1. < Prostate Cancer

Blood in Semen after Prostate Biopsy

Posted by tinker @tinker, Mar 16, 2021

I couldn't find an existing thread on this topic, but I wanted to share what I'm seeing so far, and compare with other's results.

I'm 58 years old. After discovering a 5+ PSA result in a routine adult physical, I was scheduled for and received both a MRI, and a Transperineal biopsy. In my case, they took 16 samples. I do not yet have the pathology results.

I was told there could possibly be some blood in my urine, but to watch for clotting, etc and large amounts. I was also told there would likely be some blood in my ejaculate, tapering off over time. I understand the amount of blood can be influenced by number and location of samples.

I was not prepared for what happened though. Four days after the biopsy, and to my horror, I found my expectations were way underestimated. It was not "streaks or spots" of blood, nor was it red-tinted. It looked to be pure blood. The volume was probably double what I would have expected. Hoping that the next day would be more normal, I again tested the waters.. It was nearly as bad, however, the color seemed to be a cross between pure blood and fresh motor oil.

I've got a message into my care team, and I'm awaiting a response while I also await pathology. I'm a bit nervous.

Has this been other's experience? If it is common, why understate it in the publications I was provided?

I have not noticed blood in my urine, however, it tends to be dark-ish as I tend to under-hydrate.

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Oct 7, 2022
In reply to @stebro "It's been almost two weeks since my TP biopsy. 12 cores. Looks like pure blood to..." + (show)
@stebro

It's been almost two weeks since my TP biopsy. 12 cores. Looks like pure blood to me too. I'm not getting blood in my urine now, though I did at first. I saw a few small clots in my ejaculate but now it sure enough looks like pure blood. I've read to expect that maybe for a few months. I have a Zoom meeting with the doc on 10/5. I'll ask him about it and post again if he thinks there is any concern. My wife told me that if I were a woman I wouldn't be too concerned about some blood "down there." Good luck with your path results.

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@stebro, what did you find out from you doc? Any concern?

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1 reply
stebro | @stebro | Oct 7, 2022

Shoot, I forgot to ask him. It was all I could do to get all my other questions answered (I think he was anxious to get to another consult) and I'm not particularly concerned about the blood because I was told to expect it. Sorry. I have another video consult with a radiation doc on the 17th. I'll try again.

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1 reply
web265 | @web265 | Oct 8, 2022
In reply to @stebro "Shoot, I forgot to ask him. It was all I could do to get all my..." + (show)
@stebro

Shoot, I forgot to ask him. It was all I could do to get all my other questions answered (I think he was anxious to get to another consult) and I'm not particularly concerned about the blood because I was told to expect it. Sorry. I have another video consult with a radiation doc on the 17th. I'll try again.

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At the risk of sounding like "Capt. Obvious", I went in with a list every time. I would have never remembered my questions without it. What would happen with me was I'd start to process the answers from the first question or two then forget to ask question four and five....

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1 reply
slick64 | @slick64 | Oct 8, 2022

I just had a biopsy and I was fine day one, the next day I started to have some blood and clots in the urine, it cleared after two days. However, like you, while it wasn’t as much blood, but I experienced blood in my ejaculate, at first bright red, for a couple of times. Later, it started to show like you said motor oil, that went on for a week. It has cleared up, but you can see it still is a bit tinted.
I have since found out I’m positive, stage 1, Gleason 6/7. I’m now going thru additional testing. And so it begins.

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stebro | @stebro | Oct 12, 2022
In reply to @web265 "At the risk of sounding like "Capt. Obvious", I went in with a list every time...." + (show)
@web265

At the risk of sounding like "Capt. Obvious", I went in with a list every time. I would have never remembered my questions without it. What would happen with me was I'd start to process the answers from the first question or two then forget to ask question four and five....

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Oh, I had a carefully compiled list. Like you, I always do. The problem was, I forgot to put it on the list.

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stebro | @stebro | Oct 17, 2022
In reply to @colleenyoung "@stebro, what did you find out from you doc? Any concern?" + (show)
@colleenyoung

@stebro, what did you find out from you doc? Any concern?

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I did talk to my doc. Totally normal. Blood in ejaculate longer than six weeks - probably should contact your doctor. Mine stopped in about three weeks. Blood in urine stopped in a few days. All good.

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cam77254 | @cam77254 | Apr 23, 2023

I had a prostate biopsy 7 weeks ago. Everything came back benign. Had a little blood in urine for a day or so and that has cleared up. My question is I still see some rust color in semen, not bright red. I had read that could be expected for up to 6 weeks but I am 7 weeks now and still see it. I don't think as much as I did at first. Should I be concerned or does it take time for all the old blood to get cleared out of the prostate?

