Semen texture varies widely from person to person. You typically do not need to consult a healthcare professional unless you’re experiencing other unusual symptoms, such as signs of infection.
There’s no reason to be concerned if your semen suddenly appears thick. Many people have naturally thick semen.
Your unique biology can affect the smell, taste, and texture. Semen texture can change based on your:
- vitamin intake, particularly B-12
- overall diet
- level of physical activity
Some habits, such as using cannabis or drinking alcohol, can also affect your semen volume and texture. These habits lower sperm count and sperm concentration in a single ejaculation, as well as lower overall testosterone levels.
Semen is composed primarily of water. Not getting enough fluids can reduce the amount of liquid available to give semen its typically viscous texture.
Drinking enough water throughout the day helps regulate your body’s pH level. This is your body’s relative balance of acidic and alkaline substances.
Your body typically maintains a pH level of 7.4. When you’re dehydrated, your pH levels can become irregular. This can make your semen thick and affect many other organs in your body, too.
Other signs and symptoms of dehydration include:
- extreme thirst
- exhaustion
- dizziness
- confusion
- infrequent urination
- dark urine
- dark or bloody stool
Semen contains many hormones. This includes many androgens like testosterone and some other
Your age,
Hormonal imbalance can result in thickened semen, as well as irregularly shaped sperm. Irregular sperm shape can also contribute to your semen’s texture.
Other symptoms of hormone imbalance include:
- reduced libido
- difficulty developing or maintaining an erection
- hair thinning or loss
- fatigue
- loss of muscle mass
- unexplained weight loss
- increased body fat
Urinary tract infections, especially bacterial infections, can make your semen thick. This is because they increase the number of white blood cells in the area.
This can decrease the amount of semen you produce, reduce the concentration of sperm in your semen, and affect sperm shape.
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A 2014 study suggests that bacterial infections of the prostate can lead to decreased quality of sperm and changes in semen consistency.
Other signs and symptoms of infection include:
- difficulty urinating
- pain or burning during urination
- bloody urine
- unusual discharge
- swollen or painful scrotum
- perineal pain or burning
- fever or chills
Ejaculation changes texture as soon as it leaves the penis. It often starts off thick and warm but becomes watery and cool after being exposed to the air for a few minutes.
Thick semen usually results from a higher-than-expected concentration of sperm in a typical volume of semen or from having a
High sperm concentration often indicates that you’re more likely to impregnate a partner. Thick semen is also less likely to drip out of the vagina. This increases the chance of conception.
Healthy semen typically has the following characteristics:
- whitish, grayish, or yellowish color
- a mild alkaline smell (like chlorine or bleach)
- viscous, jelly-like texture that turns watery after 30 minutes
- slightly sweet taste
Keep in mind that what’s considered healthy can vary from person to person. If you meet most of these baselines, there’s no need to worry about how thick your semen is.
Consider making an appointment with a healthcare professional if you experience pain, discomfort, or fatigue along with recently thickened semen. Some causes, such as infections, will go away with proper antibiotic treatment.
If you’re experiencing unusual symptoms in addition to thick semen, especially a fever over 101°F (38.3°C), get immediate medical attention.