Secretions from the urogenital canal are detected mainly by men during or after urination. You must 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 rejection allows us to determine the etiology of the disease and make a preliminary diagnosis.
Types of pathological secretions in men
Pathological discharge is caused by diseases of the genitourinary tract and adjacent organs. Pathological factors, characterized by various etiologies, cause damage to the urethra, leading to the appearance of secretions. This process is called leukocyte urethria (urethritis). Pathological agents can be infectious, chemical or mechanical.
Mucous purulent discharge
- Such secretions consist of serous exudate, urogenital mucus and a small number of leukocytes. They have the appearance of a translucent milky-white liquid.
- Such a discharge can serve as a signal of trichomoniasis, chlamydia and ureaplasmosis. These diseases are rarely accompanied by pain, soreness 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. The purulent discharge consists of cells of the damaged epithelium of the urinary tract and the mucus of the urethra. They have an increased concentration of leukocytes. Purulent discharge looks like a thick liquid that is completely yellow or slightly green.
- Often, such discharge is accompanied by pain, soreness, 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 consequence.
White discharge with a cheesy consistency. Basically, such a 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 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 diminution or loss of potency and difficulty urinating.
Diagnostics
Regardless of what the pathological discharge looks like, a man should consult a urologist. Only a doctor can correctly diagnose the disease and choose treatment; diagnosis alone is useless. To accurately determine the cause of rejection, samples are usually taken for culture in nutrient media and bacteriological studies. Additional diagnostic tools depend on the suspected disease: this can be urography, computed tomography, ultrasound.
Treatment
The treatment program depends on the symptoms of which disease the man's discharge is.
STDs. In this case, both partners should be treated. As a rule, this is an antibacterial treatment, wisely combined with immunomodulatory drugs. Sometimes local treatment is added (physiotherapy, prostate massage, urethral medication), as well as a special diet. The specific program depends on the type of STD.Chewing gum. Male candidiasis in most cases is eliminated with topical treatment, but in advanced cases, general medications are required. In addition, it is necessary to take drugs that strengthen the patient's immunity and a special diet.
Discharge from the penis
Penile discharge 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 state from a pathology?
| Mark | Rule | Deviation |
|---|---|---|
| Occurrence time, frequency | Before, during or after sexual intercourse, during arousal | Regardless of intimacy, after sleeping, after urinating, defecating, sometimes it drips continuously |
| Smell | Characteristic (egg white or chestnut) or odorless | Gallic, sour, pale, fishy, etc. |
| Color, consistency | Clear or off-white, consistency often resembles crude protein, sometimes sticky, thick | Molten, thick, white, greenish, brown, scattered with clots of blood and pus. It can be transparent in case of viral disease |
| Additional symptoms | No | Itching, burning, redness, pain |
When is penile discharge normal?
A healthy adult male does not have heavy secretions of any kind at rest. However, in some cases this is the rule:
- Precum. When stimulated, a sticky, colorless substance is released - a lubricant to create a favorable environment conducive to normal sperm transport. Doctors will suspect a problem if there are complaints of a large amount of pre-ejaculation with low sexual arousal.
- Exclaim. We are not talking about ejaculation in the form of an adequate finale of sexual intercourse, but about the remains that sometimes come out after intimacy. It is usually a few drops of an off-white or colorless liquid.
- Ejaculation during wet dreams. It is an involuntary ejaculation due to sexual overstimulation and an increased amount of testosterone. They often appear in a dream.
- Smegma is the secretion of glands located in the area of the petals of the foreskin.. It acts as a protective fluid and lubricant for the head of the penis. It does not dry out, does not get inflamed and does not get injured thanks to it. The amount of sebum is small, almost invisible in underwear. However, with hormonal changes, it increases; if the imbalance is not associated with pathology, this is also normal.
Mucus in large quantities can enter the urethra, where it accumulates and "goes off", forming coagulated flakes, as happens with thrush. This is also considered the conditional rule: if adequate hygiene is observed, the problem disappears.
When is discharge a symptom of illness?
If a man notices abnormal discharge from the penis, he should consult a doctor. It is difficult to independently determine the disease without medical training and diagnostic equipment.
The most common pathologies associated with the appearance or change of fluid secreted by the penis are STDs, inflammatory processes and disorders in the functioning of muscular 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. The discharge occurs when infected with the following diseases:
- Hepatitis;
- HIV?
- Gonorrhea;
- Chlamydia?
- Trichomoniasis?
- Candidiasis?
- Ureaplasmosis?
- Human papilloma virus?
- Mycoplasmosis?
- AIDS.
Chlamydia, ureaplasmosis, mycoplasmosis first cause clear, thick discharge. The only sign of pathology is the absence of reasons for the physical 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 brownish substances. It is accompanied by severe pain and itching.
Hepatitis often causes a small amount of fluid to leak; it settles on the head of the penis and when it dries, a white coating forms. A characteristic additional symptom is the turbidity and dark color 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, there is elastic, translucent mucus, pain and itching with frequent urination. The urethra swells, the area around it becomes red and inflamed.
Inflammatory processes
Pathologies that cause secretions from the penis are not always sexually transmitted. Sometimes the problem occurs in the context 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 occurs 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 foul-smelling and has an unpleasant color.
Changes in sperm volume and quality
If the sperm flows without prior stimulation and subsequent orgasm, this is a pathology. Doctors diagnose spermatorrhea. The reasons lie in muscle disorders and problems of the central nervous system. It occurs more often in old age or with advanced prostatitis, prostate adenoma.
Discharge with blood - hematospermia, occurs with malignant neoplasms in the urethra, penile cancer, trauma. Sometimes the result of stones passing through the urinary system.
Diagnostics
Urologists, after listening to the patient's complaints and collecting memories, examine the genitals. In this case, specialists simultaneously receive prostate juice through rectal massage. Further laboratory tests are required:
- Blood analysis;
- Prostate secretion?
- Urinalysis?
- Semen.
It is important to evaluate the rejection itself. To do this, they undergo a microscopic examination. It is this method that allows you to determine the main source of the problem - bacteria, viruses, fungi.
Doctors then proceed to instrumental diagnosis:
- Ultrasound of pelvic organs, penis, scrotum.
- Dopplerography;
- X-ray?
- MRI?
- CT?
- Cystoscopy?
- Urethroscopy?
- Scintigraphy.
If neoplasms are detected 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?
- Antique?
- Antifungal.
Urologists prescribe medications primarily by mouth, sometimes requiring intravenous or intramuscular administration of medications.
In addition, a range of antihistamines and pain relievers are required to relieve symptoms. Topical medicines - anti-itch creams, gels, ointments - help to get rid of itching.
Patients are given 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 qualified specialists.
Additional treatments
Problems of the genitourinary system should be treated comprehensively. In addition to drugs, doctors choose:
- Rectal massage?
- Therapeutic massages of the lumbar area.
- 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. It is necessary to take vitamin complexes: vitamins C, E, A, group B.
Prevention
In most cases, the cause of penile discharge is sexually transmitted diseases. Therefore, the most effective preventive measure is the careful choice of a sexual partner and the use of barrier contraception.
Urologists also advise to follow a number of rules:
- Live an active lifestyle.
- Monitor your health and undergo preventive examinations.
- Treat pathologies in time.
- Wear loose underwear and pants.
- Avoid frequent changes of sexual partners.
- Watch your diet. The diet must contain vitamins, microelements and macroelements necessary for a man: selenium, zinc, magnesium, calcium.