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3 replies
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Apr 23, 2023
In reply to @cam77254 "I had a prostate biopsy 7 weeks ago. Everything came back benign. Had a little blood..." + (show)
@cam77254

I had a prostate biopsy 7 weeks ago. Everything came back benign. Had a little blood in urine for a day or so and that has cleared up. My question is I still see some rust color in semen, not bright red. I had read that could be expected for up to 6 weeks but I am 7 weeks now and still see it. I don't think as much as I did at first. Should I be concerned or does it take time for all the old blood to get cleared out of the prostate?

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Welcome @cam77254, Like you, from what I've read the blood in the semen is expected or common but I'm not sure anyone knows for sure how long it may take before it's back to normal color. Here are just a couple of examples:

"It's common to notice red or rust coloring in your semen after a prostate biopsy. This indicates the presence of blood, and it's not a cause for concern. Blood in your semen may persist for a few weeks after the biopsy."
--- Prostate biopsy - Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/prostate-biopsy/about/pac-20384734

"You may see minor bleeding after the procedure. This is normal and often needs no treatment. You may see blood in your urine or semen (rust color). This may last for 1 to 2 months. You may also have light bleeding from your rectum if you have hemorrhoids. This can last up to 7 to 14 days."
--- Prostate Biopsy - Veterans Health Library: https://www.veteranshealthlibrary.va.gov/Encyclopedia/142,83022_VA.

I'm kind of the same when I have a procedure done and I have some of the symptoms they warn me about and they go a little longer than what the doctor mentioned would or might happen. I'm thinking if it were me, I might just give the doctor a quick call if for nothing else than to give me a little comfort knowing everything is probably OK.

Are you able to contact your doctor or care team, or send them a message on a patient portal to ask your question?

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1 reply
cam77254 | @cam77254 | Apr 23, 2023
In reply to @johnbishop "Welcome @cam77254, Like you, from what I've read the blood in the semen is expected or..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Welcome @cam77254, Like you, from what I've read the blood in the semen is expected or common but I'm not sure anyone knows for sure how long it may take before it's back to normal color. Here are just a couple of examples:

"It's common to notice red or rust coloring in your semen after a prostate biopsy. This indicates the presence of blood, and it's not a cause for concern. Blood in your semen may persist for a few weeks after the biopsy."
--- Prostate biopsy - Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/prostate-biopsy/about/pac-20384734

"You may see minor bleeding after the procedure. This is normal and often needs no treatment. You may see blood in your urine or semen (rust color). This may last for 1 to 2 months. You may also have light bleeding from your rectum if you have hemorrhoids. This can last up to 7 to 14 days."
--- Prostate Biopsy - Veterans Health Library: https://www.veteranshealthlibrary.va.gov/Encyclopedia/142,83022_VA.

I'm kind of the same when I have a procedure done and I have some of the symptoms they warn me about and they go a little longer than what the doctor mentioned would or might happen. I'm thinking if it were me, I might just give the doctor a quick call if for nothing else than to give me a little comfort knowing everything is probably OK.

Are you able to contact your doctor or care team, or send them a message on a patient portal to ask your question?

Jump to this post

Thanks for the response John. I will probably wait a couple more weeks and just keep an eye on it. Like I said it seems to be less and less rust color each time. And yes, my doctor's office does have a patient portal where I can ask a question. I just feel like I am still getting over it. I have no other strange feelings or discomfort so hopefully it will all clear up soon.
I do have enlarged prostate which I take tamsulosin for. But I was on that before the procedure.
This all started when my PSA doubled this year. I had covid back in October 2022 and still keep wondering if that had something to do with the spike in PSA. I had the first PSA test in December 2022 and then again in January 2023 and it had not gone back down. Hence the reason for the biopsy. Doctor said they did not have enough information yet to know whether covid might affect the PSA numbers.

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1 reply
cam77254 | @cam77254 | Apr 27, 2023
In reply to @cam77254 "I had a prostate biopsy 7 weeks ago. Everything came back benign. Had a little blood..." + (show)
@cam77254

I had a prostate biopsy 7 weeks ago. Everything came back benign. Had a little blood in urine for a day or so and that has cleared up. My question is I still see some rust color in semen, not bright red. I had read that could be expected for up to 6 weeks but I am 7 weeks now and still see it. I don't think as much as I did at first. Should I be concerned or does it take time for all the old blood to get cleared out of the prostate?

Jump to this post

Good news. Everything appears to be clear of blood today. Thanks for pointing me to the VA website which said 2 months. This week is 8 weeks since my biopsy.
Thanks again to all for the info and encouragement.

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