Watery Semen: Causes, Effects On Fertility, Treatment, And More

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Sexual Health

Why Is My Semen Watery? 4 Possible Causes

Medically reviewed by Roger Bielinski, MD FACS — Written by James Roland — Updated on July 1, 2025

Low sperm count
Frequent ejaculation
Zinc deficiency
Pre-ejaculation
Discolored semen
See a doctor
Treatment
Takeaway

Watery semen may be a temporary issue caused by frequent ejaculation or a zinc deficiency. In some cases, watery semen can result from a low sperm count due to infection or another cause.

Semen is the fluid released through the penile urethra during ejaculation. It carries sperm and fluids from the testicles, prostate gland, and other male reproductive organs.

Normally, semen is a thick, whitish liquid. But several conditions can change its color and consistency.

Ejaculating thin, clear semen may be a temporary condition with no serious health concerns. However, it can also be a symptom of low sperm count, indicating possible fertility problems.

Keep reading to learn more about the possible causes of watery semen, when to see a doctor, and treatments.

1. Low sperm count

One of the most common causes of watery semen is oligospermia (low sperm count), which means your semen contains fewer than 15 million sperm per milliliter of semen.

Low sperm count is one of the biggest risk factors for male infertility, which accounts for 20% to 70% of infertility. This is when you’re unable to reproduce naturally after engaging in frequent, unprotected penis-in-vagina sex for more than 1 year.

Researchers have identified several possible causes of low sperm count:

Varicocele: A varicocele is a swelling of veins from the testicles in the scrotum. It’s a major, but treatable, cause of male infertility.
Genetic conditions: Mutations of the Y chromosome and genetic conditions like cystic fibrosis and Klinefelter syndrome are associated with low sperm count.
Infection: Examples include a sexually transmitted infection (STI) like gonorrhea or another kind of infection that causes inflammation of a reproductive organ, such as epididymitis or prostatitis.
Tumors: Malignant and benign tumors in the testicles may affect sperm production.
Hormone imbalances: Hormones produced in the testicles, pituitary gland, and hypothalamus are necessary to produce healthy sperm counts. Changes to testosterone, thyroid, cortisol, and prolactin hormones may affect sperm count, production, and quality.

Other potential causes of a low sperm count may include:

prolonged exposure to environmental toxins, such as insecticides, pesticides, and smoke
certain medications, such as opioids and some treatments for cancer, heart disease, and inflammation
anti-sperm antibodies in your immune system
injuries or other problems with the tubes that carry sperm

»More on this:How to increase sperm count

2. Frequent ejaculation

If you ejaculate several times a day, you might notice that your semen becomes thinner and clearer after the first ejaculation, which is typically the thickest.

Frequent ejaculation may lead to the production of less opaque, watery semen because the sperm count of each subsequent ejaculation is lower than the previous.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it takes 2 to 3 daily ejaculations to completely empty the sperm stored in the epididymides. These are the ducts behind the testicles that store sperm.

Your body may require at least 1 full day to fully produce a thicker, healthier, and normal amount of semen.

3. Zinc deficiency

Another possible cause of watery semen is zinc deficiency. Zinc is an essential mineral that plays an important role in many immunological and cellular functions.

Low zinc levels in semen are associated with having a low sperm count and motility (sperm movement), which are signs of low sperm quality. Sperm cells are vulnerable to damage from inflammation and oxidative stress, but zinc may have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that could help protect sperm cells from this damage.

The daily Recommended Dietary Allowance for adults ages 19 years and older is:

Males: 11 milligrams (mg)
Females: 8 mg

Some foods high in zinc include meat, fish, and seafood, as well as beans, lentils, and some nuts.

If you’re unsure about your current zinc levels, speak with a doctor. They could measure your serum levels and, if necessary, recommend zinc supplementation if you find it difficult to get enough zinc in your diet.

More research is needed to better understand the link between zinc deficiency and watery semen.

