White is typically considered a healthy sperm color, although it can also be slightly yellow at times. Yellow or greenish sperm may also be a sign of a serious infection, especially if it is accompanied by other symptoms. Pink, red, or brown sperm may mean that a man has blood in his semen, and this can be the sign of an infection or injury. Semen color can change from day to day, and a sudden change or a change accompanied by discomfort or a foul odor should be checked by a physician.
The medical term for male ejaculate is semen, but many people refer to it as sperm. When one refers to sperm color, he is usually referring to the color of semen. Usually, semen is white or grayish in color, due to the large amount of proteins present in the secretions.
Yellow may also be a normal sperm color for some men. This can occur when the ejaculate contains a large quantity of dead sperm. If a man does not ejaculate for several months or years, the sperm in his body can die, resulting in a yellow ejaculate. Usually, the sperm color will return to a normal white color after he has ejaculated a few times.
Urine may be another cause of yellow sperm. This can occur when a man urinates a small amount around the same time that he ejaculates. Emptying the bladder before ejaculation should result in a normal sperm color.
Yellow or green sperm may also indicate a more serious problem, such as an infection. A urinary tract infection (UTI) or an infection in the prostate could cause a man's sperm to appear yellow, for instance. Some sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) may also cause a yellow or green sperm color. Gonorrhea and chlamydia are two STDs that may cause green sperm.
Usually, if an unusual sperm color is due to an infection of the male reproductive system, a man will have other symptoms as well. Abnormal discharge from the penis and a foul odor are other symptoms of an infection of this sort, for example. Pain, itching, or burning may also be present.
Ejaculated sperm may also have a red or pink tinge to it as well, and this is usually the result of blood in the ejaculate. This condition is known as hematospermia. It can occur when small blood vessels in the male reproductive system become damaged. It is common after a vasectomy, for instance. If the sperm color returns to normal within a few days, this is usually nothing to worry about.
On the other hand, it could indicate a serious problem if the color of the sperm remains pink or red. Brown sperm may also be a concern, since it could mean that there is dried blood in the sperm. Disease or injury of any part of the male reproductive system, including the prostate or testicles, could result in hematospermia.