Discharge from the urogenital canal is mainly noticed by men during or after urination. You should be able to distinguish between normal physiological secretions and pathological secretions, which are often the first signs of diseases of the urogenital system. The nature of the discharge makes it possible to determine the etiology of the disease and to establish a preliminary diagnosis.
Types of pathological discharge in men
Abnormal discharge is caused by diseases of the urogenital canal and adjacent organs. Pathological factors characterized by various etiologies cause damage to the urethra, which leads to the appearance of discharge. This process is called leukocyte urethria (urethritis). Pathological factors can be infectious, chemical or mechanical in nature.
Mucous purulent discharge
- Such secretions consist of serous secretions, urogenital mucosa, and a small number of leukocytes. They look like a clear, milky white liquid.
- Such discharge can be a sign of trichomoniasis, chlamydia and ureaplasmosis. These diseases are rarely accompanied by pain, soreness and itching. Basically, their manifestation is limited to mucous purulent discharge after urination.
Purulent discharge
- Their appearance is considered a symptom of infectious urethritis. The purulent discharge consists of the cells of the damaged epithelium of the urogenital canal and the mucous membrane of the urethra. They have an increased concentration of leukocytes. Purulent discharge looks like a thick liquid that is completely yellow or slightly green.
- Such discharge is often accompanied by pain, soreness, itching, burning during urination, and is usually abundant. Symptoms of trichomoniasis and gonorrhea are most common.
White discharge
When white discharge appears, one should pay attention to its consistency.
Cheesy white discharge. Basically, such discharge refers to male candidiasis (thrush) and is rare. Candidiasis can be caused by chemotherapy or antibiotic treatment, as well as a decrease in immunity, it is not transmitted sexually.Foamy white discharge. Such discharge often becomes a sign of trichomoniasis and may also indicate the presence of chronic prostatitis. If the cause is prostatitis, the discharge is often accompanied by a decrease or loss of potency and difficulty urinating.
Diagnostics
No matter what the abnormal discharge looks like, a man should consult a urologist. Only a doctor can correctly diagnose the disease and choose the treatment, self-diagnosis is futile. To determine the exact cause of the discharge, samples are usually taken for culture and bacteriological tests. Additional diagnostic tools depend on the suspected disease; it can be urography, CT, ultrasound.
Treatment
The treatment program depends on the symptoms of the disease in the man's discharge.
STD. In this case, both partners must undergo treatment. Usually this is antibacterial therapy, wisely combined with immunomodulatory drugs. Sometimes they add local treatment (physiotherapy, prostate massage, inserting medicine into the urethra) and a special diet. The specific program depends on the type of STD.Thrush. In most cases, male candidiasis is eliminated with local treatment, but in advanced cases, general medications are needed. In addition, drugs that strengthen the patient's immunity and a special diet must be taken.
Discharge from the penis
Discharge from the penis is considered normal if it does not cause discomfort or other negative signs. Otherwise, these are symptoms of various sexually transmitted pathologies or disorders of the urogenital system and other structures of the body.
How to distinguish normal from pathology?
| Sign | Norm | Deviation |
|---|---|---|
| Time of publication, frequency | Before, during or after sex, during excitement | Regardless of intimacy, after sleeping, urinating, defecating, sometimes it drips continuously |
| Smell | Characteristic (egg white or chestnut) or odorless | Rotten, sour, smelly, fishy, etc. |
| Color, consistency | Transparent or whitish, the texture often resembles raw protein, sometimes sticky, viscous | Dormant, thick, white, greenish, brown, dotted with blood clots and pus. In the case of a viral disease, it can be transparent |
| Additional symptoms | No | Itching, burning, redness, pain |
When is discharge from the penis normal?
A healthy adult male does not have any strong secretions at rest. However, in some cases, this is the norm:
- Precum. When stirred, a sticky, colorless substance is released—a lubricant that creates a favorable environment for normal sperm transport. Doctors suspect a problem if they complain of a large amount of preejaculate with low sexual arousal.
- Shoots. We are not talking about ejaculation in the form of the appropriate finale of the sexual act, but about the remains that sometimes emerge after intimacy. It is usually a few drops of whitish or colorless liquid.
- Ejaculation during wet dreams. This is an involuntary ejaculation due to sexual overstimulation and increased testosterone. It often happens in a dream.
- Smegma is the secretion of glands located in the area of the petals of the foreskin.. It serves as a protective fluid and lubricant for the glans penis. It does not dry out, does not catch fire and is not damaged thanks to this. The amount of smegma is small, almost invisible on underwear. However, it increases with hormonal changes, if the imbalance is not associated with pathology, this is also normal.
Smegma can enter the urethra in large quantities, where it accumulates and "disappears", forming sleeping flakes, as in the case of thrush. This is also conditionally considered the norm: if proper hygiene is observed, the problem disappears.
When is discharge a symptom of an illness?
If a man notices an unnatural discharge from the penis, he should see a doctor. Without medical education and diagnostic equipment, it is difficult to independently determine the disease.
