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Light brown/golden color to semen ejaculation & spine surgery
I am 62 and suffer chronic radicular pain in my lumbar and down my legs. I am post-cervical surgery to my cervical spine in January 2021 after enduring 18 months of untreated spinal cord compression from C3, C4, C5, C6 levels, and I endured the compression for 18 months because in the moth I was scheduled for surgery the COVID- 19 restrictions 'kicked-in' and elective surgery was cancelled. Finally, when restrictions were eased/removed I had surgery performed by a neurosurgeon who performed a laminectomy with laminoplasty at those levels. My symptoms when the cord compression onset (no injury or trauma) I woke up in that condition - were numb from neck to toes about 50% of total, loss of motor function, loss of coordination to my upper/lower extremities. I still suffer loss of feeling from neck to toes about 20-30% of total, coordination issues still persist. I am scheduled for surgery to my lumbar this month after Christmas. I also have high blood pressure which is addressed with two prescription medications. I am not sexually active. I may masturbate every 1-2 months only for the purpose of release of tension and to keep that part of my life engaged, however, due to numbness from my neck down the orgasmic sensation is diminished substantially. I do not view pornographic material to assist with erections in order to masturbate to completion. Last night I engaged myself and upon ejaculation saw my semen had a light, golden/brown color throughout my discharge. I notified my Primary Care Provider and have a visit to see him later this week. I post this to share my experience in case someone else has had this occur to them and also to share what happened and to provide medical information here with others mainly FYI reasons to use my experience and what medically may follow as I try to determine if this is normal and if not to use my experiences to inform others and at the same time to seek investigation of this 'condition.'
I will keep you updated as I proceed from this starting point with regards to my discolored semen.
Thank you for allowing me to share and I hope what may follow medically to investigate and if needed to treat this condition to help others who may have experienced what happen to me, and if someone had the same thing occur to them that maybe we can exchange information about this condition locally, and to share here for others globally (if Mayo has international membership) because sharing information like this may help others and that is my goal in the long run.
That's all for now. I will be back after I see my PCP this week. I'm sure labs and other tests will be recommended.
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Hi @jeremiah1five, I moved your post to the Men's Health support group and the Spine Health support group where I think you'll get more response.
Here is some information from Mayo Clinic:
- Blood in semen https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/blood-in-semen/basics/causes/sym-20050603
I'm glad you'll be talking with your doctor about this and I'll be interested in what you learn.
Have you by any chance had a prostate biopsy recently?
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2 ReactionsI'm no doctor, but Blood was my first guess as well. Hopefully nothing to worry about.
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1 Reaction@jeremiah1five What will your lumbar spine surgery be? Did you also have spinal cord compression in the lumbar levels or radicular nerve root compression? You mentioned it would be after Christmas, so that must be coming up soon for you. I am a spine surgery patient and had some some spinal cord compression because of a collapsed C5/C6 disc with bone spurs. I'm sorry the Pandemic postponed your surgery. I did have surgery during the Pandemic that was emergency for an ankle fracture and that was with all the proper Covid testing and quarantine ahead of time so I would pass the swab testing.
Jennifer
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1 ReactionHello Jennifer, I suffered spinal cord compression to my cervical spine at C3, C4, C5, C6 levels. A laminectomy with laminoplasty was performed January 2021. I don't believe there was nerve root compression. I'm sorry I don't have any other information to provide according to your comment.
I was supposed to have surgery on December 26, but an issue arose, and I was cancelled. Today (28th) I am to see the surgeon to touch base and to reschedule the procedure for my lumbar. Being informed he is booked until mid-January I may be scheduled at that time. This is copied from my CT scan of June 2023:
IMPRESSION:
* Advanced degenerative changes from L3-S1 with severe central spinal canal
stenosis at L3-4 and L4-5. Foraminal narrowing at L3-4 on the left, L4-5
bilaterally, and L5-S1 bilaterally.
* Mild (grade 1) anterolisthesis of L3-4 and L4-5. Mild (4 mm) retrolisthesis
of L5-S1.
This is an X-ray from January 2023:
IMPRESSION:
1. Multilevel degenerative changes of the lumbar spine.
2. Grade 1 anterolisthesis of L3 upon L4 and L4 upon L5. No evidence for dynamic
instability.
This is MRI September 2022:
IMPRESSION:
In comparison to prior study from 2019 there has been interval progression of
degenerative changes and spinal canal narrowing.
* Grade 1 anterolisthesis of L3 on L4 and L4 and L5, additional retrolisthesis
of L5 on S1.
* Redemonstration of severe spinal canal stenoses and L3-L4, moderate right
neuroforamina stenosis and severe left neuroforamina stenosis with impingement
of exiting left L3 nerve root. Interval worsening of spinal canal narrowing at
this level. Persistent cauda equina nerve root compression at this level.
* Redemonstration of severe spinal canal stenoses at L4-L5, moderate right
neuroforamina stenosis and were left neural foramina stenosis with impingement
of exiting left L4 nerve root. Interval worsening of spinal canal narrowing at
this level. Persistent cauda equina nerve root compression at this level.
* Moderate spinal canal stenoses at L5-S1, moderate bilateral neuroforamina
stenosis with abutment of bilateral exiting L5 nerve roots.
These are the only recent results under those particular tests (CT, X-Ray, MRI) on those dates. I do not know what it is called that the surgeon will perform but I can return with that information after the procedure. I am expected to be admitted in-patient for one day plus 1 hr. I suppose that's code for a second day if necessary. This Dr.'s name is Jaime Gasco and he wrote a book with someone else that I have downloaded for free. I would love to read his book but don't have the time "The Essential Neurosurgery Companion."
I have included a web capture (Upload) of his book on Amazon but if you do a search may be able to find a link to download it for free as I did. It's the first three images listed from left to right, so you'll know the cover.
Let me know if there is anything more I can do to assist.
Hi Colleen. No problem on the move to another section.
No, I've not had any issues with me prostrate to this date. No biopsy. I have done the labs I think to check the PSA (levels?) and it has been posted at my portal at the hospital I gave blood to for examination. If information in my labs is helpful, would it be appropriate to post/upload the results here or the portion of the blood test that concerns the possible condition my PCP is looking at specifically for answer(s)? (I'll need guidance.)
Thank you for the link. I will read up what you posted after these responses.
Thank you, Colleen.
Thank you for stopping by. Your comment is most welcomed. My PCP mentioned blood in our conversation. I'll be back either to post my labs if someone can interpret them, or to post the laymen terms version after speaking with my PCP.
Thank you, Christopher.
It is not uncommon for men to have occasional blood
tinged semen. If your doctor finds PSA, urinalysis and the digital rectal exam are OK these simple tests are reassurance you have no cause for worry. The condition
is termed Hematospermia. Lets consider it rust as we get older!
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1 ReactionThat's good to know since I've never been old before.
Well, I've had the PSA and urinalysis yesterday. I suppose a referral for the other may be forthcoming.
Rust!? Oh well. OZ never did give nothing to the Tin Man, right?
Who's got the WD40? Can I have some?
You only indicated that this happened one time? If that is the case I would only be worried if it’s a repetitive thing. We all get rusty once in awhile.
Hi @jeremiah1five and welcome to connect, I also have had and still do occasionally get a few drops of blood while urinating. Just to be sure i had all the tests to check my bladder, prostate and urethra checked and no issues except a slightly enlarged prostate. so the urologist said as men get older its very common to have a small amount of blood ooze into our urethra. so I'm almost 65 and i just ignore it now.
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