about your health. Normally your semen is cloudy white, but it can change color depending on a few factors.
Semen in its normal form is usually a cloudy white-gray substance. Upon ejaculation, semen is thick and viscous, but after 30 minutes it liquifies. It’s completely normal for your urine to have a chlorine-like smell. Semen has a sweet taste due to the high content of fructose in it. Your lady might tell you that it tastes “a lil off” today, but there’s nothing that a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables and water can’t fix.
There’s no need to be alarmed if your semen comes out a yellowish color. In fact, it’s very normal. As men get older the hue of the semen also changes. If you haven’t had an ejaculation in a long time you could also experience a yellow tint to your semen. It’s a good idea to take a leak before you engage in intercourse.
When a man has an erection, his urine stream is blocked, so that semen can pass through as the only discharge. However, traces of urine may leak through and cause you to have a more yellow ejaculate. Other reasons for yellow sperm are jaundice and leukocytopenia (high levels of white blood cells). These are normally accompanied by other bodily symptoms, so if you notice the yellow tint with abnormal symptoms, see your doctor.

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Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning
© 2022 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. (modern)
Type of whale immortalised in Moby-Dick has only been spotted handful of times this century
It is the most mythic animal in the ocean: a white sperm whale, filmed on Monday by Leo van Toly, watching from a Dutch merchant ship off Jamaica. Moving gracefully, outrageously pale against the blue waters of the Caribbean, for any fans of Moby-Dick, Herman Melville’s book of 1851, this vision is a CGI animation come to life.
Sperm whales are generally grey, black or even brown in appearance. Hal Whitehead, an expert on the species, told the Guardian: “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a fully white sperm whale. I have seen ones with quite a lot of white on them, usually in patches on and near the belly.”
Only a handful of pure white whales have been recorded this century. The last one to be photographed appeared off Sardinia in 2015, an individual that had not been seen for nine years before that.
A white whale is not necessarily albino. Some have a condition known as leucism , an irregular distribution of melanin pigment in the skin that can affect many animals, from the common crow to orcas and dolphins. True albinos have pink eyes, and since this rare film was taken at a distance, it is difficult to diagnose the animal’s condition.
A celebrated albino humpback whale, Migaloo , has been seen off the Australian coast since 1991.
Melville’s white whale bit off Captain Ahab’s leg and sent the maddened seafarer halfway round the world in pursuit of it, seeking revenge. In the book, the whale becomes a shapeshifter, able to be present in more than one place at the same time. Ahab invests his cetacean foe with a sense of malignity – but Melville’s tale makes clear there is only one animal on Earth who exhibits evil, and that is his own species.
The author goes further, seeing the whale’s whiteness as something eerie in itself, as he compares it with the great white shark or the polar bear. “It was the whiteness of the whale that appalled me,” his narrator, Ishmael, remarks .
Many critics believe Melville was using the whiteness of the whale to critique the widespread abuse of enslaved people in the North American states. Even as he wrote his book , the author was aware of the potential violence that the struggle for abolition would bring to his country.
Sperm whales, which can reach 18 metres in length, have the largest teeth of any animal. They also boast the biggest brain, use different dialects in their communicative clicks from one group to another and possess an intergenerational culture that is passed on matrilineally.
Their sense of social expression and cohesion defines them: one feels this when in the water with them, as their sonorous clicks permit them to communicate with one another over great distances. This highly unusual sighting of an almost heraldic beast speaks to the paradoxical fragility of whales - the largest animals on earth, yet whose fates we hold in our hands.
Video courtesy of Leo van Toly, with thanks to Annemarie van den Berg of SOS Dolfijn , and Jeroen Hoekendijk

What Your Semen Says About Your Health

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Jerry Kennard, PhD, is a psychologist and associate fellow of the British Psychological Society.
Jamin Brahmbhatt, MD, is a board-certified urologist and Chief of Surgery at Orlando Health South Lake Hospital.

Semen is the cloudy, white fluid that is released from the penis during ejaculation . It consists of sperm cells (called spermatozoa ) and a nutrient-rich liquid called seminal fluid. The purpose of seminal fluid is to transport sperm cells and enable their survival for up to five days so that fertilization is possible. 1

This article answers some of the common questions about semen. It also explores what the color, consistency, and smell of semen say about your health.