The most common pathologies related to the appearance or changes in the fluid secreted from the penis are STDs, inflammatory processes, and disorders of the muscle structures and the central nervous system.
Sexually transmitted diseases
Sexual infections are initially asymptomatic, with an incubation period of 7-21 days, sometimes 6 months. The discharge appears if you are infected with the following diseases:
- Hepatitis;
- HIV;
- Gonorrhea;
- Chlamydia;
- Trichomoniasis;
- Candidiasis;
- Ureaplasmosis;
- Human papillomavirus;
- Mycoplasmosis;
- AIDS.
Chlamydia, ureaplasmosis, mycoplasmosis first cause clear, viscous discharge. The only sign of pathology is the lack of reasons for the natural appearance of fluid. Additional pathologies lead to a change in the color and consistency of the secreted liquid - it becomes transparent, slimy, resembles pus.
Gonorrhea is characterized by foul-smelling greenish or brown material. It is accompanied by severe pain and itching.
Hepatitis often causes a small amount of fluid to leak out, settle on the head of the penis, and when it dries, a white coating forms. Another characteristic symptom is the turbidity and darkening of the urine.
Candidiasis is accompanied by the appearance of cheesy blood clots, but there are significantly fewer of them than in the case of female "thrush". There is itching, burning and redness of the head.
In the case of trichomoniasis, stretchy, transparent mucus, pain and itching appear with frequent urination. The urethra swells, the area around it becomes red and inflamed.
Inflammatory processes
Pathologies that cause discharge from the penis are not always sexually transmitted. Sometimes the problem occurs against the background of a spreading infection, which occurs after contact or is spread by airborne droplets.
Bacteria, viruses and fungi cause an inflammatory reaction in large quantities. Abnormal discharge occurs due to inflammation of the urethra, spermatic cords, sperm tuberculosis, prostate gland, foreskin and other elements of the reproductive system.
The type of discharge depends on the microorganism causing the disease. For example, bacteria almost immediately cause the appearance of pus: mucus has an unpleasant smell and an unpleasant color.
Changes in sperm quantity and quality
If sperm flow without prior excitement and subsequent orgasm, this is a pathology. Doctors diagnose spermatorrhœa. The causes are to be found in muscle disorders and central nervous system problems. It occurs more often in old age or in case of advanced prostatitis or prostate adenoma.
Discharge with blood - hematospermia, malignant tumors appear in the urethra, penile cancer, trauma. Sometimes it is the result of stones passing through the urinary tract.
Diagnostics
After listening to the patient's complaints and collecting anamnesis, urologists examine the genitals. In this case, professionals simultaneously take prostate juice through rectal massage. Additional laboratory tests are required:
- Blood analysis;
- Prostatic secretion;
- Analysis of urine;
- Semen.
It is important to evaluate the discharge itself. For this, it is subjected to a microscopic examination. This method makes it possible to identify the main source of the problem - bacteria, viruses, fungi.
Doctors then move on to instrumental diagnostics:
- Ultrasound of the pelvic organs, penis, scrotum;
- Dopplerography;
- Radiography;
- MRI;
- CT;
- cystoscopy;
- Urethroscopy;
- Scintigraphy.
If tumors are found during the examination, the diagnosticians perform a puncture.
Treatment
Treatment methods depend on the diagnosis. First of all, doctors prescribe drugs that are suitable for eliminating pathogenic microflora:
- Antibiotics;
- Anti-virus;
- Antifungal.
Urologists mainly prescribe oral medications, sometimes requiring intravenous or intramuscular administration.
In addition, an antihistamine and analgesic regimen is required to relieve symptoms. Topical medicines - anti-itch creams, gels, ointments - help to get rid of itching.
Patients are introduced to sitz baths with sedatives, pain relievers or anti-inflammatory drugs. Washing every time you urinate helps prevent the spread of infection.
If the problem lies in disorders of the central nervous system or endocrinological pathologies, doctors involve highly qualified specialists.
Additional therapies
Problems of the urogenital system should be treated comprehensively. In addition to drugs, doctors choose the following:
- Rectal prostate massage;
- Therapeutic massage of the lumbar region;
- exercise therapy;
- Physiotherapy;
- Reflexology.
Such procedures restore the natural metabolism and prevent stagnation. The urologist prescribes a special diet that helps strengthen men's health. Vitamin complexes must be taken: C, E, A, B groups.
Prevention
In most cases, the cause of discharge from the penis is sexually transmitted diseases. Therefore, the most effective preventive measure is the careful selection of a sexual partner and the use of barrier contraception.
Urologists also advise following a number of rules:
- Lead an active lifestyle.
- Monitor your own health and perform preventive examinations.
- Treat pathologies in a timely manner.
- Wear loose underwear and pants.
- Avoid frequent changes of sexual partners.
- Pay attention to your diet. The diet should contain vitamins, micro- and macro-elements necessary for men: selenium, zinc, magnesium, calcium.