Discharge from the genitourinary canal is detected mainly by men during or after urination. It is necessary to be able to distinguish between normal physiological discharge and pathological discharge, which are often the first signs of disease of the genitourinary system. The nature of the discharge allows us to establish the etiology of the disease and make a preliminary diagnosis.
Types of pathological secretion in men
Pathological discharge is caused by diseases of the genitourinary canal and organs adjacent to it. Pathological factors, characterized by various etiologies, cause damage to the urethra, leading to the appearance of secretions. This process is called leukocytic urethria (urethritis). Pathological factors can be infectious, chemical or mechanical in nature.
Purulent mucous discharge
- This secretion consists of serous exudate, urogenital mucus and a small number of leukocytes. They have the appearance of a milky white translucent liquid.
- Such discharge can serve as a signal of trichomoniasis, chlamydia and ureaplasmosis. These diseases are rarely accompanied by pain, pain and itching. Basically their manifestation is limited to mucopurulent secretion at the end of urination.
Purulent discharge
- Their appearance is considered a symptom of infectious urethritis. Purulent secretion consists of cells of the damaged epithelium of the genitourinary canal and urethral mucus. They have a higher concentration of leukocytes. Purulent discharge looks like a completely yellow or slightly green thick liquid.
- Often, such secretion is accompanied by pain, pain, itching, burning during urination and is usually abundant. Most often they are symptoms of trichomoniasis and gonorrhea.
White discharge
When white discharge appears, a man should pay attention to its consistency.
- White discharge with cheesy consistency.Basically, such discharge indicates male candidiasis (thrush) and is rare. The cause of candidiasis can be a course of chemotherapy or antibiotic treatment, as well as a decrease in immunity; it is not sexually transmitted.
- White discharge with a foamy consistency.Such secretion often becomes a sign of trichomoniasis and may also indicate the presence of chronic prostatitis. If the cause is prostatitis, the secretion is often accompanied by a decrease or loss of potency and difficulty urinating.
Diagnostics
No matter how the pathological discharge appears, a man must consult a urologist. Only a doctor can correctly diagnose the disease and select treatment; diagnosing it yourself is useless. To accurately determine the cause of the discharge, samples are usually taken for culture on nutrient media and bacteriological studies. Additional diagnostic tools depend on the suspected disease; they could be urography, CT, ultrasound.
Treatment
The treatment program depends on the symptoms of what disease the man's secretion is.
- ST.In this case, both partners must undergo treatment. As a rule, this is an antibacterial therapy, expertly combined with immunomodulatory drugs. Sometimes local treatment (physiotherapy, prostate massage, installation of a drug into the urethra) and a special diet are also added. The specific program depends on the type of STD.
- Thrush.Male candidiasis in most cases is eliminated by local treatment, but in advanced cases general medications are needed. In addition, it is necessary to take drugs that strengthen the patient's immunity and a special diet.
Discharge from the penis
Discharge from the penis is considered normal if it does not cause discomfort or other negative signs. Otherwise, they are symptoms of various sexually transmitted pathologies or disorders of the genitourinary system and other structures of the body.
How to distinguish a normal condition from a pathology?
| Sign | Norm | Deviation |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance time, frequency | Before, during or after sexual intercourse, during arousal | Regardless of intimacy, after sleep, after urination, defecation, sometimes it constantly drips |
| Odor | Characteristic (egg white or chestnut) or odorless | Putrid, sour, fetid, fishy, etc. |
| Color, texture | Transparent or whitish, the consistency often resembles that of crude protein, sometimes sticky, viscous | Clot, thick, white, greenish, brown, interspersed with blood clots and pus. It can be transparent in case of viral disease |
| Further symptoms | NO | Itching, burning, redness, pain |
When is discharge from the penis normal?
A healthy adult man has no heavy discharge of any kind at rest. However, in some situations this is the norm:
- Precum. When excited, a sticky, colorless substance is released - a lubricant that creates a favorable environment conducive to normal sperm transport. Doctors will suspect a problem if you complain of a large amount of pre-ejaculate with low sexual arousal.
- Ejaculate. We are not talking about ejaculation as an adequate conclusion to sexual intercourse, but about the residues that sometimes emerge after intimacy. This is usually a couple of drops of a whitish or colorless liquid.
- Ejaculate during wet dreams. This is an involuntary ejaculation due to excessive sexual stimulation and an increase in the amount of testosterone. They often occur in a dream.
- Smegma is the secretion of glands located in the petal area of the foreskin.. It serves as a protective liquid and lubricant for the head of the penis. It does not dry out, does not inflame and does not hurt thanks to it. The amount of smegma is small, almost invisible on underwear. However, with hormonal changes, it increases; if the imbalance is not associated with a pathology, this is also normal.
Smegma in large quantities can enter the urethra, where it accumulates and "fades away", forming curdled flakes, as in thrush. This is also considered the norm conditionally: if sufficient 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 consult a doctor. It is difficult to independently determine the disease without medical education and diagnostic equipment.
