Semen is made up of a number of a number of substances including sperm cells, mucus, proteins, sugars (like fructose), and enzymes. The color of semen can vary from person to person, but the most common and healthy colors of semen are white, clear, gray, or somewhere in between those three. Alternate colors of semen aren't necessarily indicative of health issues, but they can be. If your semen is a strange color, you may want to see a doctor depending on the color, consistency, and other factors.

What Color Should Semen Be

The most common and healthy colors of semen are white, clear, gray, or somewhere in between those three. Yellow, brown, and red are other commonly reported colors, but could be a sign of a potential health issue. It's difficult to tell on your own, so you will need a semen analysis by a medical professional, and possibly a prostate exam.

Why Is My Cum Yellow

• Age - Semen can change colors and shades as you age. Age may also change the volume of ejaculate.
• Diet - Foods that are acidic or contain sulfur, like garlic, pickles, onions, and asparagus.
• Smoking/Drugs - Smoking has an effect on most mucus, semen included.
• Urine - If urine remains in your urethra it can color your semen.
• Withholding Ejaculation - "Older" semen can be a different color than fresh semen. If you don't ejaculate for a long time, don't be surprised by a change.
• Medical Issues - Prostate and bladder issues can cause semen color changes. Other ejaculation related conditions can change color as well.
• Vasectomy - Though uncommon, getting a vasectomy can change your ejaculations and potentially your semen color.

Another potential cause of yellow semen is Jaundice. Jaundice is a medical condition where an excess of bilirubin builds up in the blood. Bilirubin is a waste by-product of your body breaking down red blood cells. Waste cells are broken down by the liver, but if your liver cannot handle the bilirubin it builds up in the body. Because bilirubin is yellow, it may also cause a yellow hue in the whites of the eyes, skin, mucus membranes, and semen.

Why Is My Cum Brown

If your cum is red or brown it could mean there is blood in your semen. Another potential cause of red or brown semen can be prostate issues, prostatis, prostate, testicular, or urethral cancer. 

Prostatitis refers to a group of syndromes that cause pain and infection in the prostate. Prostatitis has four types:

• Acute bacterial prostatitis - UTI (Urinary Tract Infection) in the prostate gland.
• Chronic bacterial prostatitis - Recurring UTI caused by bacteria trapped in the prostate gland.
• Chronic pelvic pain syndrome- Chronic pain condition caused by prostate gland inflammation
• Asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis - Type of prostate gland inflammation that rarely cause symptoms.

Since the cause of red or brown semen can vary so greatly, the only way to know for sure is to see a doctor.

How To Treat Yellow Semen

Treatment for yellow semen will depend on what is causing your yellow semen, and as you saw above, it can be a number of things.. Some causes, such as aging, do not need treatment. If your treatment is caused by food, medications, smoking, or supplements, your semen should return to a normal color after the item you ingested is out of your system.

Other conditions, such as sexually transmitted diseases and other infections, may require treatment with antibiotics or antiviral medications. Researching which ones of these options might apply to you can help you narrow down what might be causing your semen to be yellow. If you're finding other issues related to your penis, testicles, or prostate you will want to see a medical professional.

✔️ References

1. https://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/how-many-nutrients-are-in-semen

2. https://www.webmd.com/men/what-to-know-about-yellow-semen

3. https://www.healthline.com/health/mens-health/semen-color-chart#semen-color-chart