Discharge from the genitourinary canal is mainly detected by men during or after urination. You need 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 discharge 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 discharge. This process is called leukocyte urethria (urethritis). Pathological factors can be infectious, chemical or mechanical in nature.
Mucous purulent discharge
- Such discharge consists of serous exudate, urogenital mucus and a small number of leukocytes. They have the appearance of a translucent milky-white 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 discharge upon completion of urination.
Purulent discharge
- Their appearance is considered a symptom of infectious urethritis. Purulent discharge consists of cells of the damaged epithelium of the genitourinary canal and urethral mucus. They have an increased concentration of leukocytes. Purulent discharge looks like a thick liquid that is completely yellow or slightly green.
- Often, such discharge comes along with pain, pain, itching, burning when urinating, and is usually profuse. 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 a cheesy consistency.Basically, such discharge indicates male candidiasis (thrush), and is rare. The cause of candidiasis may be a course of chemotherapy or antibiotic treatment, as well as a decrease in immunity; it is not transmitted sexually.
- White discharge with a foamy consistency.Such discharge often becomes a sign of trichomoniasis, and can 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 how the pathological discharge looks, 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 what disease is suspected; this could be urography, CT, ultrasound.
Treatment
The treatment program depends on the symptoms of which disease the man’s discharge is.
- STD.In this case, both partners must undergo treatment. As a rule, this is antibacterial therapy, wisely combined with immunomodulatory drugs. Sometimes local treatment is also added (physiotherapy, prostate massage, installation of a drug into the urethra), as well as a special diet. 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 required. In addition, it is necessary to take medications 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 inconvenience 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Time of appearance, frequency | Before, during or after sexual intercourse, during arousal | Regardless of intimacy, after sleep, after urination, defecation, sometimes dripping constantly |
| Smell | Characteristic (egg white or chestnut) or odorless | Putrid, sour, fetid, fishy, etc. |
| Color, consistency | Transparent or whitish, the consistency often resembles raw protein, sometimes sticky, viscous | Curdled, thick, white, greenish, brown, interspersed with blood clots and pus. Can be transparent in case of a viral disease |
| Additional symptoms | No | Itching, burning, redness, pain |
When is discharge from the penis normal?
A healthy adult man does not have strong discharge of any kind at rest. However, in some situations this is the norm:
- Precum. When aroused, a sticky, colorless substance is released - a lubricant to create a favorable environment conducive to the normal transportation of sperm. Doctors will suspect a problem if there are complaints of a large amount of pre-ejaculate with low sexual arousal.
- Ejaculate. We are not talking about ejaculation in the form of an adequate finale of sexual intercourse, but about the residues that sometimes come out after intimacy. Usually this is a couple of drops of a whitish or colorless liquid.
- Ejaculate during wet dreams. It is an involuntary ejaculation due to sexual overstimulation and an increased amount of testosterone. Often occur in a dream.
- Smegma is the secretion of glands located in the area of the petals of the foreskin.. Serves as a protective liquid and lubricant for the head of the penis. It does not dry out, does not become inflamed and is not injured 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 pathology, this is also normal.
Smegma in large quantities can enter the urethra, where it accumulates and "fades", forming curdled flakes, as with thrush. This is also considered the norm conditionally: if sufficient hygiene is observed, the problem disappears.
When is discharge a symptom of a disease?
If a man notices 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 fluid secreted from the penis are STDs, inflammatory processes and disturbances in the functioning of muscle structures and the central nervous system.
Sexually transmitted diseases
Sexual infections are initially asymptomatic, the incubation period is from 7 to 21 days, sometimes 6 months. Discharge appears when 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 absence of reasons for the natural appearance of fluid. Further pathologies lead to a change in the color and consistency of the secreted fluid - it becomes translucent, mucous, reminiscent of pus.
Gonorrhea is characterized by foul-smelling greenish or brown substances. Accompanied by severe pain and itching.
Hepatitis often causes a small volume of fluid to leak out; it settles on the head of the penis, and when it dries, a white coating 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, stretchy, translucent 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 transmitted sexually. Sometimes the problem occurs against the background of a spreading 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 provoke the appearance of pus: the mucus is foul-smelling and has an unpleasant color.
Changes in sperm volume and quality
If sperm flows without prior arousal and subsequent orgasm, this is a pathology. Doctors diagnose spermatorrhea. The reasons lie in muscle disorders and problems of the central nervous system. More often occurs in old age or with advanced prostatitis, prostate adenoma.
Discharge with blood - hematospermia, appears with malignant neoplasms in the urethra, penile cancer, trauma. Sometimes the result of stones passing through the urinary tract.
Diagnostics
Urologists, after listening to the patient's complaints and collecting anamnesis, examine the genitals. In this case, specialists simultaneously take prostate juice through rectal massage. Further laboratory tests are required:
- Blood analysis;
- Prostate secretion;
- Analysis of urine;
- Sperm.
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 found during the examination, diagnosticians take a puncture.
Treatment
Treatment methods depend on the diagnosis. First of all, doctors prescribe medications that are appropriate for the elimination of pathogenic microflora:
- Antibiotics;
- Antiviral;
- Antifungal.
Urologists prescribe drugs mainly orally, sometimes requiring intravenous or intramuscular administration of drugs.
Additionally, a course of antihistamines and painkillers is required to relieve symptoms. Local medications - antipruritic creams, gels, ointments - help get rid of itching.
Patients are shown sitz baths with sedatives, painkillers or anti-inflammatory drugs. Washing after each urination will help prevent the spread of infection.
If the problem lies in disorders of the central nervous system 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;
- exercise 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 a sexual partner and the use of barrier contraception.
Urologists also advise following a number of rules:
- To live an active lifestyle.
- Monitor your own health and undergo preventive examinations.
- Treat pathologies in a timely manner.
- Wear loose underwear and trousers.
- Avoid frequent changes of sexual partners.
- Watch your diet. The diet should contain vitamins, micro and macroelements necessary for a man: selenium, zinc, magnesium, calcium.