Discharge from the genitourinary canal 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 disease of the genitourinary system. The nature of the discharge allows us 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 different etiologies, cause damage to the urethra, leading to the appearance of secretions. This process is called leukocyte urethritis (urethritis). Pathological factors can be infectious, chemical or mechanical in nature.
Mucous purulent discharge
- Such a discharge consists of serous exudates, urogenital mucus and a small number of leukocytes. They have the appearance of a milky white translucent liquid.
- Such a 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 after urination.
Purulent discharge
- Their appearance is considered a symptom of infectious urethritis. Purulent discharge consists of damaged epithelial cells 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 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 a cheese consistency. Basically, such discharge indicates male candidiasis (thrush), and it 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 a 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.
Diagnosing
Regardless of what the pathological discharge looks like, a man should consult a urologist. Only a doctor can correctly diagnose the disease and choose the treatment; self-diagnosing it is useless. To accurately determine the cause of the discharge, samples are usually taken for culture in nutrient media and bacteriological studies. Additional diagnostic tools depend on the suspected disease; this can be urography, CT, ultrasound.
Treatment
The treatment program depends on the symptoms of which disease the male discharge is.
STD. In this case, both partners must undergo treatment. As a rule, this is antibacterial therapy, judiciously combined with immunomodulatory drugs. Sometimes local treatment is also added (physiotherapy, prostate massage, installation of a drug in 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 with local medication, 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 discomfort or other negative symptoms. 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?
| mark | norm | Deviation |
|---|---|---|
| Presentation time, frequency | Before, during or after sexual intercourse, during awakening | Regardless of intimacy, after sleep, after urination, defecation, sometimes dripping constantly |
| Young | Characteristic (egg white or chestnut) or odorless | Rotten, sour, dirty, fishy, etc. |
| Color, consistency | Transparent or white, the consistency often resembles crude protein, sometimes sticky, viscous | Curd, thick, white, green, brown, interspersed with blood clots and pus. It 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 heavy discharge of any kind at rest. However, in some situations this is the norm:
- Precum. When it wakes up, a colorless sticky 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-ejaculate with low sexual arousal.
- They ejaculate. We are not talking about ejaculation in the form of an adequate finale of sexual relations, but about the residues that sometimes emerge after intimacy. Usually these are a few drops of a white or colorless liquid.
- Ejaculate during wet dreams. It is an involuntary ejaculation due to excessive sexual stimulation and an increased amount of 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 head of the penis. It doesn't dry out, it doesn't get inflamed and it doesn't hurt thanks to it. The amount of smegma is small, almost invisible inside. However, with hormonal changes, it increases; if the imbalance is not accompanied by pathology, this is also normal.
Smegma in large quantities can enter the urethra, where it accumulates and "fades", forming curd flakes, as with thrush. This is also considered a conditional norm: if sufficient hygiene is observed, the problem disappears.
When is discharge a symptom of an illness?
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 of fluids secreted by the penis are sexually transmitted diseases, 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. 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 and viscous discharge. The only sign of pathology is the lack 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 transparent, mucous, reminiscent of pus.
Gonorrhea is characterized by foul-smelling green or brown substances. Accompanied by severe pain and itching.
Hepatitis often causes leakage of a small volume of fluid; it is placed on the head of the penis and when it dries, a white layer is formed. An additional characteristic symptom is turbidity and darkening of urine.
Candidiasis is associated with the appearance of cheese clots, but there are significantly fewer of them than in the case of female "thrush". There is itching, burning and redness of the scalp.
With trichomoniasis, elastic, transparent mucosa, 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 appears against the background of a spreading infection that occurs after tangible 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 provoke the appearance of pus: the mucus smells bad and has an unpleasant color.
Changes in the volume and quality of sperm
If sperm flows without prior excitement and subsequent orgasm, this is a pathology. Doctors diagnose spermatorrhea. The reasons lie in muscle disorders and central nervous system problems. More often it appears in old age or with advanced prostatitis, prostate adenoma.
Bloody discharge - hematospermia, occurs with malignant neoplasm in the urethra, penile cancer, trauma. Sometimes the result of stones passing through the urinary tract.
Diagnosing
Urologists, after listening to the patient's complaints and collecting the anamnesis, perform an examination of the genital organs. In this case, the specialists simultaneously take the prostate fluid through rectal massage. Further laboratory tests are required:
- Blood analysis;
- Prostate secretion;
- Urine analysis;
- Sperm.
It is important to evaluate the discharge itself. To do this, they undergo microscopic examination. It is this method that allows you to identify the main source of the problem - bacteria, viruses, fungi.
Then, doctors move on to instrumental diagnostics:
- Ultrasound of the organs of the pelvis, penis, scrotum;
- Dopplerography;
- Radiography;
- MRI;
- CT;
- Cystoscopy;
- Urethroscopy;
- Scintigraphy.
If neoplasms are detected during the examination, the diagnosticians make a biopsy.
Treatment
Treatment methods depend on the diagnosis. First of all, doctors prescribe medications that are suitable for eliminating 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 sedatives is required to relieve symptoms. Local medications - antipruritic creams, gels, ointments - help relieve itching.
Patients are prescribed baths with sedatives, pain relievers 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 in endocrinological pathologies, doctors include highly specialized specialists.
Additional therapies
Problems of the genitourinary system should be treated comprehensively. In addition to medicines, doctors choose:
- Rectal prostate massage;
- Therapeutic massages 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. It is necessary to take vitamin complexes: vitamins C, E, A, group B.
Preventing
In most cases, the cause of discharge from the penis 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:
- To live an active lifestyle.
- Monitor your health and do preventive examinations.
- Treat pathologies in a timely manner.
- 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 a man: selenium, zinc, magnesium, calcium.