4. Pre-ejaculation

If you have semen that appears watery, it’s important to note if any color is present or if it’s totally clear.

According to the WHO, very clear semen may actually be pre-ejaculation fluid, such as that released during foreplay. This clear semen typically contains few sperm.

What does it mean to have discolored semen?

It’s common for semen to have a slight yellow color as you get older or don’t ejaculate for a long time. This may be due to the accumulation of certain granules and dead cells from the seminal vesicles.

That said, if you notice that your semen is discolored, the color may indicate a health problem:

Darker yellow: Yellowish semen may be a symptom of health conditions like jaundice, prostate infection, pyospermia, and leukospermia.
Red or brown: This may be a symptom of blood in the semen. This could be caused by infections like urethritis and prostatitis, or recent operations.
Brown or black: This may be associated with spinal cord injury, the accumulation of uric acid, or toxicity from heavy metals like platinum, lead, and nickel.

»Learn more:What does the color of my semen mean?

When to connect with a doctor

Consider speaking with a primary care physician (PCP) if your semen is consistently watery and discolored, or if you and your partner have been trying unsuccessfully to reproduce for at least 1 year.

A PCP will first perform a physical and medical history examination. This may include questions about your lifestyle and dietary habits, and any possible health conditions you may have to help assess possible underlying risk factors.

They will then order a urinalysis and semen analysis, which is used to check the health of your sperm and semen. Some of the things the test will check for include:

volume of semen from an ejaculation
liquefaction time, which is the amount of time needed for semen to change from a thick, gel-like fluid to a waterier liquid consistency
acidity
sperm count
sperm motility (ability of sperm to move)
sperm morphology (size and shape of the sperm)

A PCP may order other tests if they suspect that hormonal changes or the physical health of your testicles and neighboring reproductive organs may be causing watery semen. They can also refer you to a urologist or fertility specialist for further testing.

»FIND CARE:Find a primary care specialist in your area today.

What are the treatment options?

Treatment for watery semen will depend on the underlying cause, but it doesn’t always require medical treatment.

For instance, if your watery semen occurs after ejaculating several times per day, then reducing the frequency of ejaculation and allowing several hours between each session may help reduce the wateriness.

The WHO recommends abstaining from ejaculation for 2 to 7 days before a semen analysis, as this allows enough time for the epididymides to fully replenish their stores with sperm. Consider using this as a guideline to see if your watery semen goes back to normal after abstaining.

Some lifestyle changes may also help boost your sperm count and improve the quality of your semen, including:

maintaining a healthy-for-you weight
quitting smoking, if you smoke
limiting alcohol consumption, if you drink
exercising regularly
eating a balanced diet
managing stress levels

It’s important to note that a low sperm count doesn’t automatically mean you can’t reproduce. It may take additional attempts, or you may have something like an infection that has temporarily caused the low sperm count.

The bottom line

In many instances, changes to the consistency of your semen are temporary and treatable.

If the cause of watery semen is low sperm count and you’re trying to conceive, there are many treatments available. Speak with a fertility specialist about the best options for you.

Before you make any major decisions, talk with a doctor and go through the testing needed to make a proper diagnosis.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Leslie SW, et al. (2024). Male infertility.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562258/
Mason MM, et al. (2022). Ejaculation: The process and characteristics from start to finish.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9997041/
Milostić-Srb A, et al. (2020). Importance of zinc concentration in seminal fluid of men diagnosed with infertility.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7382883/
Muteshi C, et al. (2025). Approach to evaluation and management of male infertility in sub-Saharan Africa.https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ijgo.16196
Okada FK, et al. (2020). One day is better than four days of ejaculatory abstinence for sperm function.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8812405/
Sunder M, et al. (2022). Semen analysis.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK564369/
WHO laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen, sixth edition. (2021).https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/343208/9789240030787-eng.pdf?sequence=1
Zinc. (2022).https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-HealthProfessional/

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Medically reviewed by Roger Bielinski, MD FACS — Written by James Roland — Updated on July 1, 2025

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