Clear, Brown, Yellow: What Does Each Semen Color Mean?

Imagine watching your boyfriend jerk off, and having him cum in front of you. You look down, and expect to see the normal bluish-white hue of ejaculate on the sheet. Instead, what you’re seeing is a blob of brown stuff. WTF, right?

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Though it’s a little wild to think about, semen color can vary greatly from person to person. That scenario can happen–and has to others. The color of your man’s goo can tell you a lot about his health, if you should be worried, and if he should see a doctor. 

Wondering what each semen color could mean? Here’s the scoop. 

Grey-White (Or Clear)

In a healthy male, semen will typically be a greyish-white hue. This shows that he has a reasonably well functioning body and that his diet is fairly normal. You shouldn’t worry if his semen is white.

That being said, seeing white cum does not mean he can’t have an STI. People who have STIs can still have white cum. If you aren’t sure of your partner’s status, it’s still a good idea to get tested. 

Green

Greenish-yellow semen is something that you probably never want to see, and not just because it looks like snot, either. This is a sign of a prostate infection, which can become lethal if it’s left untreated. 

If your guy has been complaining about chills, fever, and pain near his rectum, he might have a prostate infection. This is not an STI, but rather an infection that happens when urine gets stuck in the prostate. 

If your man smokes cannabis or tobacco, this could be a potential explanation for his strange semen color. That being said, it’s still uncommon and you’d have to smoke a lot in order for his cum to turn a noticeably green hue.

Yellow

Yellow semen can be a cause for alarm, but it can also be a rather natural event. There are a lot of reasons why a man’s sperm can turn yellow, including:

  • Jaundice. If your partner has liver problems and has been turning yellow throughout his body, it’s possible that the jaundice also turned his semen yellow. This is something that should be brought up to the doctor, if it hasn’t been already. 
  • Medication/Supplements. Certain supplements and medications can cause semen to turn a light yellow. 
  • Leukocytospermia. This condition can be caused by STIs, prostate infections, as well as autoimmune disorders. It causes sperm to be unnaturally high in white blood cells, causing semen to appear yellow.
  • Urine In Semen. It’s gross, but it happens. 
  • Urinary Tract Infections. It’s true, UTIs can happen to men, too. When they do, they can cause semen to turn yellow. 
  • Certain Foods. Garlic, onion, and curry can all cause semen to change color. If the color change is dietary in nature, it’ll change back to a normal white hue after a couple of days. 
  • Alcohol Use. Many hardcore alcoholics have yellowish sperm as a result of their drinking habits. The same can be said for smokers and drug users.
  • Sexually Transmitted Infections. Gonorrhea and syphilis, for example, are known to turn semen yellow if the infection has been left untreated. 

Regardless of what the cause is, it’s a good idea to notify a doctor and keep up to date on your STI screening. It’s better to be safe than sorry. 

Brown

Yikes! This is never a good sign. Brown or orange semen is indicative of old blood that has been trapped in the penis. In most cases, brown semen is caused by untreated illnesses, including STIs, urinary tract infections, or UTIs. 

There’s another reason why semen can be brown that’s even more worrying. This is a sign that indicates prostate, bladder, and testicular cancer. Needless to say, if his semen is brown or orange in hue, this is something that needs to be taken to a doctor, ASAP. 

Pink

Much like brown semen, pink semen is indicative of blood in your semen. Also like brown semen, this is an indicator of an untreated illness in most cases–and can also be indicative of cancer. 

That being said, there’s another probable cause that might be a relief to hear. If a guy has very vigorous sex, masturbates extremely frequently, or otherwise pushes himself to sexual exhaustion, he might actually have cum so hard that blood came out. 

If he’s not the type to get too randy, pink semen is something that should be checked out by a medical professional. Otherwise, telling your guy to knock off his solo sessions can help.

Black

Though rare, it is possible for black semen to happen. Black sperm is caused by large quantities of blood being stuck in your body. Most of the things that cause brown semen are also likely candidates for black semen, especially if your partner’s sperm was brown in recent weeks.

That being said, black sperm can also happen for other reasons, including spinal injuries and exposure to certain heavy metals. (It’s fitting, considering that black semen seems metal AF.)