Physicians prescribe both men and women blood thinners, which seem safe and beneficial. Men at the risk of clot formation use blood thinners to ease the flow of blood in their veins and arteries. Individuals at the risk of heart diseases and stroke use blood thinners to minimize risk of complications that can lead to fatalities. A variation exists in the dosage prescribed to men and women since the latter are not subject to optimal treatment. Health experts recommend that health experts research the factors that determine the difference between men and women.
Blood thinners have some secretive side effects on men. Among them include experiencing blood in sperm and contributing to erectile dysfunction. The two side effects can damage the man’s self-esteem. However, using blood thinners significantly helps increase prostate cancer patients’ survival rate. Therefore, despite the adverse effects, men also benefit from the medication.
Can blood thinners cause blood in sperm?
Jim Walsh posted on HealthCentral, a platform that offers medically vetted patients, “I noticed brownish blood in my semen. What could be the cause?” Walsh also noted that he is on a blood thinner medication following a heart attack earlier in the year. Like Jim Walsh, other men are in a dilemma when they notice some blood in their semen. The situation can be devastating as one wonders what could be wrong with their body. However, doctors advise that blood in semen is not a symptom of an underlying condition and is curable.
The presence of blood in sperm raises concerns about the health of seminal vesicles and prostates. Among men’s secret side effects of blood thinners is having blood in sperms. The side effect is a secret because patients might find it challenging to discuss them with friends. However, anyone experiencing the symptom should not shy away from sharing it with the doctors.
The presence of blood in sperm is medically referred to as haematospermia. It raises concern among men because it can also be a symptom of prostate cancer. It should not alarm young men because it does not associate with severe complications. In most instances, the bleeding is likely to stop on its own. However, men above 40 must consult their doctors whenever they show signs for further assessment. Even though haematospermia is common, physicians hardly associate it with blood thinners since there are other causes.
When to visit a doctor?
It is recommendable that patients consult their doctors as soon as they notice some unusual symptoms. Noticing a single incident of blood in semen should not be treated as an emergency, especially among young men. However, men should consult their doctors if the condition is recurring and worsens with time. It should also be a big concern if the man is experiencing pain in the groin area when the sperms have blood. The doctors will evaluate the condition and determine the most appropriate treatment.
Evaluation and treatment
Having blood in sperm does not require any treatment in several occurrences. The evaluation begins with the doctor inquiring about the patient’s history and a physical examination. Patients with a blood thinner history will likely undergo a rectal exam and a blood test to determine the severity. Semen analysis is another common practice determining the amount of blood in the sperms.
As noted earlier, haematospermia does not always demand medical treatment. The condition often disappears within a short while. However, when it is persistent, some treatment procedures are used to alleviate the condition. The doctors can opt to lower the blood thinner dosage for men who need the medication for survival. Minimizing the dose reduces the severity of the associated side effects. Doctors also prescribe antibiotics to cure any existing infection. In some extreme cases, physicians recommend surgery to eliminate any blockages in the blood vessels.
Other causes of blood in sperm
Ruptured blood vessels: Blood vessels in seminal vesicles and prostate can rupture during sex or ejaculation, which results in blood in semen. It is not a severe health concern, and it quickly heals.
Rigorous sex after abstaining for prolonged periods: Men experience blood in their sperm after having sex from prolonged abstinence.
Infection: Inflammation due to infections on the urinary tract results in blood in sperm. Other signs related to such infections are enduring pain when urinating or ejaculating.
Prostate issues: Health issues such as prostatitis can result from blood in semen. When prostate issues cause bleeding, the man experiences pain and a swollen groin.
Despite the cause, having blood in semen should not be a cause for alarm. Instead, victims should promptly seek medical attention to have the condition treated. Earlier treatment helps to avoid other severe implications.
Blood thinners and erectile dysfunction
Anticoagulants are often associated with erectile dysfunction. As a result, doctors prohibit patients struggling with erectile dysfunction from taking their medication alongside blood thinners. A man is said to have erectile dysfunction if he cannot get or sustain an erection. The majority of men experience erectile dysfunction at some point in their life. The problem heals without seeking medical treatment.
Anticoagulant medication such as warfarin is among the known causes of erectile dysfunction. Physicians prescribe the medication to individuals at a higher risk of clot formation, which can be life-threatening. There is no evidence that blood thinners lead to erectile dysfunction. However, the medication seems to impact a man’s sex drive.
It is essential to address erectile dysfunction among men since it can take a toll on them. The relationship between the man and his partner can experience some distress. The men who experience such issues tend to have low self-esteem and anxiety, leading to depression. The anxiety can also affect the man’s performance, which worsens the erectile dysfunction condition.
Doctors evaluate the possible causes of erectile dysfunction among men to recommend the most suitable treatment. When the cause is the consumption of blood thinners, it will be challenging to balance the underlying condition and erectile dysfunction. However, the doctors reduce the blood thinner dosage prescribed to the patients to minimize the side effects.
Blood-thinner patients experiencing erectile dysfunction should also consider taking medications. Some of the FDA-approved medications include Viagra, Levitra, and Cialis. It is recommended that the victims take any of the pills at least an hour earlier before sexual intercourse. The medication is safe even for people with other underlying conditions. Men need to note that giving an accurate medical history will help determine the best-suited treatment.
Blood thinners and prostate cancer
Studies show that prostate cancer patients using blood thinners to avoid clot formation had an additional 39% survival rate. At least 1in every 8 men has prostate cancer in the U.S. Among them, 1 in every 41 prostate cancer patients dies from the illness. It is essential to minimize the mortality resulting from prostate cancer by having more survivors.
Researchers conducted a study with 250 participants who had advanced prostate cancer and were on chemotherapy treatment. 11.7% of the study sample were on blood thinners to prevent them from pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary embolism refers to clot formation that moves to the lungs. The blood thinners taken by these men include heparin and warfarin. The study findings show that the men on blood thinners survived for 21 months. On the other hand, the others survived slightly more than 17 months. The results show that blood thinners increase survival for prostate cancer patients by 39%.
The study’s findings are shocking due to the perception that venous thromboembolism affects the survival rate. The oncologists use blood thinners to protect cancer patients from clot formation. Even though the medication is yet to be approved for cancer treatment, patients have a high survival rate. However, blood thinner prescription is associated with other dire complications like stroke and excessive bleeding. Health research experts should conduct additional research to help unravel how blood thinners relate to cancer.
Physicians recommend an oral anticoagulant prescription for prostate cancer patients. The oral dosage effectively prevents clot formation while minimizing the associated risks. The risks of over bleeding associated with other blood thinners outweigh the acquired benefit. Healthcare researchers should evaluate the effect of blood thinners on varying types and stages of cancer.
Conclusion
The presence of blood in sperm is alarming. However, it should not be a cause to worry since, in several instances, it is treatable. Men above 40 should promptly seek medical care when they notice blood in semen. Receiving prompt treatment prevents the condition from worsening. Besides experiencing blood in semen due to blood thinners, any other man can have the condition due to other factors outlined above. Other secret blood thinner side effects among men include hair loss and increased farting. Men experiencing such issues after taking their blood thinner medication should consider alerting their doctors. Besides acquiring treatment for a condition that bothers them, talking to a doctor eases the anxiety. The doctors have experience with past patients having the same issues and will offer the best advice. It is essential to note that the side effects affecting men after consuming blood thinners are reversible.
NOTE: If you are interested how food affects our blood condition please check our Natural blood thinner post where I run experiments similar to the one below.