Genitourinary discharge is mainly detected by men during or after urination. You should be able to distinguish between normal physiological discharge and pathological discharge, which are often the first signs of diseases of the genitourinary system. The nature of the discharge makes it possible to determine 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 adjacent organs. Pathological factors characterized by various etiologies cause damage to the urethra, causing the appearance of discharge. This process is called leukocyte urethritis (urethritis). Pathological factors can be infectious, chemical or mechanical in nature.
Mucous purulent discharge
- Such discharge consists of serous exudate, mucus from the genitourinary organs and a small number of leukocytes. They have the appearance of a clear milky white liquid.
- Such discharge can be a signal for trichomoniasis, chlamydia and ureaplasmosis. These diseases are rarely accompanied by pain, pain and itching. Basically, their manifestation is limited to mucopurulent discharge after 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 appears as a thick liquid that is completely yellow or slightly green in color.
- Often, such discharge is accompanied by pain, pain, itching, burning when urinating and is usually abundant. Often these 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 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 frothy consistency. Such discharge is often a sign of trichomoniasis and may also indicate the presence of chronic prostatitis. If the cause is prostatitis, discharge is often accompanied by reduced or absent potency and difficulty urinating.
Diagnostics
No matter what the pathological discharge looks like, a man should consult a urologist. Only a doctor can correctly diagnose the disease and choose the treatment, it is useless to diagnose yourself. To determine the exact cause of the discharge, samples are usually taken for culture in the food medium and bacteriological studies are carried out. Additional diagnostic tools depend on what disease is suspected; it can be urography, CT, ultrasound.
Treatment
The treatment program depends on the symptoms of the male discharge.
STD. In this case, both partners should receive treatment. As a rule, this is an antibacterial therapy that is judiciously combined with immunomodulatory drugs. Sometimes local treatment is also added (physiotherapy, prostate massage, inserting a drug into the urethra), as well as a special diet. The specific program depends on the type of STD.thrush In most cases, male candidiasis is eliminated by local 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
If it does not cause discomfort or other negative symptoms, discharge from the penis is considered normal. 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?
| Signature | Norm | Deviation |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance time, frequency | Before, during or after sex, during awakening | Regardless of intimacy, after sleep, after urination, defecation, sometimes continuous dripping |
| The smell | Characteristic (egg white or chestnut) or odorless | Rotten, sour, immoral, fishy, etc. |
| Color, consistency | Transparent or whitish, consistency often resembles crude protein, sometimes sticky, viscous. | Curled, thick, white, greenish, brown, scattered with blood clots and pus. It can be transparent in case of viral disease |
| Additional symptoms | Nope | Itching, burning, redness, pain |
When is penile discharge normal?
A healthy adult male does not have any strong discharge at rest. But in some cases this is the norm:
- Precum. When it wakes up, a sticky, colorless substance is released - a lubricant to create a favorable environment for the normal transport of sperm. Doctors will suspect a problem if there are complaints of a large amount of pre-ejaculation with low sexual arousal.
- Ejaculation. We are not talking about ejaculation in the form of an adequate finale of intercourse, but about the residue that sometimes comes out after intimacy. Usually it is a few drops of a whitish or colorless liquid.
- Discharge during wet dreams. This is an involuntary ejaculation due to sexual overstimulation and increased testosterone levels. It often happens in sleep.
- 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 head of the penis. Thanks to it, it does not dry out, does not get inflamed and does not get damaged. The amount of smegma is small, it is almost invisible in underwear. But it increases with hormonal changes, if the imbalance is not related to pathology, this is also normal.
A large amount of smegma can enter the urethra, where it accumulates and "swells", forming a curled flake, as in thrush. This is conventionally considered the norm: if sufficient hygiene is observed, the problem disappears.
When is discharge a sign of illness?
If a man notices abnormal discharge from the penis, he should consult a doctor. Without medical education and diagnostic equipment, it is difficult to independently identify the disease.
The most common pathologies associated with the appearance or change of fluid secreted from the penis are STDs, inflammatory processes, and disorders in the work 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 up to 6 months. Discharge appears when infected with the following diseases:
- Hepatitis;
- HIV;
- gonorrhea;
- chlamydia;
- trichomoniasis;
- candidiasis;
- Ureaplasmosis;
- human papillomavirus;
- mycoplasmosis;
- AIDS.
Chlamydia, ureaplasmosis, mycoplasmosis primarily cause clear, viscous discharge. The only sign of pathology is the lack of reasons for the natural appearance of fluid. Subsequent pathologies cause a change in the color and consistency of the secreted liquid - it becomes transparent, slimy, reminiscent of 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, which settles on the head of the penis and forms a white coating when it dries. A characteristic additional symptom is cloudy and dark urine.
Candidiasis is accompanied by the appearance of cheesy clots, but their number is much less than in the female "belly". There is itching, burning and redness of the head.
With trichomoniasis, there is frequent urination, transparent mucus, pain and itching. The urethra swells, its surroundings are 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 that occurs after touch contact or is transmitted by airborne droplets.
Large amounts of bacteria, viruses and fungi cause an inflammatory response. Abnormal discharge appears due to inflammation of the urethra, spermatic cords, sperm tubercle, prostate gland, foreskin and other elements of the reproductive system.
The type of discharge depends on the microorganism that causes the disease. For example, bacteria almost immediately provoke the appearance of pus: mucus has a bad smell and an unpleasant color.
Changes in sperm volume and quality
If the sperm flows without prior awakening and then without orgasm, this is a pathology. Doctors diagnose spermatorrhea. The reasons are muscle disorders and central nervous system problems. It occurs more often in old age or with advanced prostatitis, prostate adenoma.
Discharge with blood - appears with hematospermia, malignant neoplasms in the urethra, penile cancer, trauma. Sometimes 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, specialists simultaneously receive prostate juice through rectal massage. Additional laboratory tests are required:
- Blood test;
- prostate secretion;
- urinalysis;
- Sperm.
It is important to evaluate the discharge itself. For this, they undergo a microscopic examination. This method makes it possible to determine the main source of the problem - bacteria, viruses, fungi.
Then doctors proceed to instrumental diagnostics:
- Ultrasound of the pelvis, genitals, scrotum;
- Dopplerography;
- radiography;
- MRI;
- CT;
- cystoscopy;
- Urethroscopy;
- Scintigraphy.
If neoplasms are detected during the examination, diagnosticians take 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 drugs mainly orally, sometimes requiring intravenous or intramuscular administration of drugs.
In addition, a course of antihistamines and painkillers is required to relieve symptoms. Local drugs - antipruritic creams, gels, ointments - help to get rid of itching.
Patients are given sitz baths with sedatives, pain relievers or anti-inflammatory drugs. Washing after each urination will help prevent the spread of infection.
If the problem is 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 thoroughly. In addition to drugs, 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 to strengthen men's health. It is necessary to take vitamin complexes: C, E, A, B group vitamins.
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 recommend following a number of rules:
- Lead an active lifestyle.
- Take control of 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 should contain vitamins, micro and macro elements necessary for men: selenium, zinc, magnesium, calcium.