Semen is composed of seminal fluid populated with sperm cells. With every ejaculation, about 100 million sperm cells are released from the penis. 2

Sperm cells are produced in the testicles . From there, the cells enter a coiled tube called the epididymis where they are stored and mature under the influence of hormones from the testicles and pituitary gland . 2

Thereafter, the sperm cells migrate to a long, muscular tube called the vas deferens where they combine with seminal fluid secreted by two ejaculatory ducts. The end product is semen. 3

The seminal fluid itself is composed of fluids from three organs:

During ejaculation, powerful contractions of muscles (called bulbospongiosus and pubococcygeus muscles) propel semen out of the penis through a long tube called the urethra .

The volume of semen that is released during ejaculation can vary. A 2012 review of studies published in the Journal of Andrology suggests the average volume is 3.4 milliliters (mL). 1 This is roughly two-thirds of a teaspoon.

Semen volume may impact male fertility . Research suggests having a higher-than-normal semen volume corresponds with a low lower sperm count. This is due to the dilution of sperm cells. 6

On the other hand, a lower-than-normal semen volume (less than 1.5 mL) also corresponds to a lower likelihood of fertility. 7 Consistently low semen volumes may be due to a condition such as retrograde ejaculation in which semen flows back to the bladder rather than out of the body.

Low semen volumes may also be a sign of other medical conditions. A 2014 study in Fertility and Sterility evaluated over 9,000 males with an average age of 38. They found that people with low semen volumes were nearly two times more likely to have high blood pressure or heart disease than those with normal semen volumes. 8

Low semen volumes are not always a sign of infertility or illness. They can also be a sign of dehydration or recent ejaculation.

If semen volumes are consistently abnormal and you've been unable to conceive, you may want to consult with a fertility specialist.

Semen often smells like chlorine or ammonia and tastes slightly sweet due to its high fructose content. That being said, the taste and smell of semen can vary from one person to the next.

Certain foods can alter the taste and smell of semen, making it more bitter, pungent, or musky. These may include foods like:

Other foods are said to make semen smell or taste milder or sweeter, including celery, parsley, and pineapple.

Smoking tobacco can also alter the taste or smell of semen. In addition, cigarettes can reduce the quality, count, and motility of sperm and make it harder for your to conceive. 9

Another factor that can influence the smell or taste of semen is an infection. These include urinary tract infections (UTIs) and sexually transmitted diseases like chlamydia , gonorrhea , and trichomoniasis . 10

If your semen has a foul or "rotten" smell, it may be the first sign of a genital or urinary tract infection. Speak with a healthcare provider as soon as possible.

Normal semen is generally an off-white or slightly yellow color. The consistency should be similar to that of an egg-white or be slightly jelly-like. There may sometimes be jelly-like globules in the semen, which is normal if you are dehydrated or have not ejaculated in a long time. 10

Changes in semen color are often of little concern, but certain colors may suggest a health problem.

If your semen has a red or brown color, it may be a sign of blood. While this may seem alarming, the condition (called hematospermia ) is usually not serious. 11

The good news is that most cases of hematospermia clear on their own without incident. Rarely is blood in semen a sign of cancer. 11

Semen with a pronounced yellow or green color may be the sign of an infection. There are other possible causes as well.

Some of the common and uncommon causes of yellow or green semen include:

Contact your healthcare provider if abnormally colored semen is accompanied by signs of infection (including pain, swelling, or fever) or if the symptom persists, worsens, or recurs.

Semen, composed primarily of seminal fluid and sperm cells (spermatozoa), is typically off-white or slightly yellowish with a consistency similar to egg whites. It often has a slightly ammonia-ish scent and can vary in flavor from sweet to salty to bitter.

Semen quality varies from person to person. With that said, certain issues may be a sign of an infection or infertility. These include foul-smelling semen, abnormally colored semen, or high or low volumes of semen after ejaculation. Abnormalities like these should be investigated, particularly if the symptoms are persistent or worsening.

Talking about semen with your healthcare provider may be uncomfortable, but don't let discomfort get in the way of your good health. If needed, ask for a referral to a urologist who specializes in diseases of the genital and urinary tract.

A urologist can walk you through what is needed to investigate the abnormality. This may involve a procedure known as a semen analysis if there are concerns about fertility. Other lab or imaging tests may be ordered depending on your symptoms and the suspected cause.