The most common pathologies associated with the appearance or change in the fluid secreted by the penis are sexually transmitted diseases, inflammatory processes and disorders in the functioning of the muscular structures and central nervous system.
Sexually transmitted diseases
Sexual infections are initially asymptomatic, the incubation period is from 7 to 21 days, sometimes 6 months. The discharge appears when infected with the following diseases:
- Hepatitis;
- HIV;
- Gonorrhea;
- chlamydia;
- trichomoniasis;
- candidiasis;
- Ureaplasmosis;
- Human papilloma virus;
- Mycoplasmosis;
- AIDS.
Chlamydia, ureaplasmosis, and mycoplasmosis primarily cause clear, viscous discharge. The only sign of pathology is the absence of reasons for the natural appearance of the fluid. Further pathologies lead to a change in the color and consistency of the secreted fluid: it becomes translucent, mucous, resembles pus.
Gonorrhea is characterized by foul-smelling greenish or brown substances. Accompanied by severe pain and itching.
Hepatitis often causes a small amount of fluid to leak onto the head of the penis and when it dries a white film forms. A characteristic additional symptom is cloudiness and darkening of the urine.
Candidiasis is accompanied by the appearance of cheesy clots, but there are significantly fewer of them than in the case of female "thrush". There is itching, burning and redness of the head.
With trichomoniasis, elastic, translucent mucus, pain and itching appear with frequent urination. The urethra swells, the surrounding area 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 widespread infection that occurs after tactile contact or is transmitted by airborne droplets.
Bacteria, viruses and fungi in large quantities cause an inflammatory reaction. Abnormal discharge appears due to inflammation of the urethra, spermatic cords, spermatic tubercle, prostate gland, foreskin and other elements of the reproductive system.
The type of discharge depends on the microorganism that caused the disease. For example, bacteria almost immediately cause the appearance of pus: the mucus is smelly and has an unpleasant color.
Changes in sperm volume and quality
If sperm flows without previous arousal and subsequent orgasm, this is a pathology. Doctors diagnose spermatorrhea. The reasons lie in muscle disorders and central nervous system problems. More often it occurs at an older age or with advanced prostatitis, prostatic adenoma.
Discharge with blood - hematospermia, appears with malignant neoplasms in the urethra, cancer of the penis, trauma. Sometimes it is the result of stones passing through the urinary tract.
Diagnostics
Urologists, after listening to the patient's complaints and taking the anamnesis, examine the genitals. In this case, specialists simultaneously take the prostate juice through rectal massage. Further laboratory tests are required:
- Blood analysis;
- Prostate secretion;
- Urine analysis;
- Semen.
It is important to evaluate the discharge itself. To do this, they are subjected to microscopic examination. It is this method that allows you to identify the main source of the problem: bacteria, viruses, fungi.
Next, doctors move on to instrumental diagnostics:
- Ultrasound of the pelvic organs, penis, scrotum;
- Dopplerography;
- Radiography;
- MRI;
- CT;
- Cystoscopy;
- Urethroscopy;
- Scintigraphy.
If neoplasms are detected during the examination, diagnosticians perform a puncture.
Treatment
Treatment methods depend on the diagnosis. First of all, doctors prescribe drugs suitable for the elimination of pathogenic microflora:
- Antibiotics;
- Antiviral;
- Antifungal.
Urologists prescribe medications primarily orally, sometimes requiring intravenous or intramuscular administration of medications.
Additionally, a course of antihistamines and painkillers is needed to relieve symptoms. Local drugs - anti-itch creams, gels, ointments - help get rid of itching.
Patients are shown sitz baths with sedatives, painkillers or anti-inflammatory drugs. Washing after each urination helps prevent the infection from spreading.
If the problem lies in central nervous system disorders or endocrinological pathologies, doctors involve highly specialized specialists.
Additional therapies
Problems of the genitourinary system should be treated comprehensively. In addition to medications, doctors choose:
- Rectal prostate massage;
- Therapeutic massages of the lumbar region;
- physical therapy;
- Physiotherapy;
- Reflexology.
Such procedures restore natural metabolism and prevent stagnation. The urologist prescribes a special diet that helps strengthen men's health. It is necessary to take vitamin complexes: vitamins C, E, A, group B.
Prevention
In most cases, the cause of discharge from the penis is sexually transmitted diseases. Therefore, the most effective preventive measure is careful selection of sexual partners and the use of barrier contraceptives.
Urologists also recommend following a number of rules:
- To live an active lifestyle.
- Monitor your health and undergo preventive tests.
- Treat pathologies promptly.
- Wear loose underwear and pants.
- Avoid frequent changes of sexual partners.
- Check your diet. The diet should contain vitamins, micro and macro elements necessary for a man: selenium, zinc, magnesium, calcium.