Kidney stones most people know about, but stones can also develop in other parts of the body. Sad to report, one of the areas where they can potentially develop are in the seminal vesicles. Although such cases are (fortunately) extremely rare, it’s important for men to know about them in the event that they find their penis health impacted by their unwanted presence.

What are they?

The seminal vesicles (also known as seminal glands or vesicular glands), are a pair of tubes located in the pelvis which are located just beneath the bladder.  Although small, they play a big role, providing between 70% and 85% of the reproductive fluid that eventually becomes semen. These fluids are very high in fructose (among other things), which is important because that helps give vital energy to sperm on their journeys. Without the seminal vesicles, semen would be a very different fluid.

Each of the vesicles is about 2 to 2.75 inches long and about half that in width. They are managed by hormones, especially androgen. Without androgen, the vesicles would basically just wither away.

Stones

Also called seminal vesicle calculi, seminal vesicle stones were first reported in the medical literature in 1928. But there haven’t been many cases reported – only about 100 or so over the succeeding decades, mostly occurring in men between the ages of 30 and 45.  That doesn’t mean there haven’t been more cases out there (or that younger and older men are exempt from them); it only means more haven’t been reported to medical journals. And there may be many cases that men don’t even report to their doctors. But even taking that into consideration, seminal vesicles stones are not likely to be common.

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What are these stones formed of? These smooth, hard stones are usually formed of various proteins (which may occur naturally in the seminal vesicles). Sometimes phosphate or calcium may be the culprit. Because the seminal vesicles themselves are small, any stones that form there are likely to also be small. The larger the stone, the more pain it is likely to cause.

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Presentation

In most cases, men with seminal vesicle stones have experienced passing stones while ejaculating. This is often accompanied by pain during the passing (and often prior to the passing) as well as by evidence of blood in the semen. Often, a man with these stones may also experience a need to urinate with greater frequency than in the past.

The degree of pain associated with these stones can vary significantly. Some men have live with them for years before visiting a doctor, indicating a general low level of pain with some unpleasant peaks which motivated seeking help.

In cases in which the stones create significant blockage of seminal fluid, infertility may result. (This is usually reversed if the blockage is removed.)

Treatment

Many cases of seminal vesicle stones are transient and resolve in a short period of time. When they are long lasting or severe enough to warrant medical attention, some form of surgical intervention is often required. This can be invasive, due to the small size of the vesicles themselves and their location in a crowded section of the anatomy. 

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Seminal vesicle stones are not an issue that needs to concern most men – who instead should concentrate on maintaining a productive penis health regimen. Part of this regimen should include the daily application of a first rate penis health creme (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). The best cremes will contain two key ingredients – L-arginine and L-carnitine. L-arginine is a wonderful amino acid which helps boost the body’s production of nitric oxide, thereby better enabling penile blood vessels to receive increased blood flow. L-carnitine has neuroprotective properties, and these can be helpful in maintaining adequate penis sensitivity in instances in which the penis has been roughly or aggressively handled.