Diet can impact sperm quality and fertility. Studies show that diets high in processed meats, trans fat, soy, and high-fat dairy cab affect the shape, quantity, and motility of sperm. On the other hand, diets high in fish, fruits, vegetables, and walnuts are shown to increase sperm quality. 14
The average life span of sperm is 74 days. After the testicles make the sperm, it takes time for them to fully mature. This process takes around two and a half to three months. After ejaculation, sperm can live inside the female reproductive tract for up to five days. 2
Franken DR, Oehninger S. Semen analysis and sperm function testing . Asian J Androl . 2012;14(1):6-13. doi:10.1038/aja.2011.58
Griswold MD. Spermatogenesis: the commitment to meiosis . Physiol Rev . 2016;96(1):1–17. doi:10.1152/physrev.00013.2015
Alwaal A, Breyer BN, Lue TF. Normal male sexual function: emphasis on orgasm and ejaculation . Fertil Steril . 2015 Nov;104(5):1051–60. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2015.08.033
Barrett T, Tanner J, Gill AB, Slough RA, Wason J, Gallagher FA. The longitudinal effect of ejaculation on seminal vesicle fluid volume and whole-prostate ADC as measured on prostate MRI . Eur Radiol. 2017;27(12):5236-43. doi:10.1007/s00330-017-4905-x
McKay AC, Sharma S. Anatomy, abdomen and pelvis: seminal vesicle . In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing; 2022.
Maya WC, Berdugo J, Cadavid AP. Is there a close relation between sperm count and ejaculation volume? J Reprod Contracep. 2011 Mar;22(1):23-8. doi:10.1016/S1001-7844(12)60003-0
Leslie SW, Siref LE, Soon-Sutton TL, Khan MAB. Male infertility . In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island, FL; StatPearls Publishing; 2022.
Eisenberg ML, Li S, Behr B, Pera RR, Cullen MR. Relationship between semen production and medical comorbidity . Fertil Steril . 2015;103(1):66-71. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2014.10.017
Kovac JR, Khanna A, Lipshultz LI. The effects of cigarette smoking on male fertility . Postgrad Med . 2015;127(3):338-341. doi:10.1080/00325481.2015.1015928
Vasan SS. Semen analysis and sperm function tests: How much to test? Indian J Urol . 2011;27(1):41-48. doi:10.4103/0970-1591.78424
Mathers MJ, Degener S, Sperling H, Roth S. Hematospermia-a symptom with many possible causes . Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2017;114(11):186-91. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2017.0186
Condorelli RA, Russo GI, Calagero AE, Morgia G, La Vignera S. Chronic prostatitis and its detrimental impact on sperm parameters: a systematic review and meta-analysis . J Endocrinol Invest . 2017;40(11):1209-18. doi:10.1007/s40618-017-0684-0
Khodamoradi K, Kuchakulla M, Narasimman M, et al. Laboratory and clinical management of leukocytospermia and hematospermia: a review . Ther Adv Reprod Health . 2020;14:2633494120922511. doi:10.1177/2633494120922511
Salas-Huetos A, James ER, Aston KI, Jenkins TG, Carrell DT. Diet and sperm quality: nutrients, foods and dietary patterns . Reprod Biol . 2019;19(3):219-224. doi:10.1016/j.repbio.2019.07.005
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Pyospermia is a condition in which an unusually high number of white blood cells in the semen can affect male fertility. Pyospermia weakens the sperm, and damage its genetic material.

Brunner RJ, Demeter JH, Sindhwani P. Review of Guidelines for the Evaluation and Treatment of Leukocytospermia in Male Infertility. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6479086/) World J Mens Health . 2019;37(2):128-137.
Jung JH, Kim MH, Kim J, et al. Treatment of Leukocytospermia in Male Infertility: A Systematic Review. World J Mens Health . 2016;34(3):165-172.
Pentyala S, Lee J, Annam S, et al.Current perspectives on pyospermia: a review. Asian J Androl. 2007; 9(5): 593-600.

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Pyospermia (also referred to as leukocytospermia) is a condition in which an unusually high number of white blood cells are in the semen — more than 1 million white blood cells per 1 milliliter of semen.
Because white blood cells can weaken the sperm, pyospermia can damage its genet
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