The taste, smell, color, and consistency of semen can vary from one person to the next.
Semen can also change from oneejaculationto the next.
Most of the time, these changes are normal, but some may indicate a medical concern.
Illustration by Julie Bang for Verywell Health
Foul-smelling semen, pinkish or greenish semen, or abnormal semen volumes should be evaluated by a healthcare provider.
The fluids are populated withspermatozoa(sperm cells) that can fertilize an egg.
Healthy sperm are those whose size and shape are relatively consistent and have the same rapidly oscillating tail movements.
Verywell / JR Bee
A healthysperm countis usually 15 million cells per milliliter of semen or more.
After ejaculation, sperm can stay alive for three to five days in thecervix,uterus, andfallopian tubes.
What Does Healthy Semen Look Like?
To collect a sample, you would be asked to masturbate into a sterile jar or cup.
The sample is then sent to a lab for analysis.
It often has a slight ammonia scent.
These include foul-smelling semen, discolored semen, waterly semen, or abnormally high or low volumes of semen.
Changes like these should be investigated, particularly if the symptoms are persistent or worsening.
The composition of human semen.
In:Endotext.South Dartmouth (MA): MDText.com, Inc.; 2025.
In:Endocrinology of the Testis and Male Reproduction.
2017;216(1):1-9. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2016.08.008
University of California San Francisco.Semen analysis.
2018 Jan;33(1):3-6. doi:10.5001/omj.2018.02
Harvard T.H.
Chan School of Public Health.Boxers or briefs?
Loose-fitting underwear may benefit sperm production.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Infertility & STDs.
2022 Feb;24(1):73-77. doi:10.4103/aja202165
