Discharge from the urogenital canal is mainly detected in men during or after urination. You must be able to distinguish normal physiological discharge from abnormal discharge, which is often the first sign of a disease of the genitourinary system. The nature of the secretions 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 urogenital canal and adjacent organs. Pathological factors characterized by various etiologies cause damage to the urethra, leading to the appearance of discharge. This process is called leukocyte urethritis (urethritis). Pathological factors 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 transparent milky white liquid.
- Such discharge can serve as a signal for trichomoniasis, chlamydia and ureaplasmosis. These diseases are rarely accompanied by aches, pains 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 epithelial cells of the damaged urogenital canal and mucus from 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 comes with pain, pain, itching, burning when urinating and is usually abundant. Most 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 discharges indicate male candidiasis (thrush) and are rare. The cause of candidiasis can be a course of chemotherapy or antibiotic therapy, as well as a decrease in immunity, it is not transmitted sexually. White discharge with foam 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 associated with a decrease or loss of potency and difficulty urinating.
Diagnostics
Regardless of what the abnormal discharge looks like, a man should consult a urologist. Only a doctor can correctly diagnose the disease and choose treatment, self-diagnosis is useless. To determine the exact cause of the discharge, samples are usually taken for culture on medium and bacteriological studies. Additional diagnostic tools depend on the suspected disease; it can be urography, CT, ultrasound.
Treatment
The treatment program depends on the symptoms of the man's disease.
STS.In this case, both partners should undergo treatment. Usually, this is an antibacterial therapy cleverly combined with immunomodulatory drugs. Local treatment (physiotherapy, prostate massage, injection of drugs into the urethra) and a special diet are sometimes added. The specific program depends on the type of STD. Thrush.Male candidiasis in most cases is eliminated by topical treatment, but in advanced cases, general drugs are needed. In addition, it is necessary to use 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 urogenital system and other body structures.
How to distinguish a normal state from a pathology?
| sign up | Norm | Deviation |
|---|---|---|
| Time of appearance, frequency | Before, during or after intercourse, during arousal | Regardless of intimacy, after sleep, after urination, defecation, sometimes constant dripping |
| The smell | Characteristic (egg white or maroon) or odorless | Pudding, sour, hearty, incredible, etc. |
| Color, consistency | Transparent or whitish, the consistency often resembles raw protein, sometimes sticky, viscous | Clotted, thick, white, greenish, brown, interspersed with blood clots and pus. May be transparent in viral disease |
| Additional symptoms | no | Itching, burning, redness, pain |
When is discharge from the penis normal?
A healthy adult male does not have any strong secretions at rest. However, in some situations this is the norm:
- Product. During arousal, a sticky, colorless substance - lubricant - is released to create a favorable environment that promotes normal sperm transport. Doctors will suspect a problem if there are complaints of a large amount of pre-ejaculate with low sexual arousal.
- To ejaculate. We're not talking about ejaculation in the form of an adequate finale to intercourse, but rather the residue that sometimes comes out after intimacy. Usually they are a few drops of whitish or colorless liquid.
- Ejaculation during wet dreams. It is forced ejaculation due to sexual overstimulation and increased testosterone. Often happens in a dream.
- Smegma is a glandular secretion located in the petal area of the foreskin.. Serves as a protective fluid and lubricant for the head of the penis. Thanks to this, it does not dry out, does not become inflamed and is not injured. The amount of smegma is small, almost imperceptible on underwear. However, it increases with hormonal changes, if the imbalance is not related to pathology, this is also normal.
Large amounts of smegma can enter the urethra, where it accumulates and "fades" to form coagulated flakes, just like thrush. It is also considered the norm conditionally: if sufficient hygiene is observed, the problem disappears.
When is discharge a symptom of disease?
If a man notices abnormal secretions 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 changes of the fluid secreted by the penis are STDs, inflammatory processes and disorders of the 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. Discharges appear 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 the liquid. Further pathologies lead to changes in the color and consistency of the secreted liquid - it becomes transparent, mucous, resembles pus.
Gonorrhea is characterized by foul-smelling greenish or brown discharge. It is accompanied by severe pain and itching.
Hepatitis often causes small amounts of fluid to leak; it settles on the head of the penis and forms a white coating when it dries. A characteristic additional symptom is turbidity and dark urine.
Candidiasis is accompanied by the appearance of cheesy clots, but they are significantly less than in the case of female "thrush". There is itching, burning and redness of the head.
With trichomoniasis, stretchy, transparent 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 sexually transmitted. Sometimes the problem arises 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 response. Abnormal secretions appear due to inflammation of the urethra, spermatozoa, sperm tuberculosis, prostate gland, foreskin and other elements of the reproductive system.
The type of release depends on the microorganism that caused the disease. For example, bacteria almost immediately cause the appearance of pus: mucus has an unpleasant smell and 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 causes are muscle disorders and central nervous system problems. It occurs more often in old age or with advanced prostatitis, prostate adenoma.
Discharges with blood - hematospermia, appear with malignant tumors in the urethra, penile cancer, injuries. Sometimes the result is the passage of stones through the urinary tract.
Diagnostics
Urologists, after listening to the patient's complaints and collecting the anamnesis, examine the genitals. In this case, specialists simultaneously take prostate juice using rectal massage. Additional laboratory tests are required:
- blood analysis;
- Prostatic secretion;
- Urinalysis;
- Sperm.
It is important to assess the discharge itself. To do this, they are subjected to microscopic examination. This method makes it possible to identify the main source of the problem - bacteria, viruses, fungi.
Next, doctors move on to instrumental diagnostics:
- Ultrasound of pelvic organs, penis, scrotum;
- Dopplerography;
- Radiography;
- MRI;
- CT;
- Cystoscopy;
- Urethroscopy;
- Scintigraphy.
If new growths are detected during the examination, diagnostic specialists perform a puncture.
Treatment
Treatment methods depend on the diagnosis. First of all, doctors prescribe drugs that are suitable for eliminating pathogenic microflora:
- Antibiotics;
- Antiviral agent;
- Antifungal agent.
Urologists prescribe drugs mainly orally, sometimes it is necessary to administer drugs intravenously or intramuscularly.
In addition, a course of antihistamines and painkillers is required to relieve symptoms. Local medications - anti-itch creams, gels, ointments - help to get rid of itching.
Patients are shown sitz baths with sedatives, analgesics or anti-inflammatory drugs. Washing after each urination will help prevent the spread of infection.
If the problem is central nervous system disorders or endocrinological pathologies, doctors attract 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 in 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 use vitamin complexes: C, E, A, B group vitamins.
Prevention
In most cases, discharge from the penis is a sexually transmitted disease. Therefore, the most effective preventive measure is the careful choice of a sexual partner and the use of barrier contraception.
Urologists also recommend following several rules:
- Live an active lifestyle.
- Monitor your health and perform 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.