Question
I’ve read that watery semen isn’t a great sign when it comes to male fertility. My partner and I are having some trouble conceiving and I’ve noticed this might be a thing for us. Is it true? What can we do?
Answer
The cloudiness of semen is affected by how often you ejaculate, how hydrated you are, whether you’ve been drinking alcohol and whether you’re looking at your ejaculate or vaginal discharge after sex.
The concentration of sperm is what makes the semen cloudy and thick, so if your ejaculate is watery it is possible that you have a low sperm count. This doesn’t mean you’re infertile (so precautions to prevent pregnancy still need to be taken for couples that don’t want to get pregnant). Your GP can arrange for you to have your semen tested but you need to wait at least two days after your last ejaculation before you produce the specimen.
Read more on sperm health here.
Magdalena Simonis AM
General Practitioner
A/Professor Magdalena Simonis AM is a General Practitioner with interests in health equity, chronic disease prevention and preconception health. She’s a representative of the Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority (VARTA) and has represented the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) in national health policy development and at senate enquiries.
