Discharge from a man's penis can tell about his male health, the presence of diseases of the genitourinary system. Often, secretions are the only or one of the symptoms of a serious illness, so you need to be very careful with them, observe changes in color, smell, consistency and so on.
Male genital discharge refers to all secretions from the urethra, sebaceous and skin glands, prostate duct and ejaculatory duct. Depending on the nature of their appearance, they are divided into normal and pathological. The latter appear as a result of the development of an infectious, inflammatory or other disease of the prostate, bladder or other organ of the genitourinary system.
Everything is normal: normal discharge
There are three types of normal secretions, which, to one degree or another, are released from the penis and do not indicate the presence of diseases:
- urethrhoea;
- smegma;
- semen
urethrorrhea
In most cases, the clear discharge in men is libidinous or normal urethrorrhea. This is the secret of a transparent color secreted by the urethral glands. A secretion flows from the urethra, usually at the time of arousal. The purpose of the secret is to lubricate the ducts before the passage of the sperm.
The amount of urethrhoea secreted may be insignificant or quite abundant. It depends on the period of sexual abstinence, as well as on the individual characteristics of the man. After prolonged abstinence from sexual intercourse, along with urethrorrhea, a small amount of semen may be released, which will change its color.
It is worth noting that in the event that the amount of discharge has become greater than usual, it is necessary to consult a doctor, as such a phenomenon may indicate the development of the disease.
Smegma
Sebum, also called condom lubrication, is secreted by glands located in the foreskin. The purpose of the secret is to reduce the friction between the head of the penis and the foreskin. Smegma is constantly released. During adolescence, it can be more, until old age - less.
Smegma is made up of fat and bacteria. It accumulates under the inner layer of the foreskin. Subject to daily hygiene procedures, the secret is easily washed off. Otherwise, its accumulation is an excellent environment for the growth of bacteria, which leads to an inflammatory process. If the fat is not washed off in time (this should be done at least once a day), then it begins to decompose and rot. From this, it changes color from white-transparent to yellow or green. There is an unpleasant smell.
Semen
Semen refers to the normal secretions from the male sexual organ. Usually semen is a mixture of gonadal secretions and spermatozoa, released during intercourse or masturbation. Although men are faced with the involuntary release of semen, which is called wet dreams. Most often they appear in adolescent boys, when puberty occurs or with prolonged abstinence. Involuntary ejaculation occurs at night or early in the morning as it is related to testosterone production.
Natural male secretions also include urine, the color of which can be clear, yellow or light brown, and prostate secretion. The specific smell of spermine will help to distinguish proestorrhoea. The discharge is thick and whitish in color. A change in the amount of secretions, their color and smell, as well as the appearance of cloudiness or mucus can be the first symptom of prostatitis or cancer.
Abnormal discharge
The causes of pathological discharge can be very different. These include:
- inflammatory processes, including those caused by conditionally pathogenic flora.
- oncological diseases;
- STD?
- consequences of operations or injuries.
Also, pathological secretions differ in color. They can be white, gray, yellow, brown and so on. In addition, there may be an admixture of blood or pus. The nature of discharge can be rare or abundant, they can be distributed continuously or periodically, for example, in the morning or after visiting the toilet, etc.
Different diseases often have similar secretions, but at the same time, a disease can manifest itself in different representatives of the stronger sex in different ways. It is impossible to self-diagnose the disease with secretions. If you notice changes in their color, abundance, smell or the presence of admixture of mucus, blood or pus, you should definitely visit a doctor and undergo the necessary studies.
Penile discharge associated with STDs
Sexually transmitted diseases are most often accompanied by:
- Mucous transparent secretions, which are thick. Usually, their small number indicates the presence of mycoplasma or ureaplasma urethritis or the development of chronic chlamydia. Microscopic examination shows a moderate amount of leukocytes.
- Mucopurulent discharge of transparent or white color occurs with mycoplasmosis or ureaplasmosis. They can also accompany chlamydia. In this case, the discharge sticks to the head of the penis.
- Purulent discharge in men indicates gonorrhea. They can be brown, yellow or greenish in color, have an unpleasant rotten smell and be very dense. They also contain an increased number of leukocytes and microscopic epithelial particles. The abundance depends on the degree of development of the disease. Other symptoms of gonorrhea are itching and burning, which increase after the toilet, pain and discomfort in the genital area.
A feature of sexually transmitted diseases is that many infections become their causative factors at the same time. In this case, the course of the disease, as well as the nature and amount of discharge, can change significantly, therefore, it is impossible to diagnose the disease without clinical studies only from the discharge.
Self-diagnosis and subsequent self-treatment of sexually transmitted diseases with antibiotics leads to the fact that the symptoms of the disease disappear, but the cause remains. Upon completion of the course of treatment, the disease attacks with renewed vigor, so you should not start the disease and self-medicate. The appointment of effective treatment depends on the correct diagnosis. And it's impossible to tell, based on the nature of the rejection alone.
Discharges associated with non-genital inflammation
In the body of each person, the so-called conditionally pathogenic flora is constantly present, for example, Candida fungus, E. coli, streptococcus and others. It is usually not noticeable, but under certain conditions (hypothermia, stress, weakening of the immune system) it can cause an inflammatory process.
Diseases of the genitourinary system, the causative factor of which is its own flora, are also accompanied by secretions:
- Mucopurulent discharge often accompanies non-gonococcal urethritis (inflammation of the urethra). Their characteristic feature is a slight abundance, which can increase between large breaks in urination. The disease is not characterized by other symptoms (pain, itching), or they are expressed very weakly.
- Balanoposthitis is accompanied by abundant mucous secretions of yellow or green color, sometimes with pus. The symptoms of inflammation of the foreskin are its intense redness, as well as pain and redness of the head of the penis.
- The appearance of prostatitis is characterized by cloudy discharge after urination. During the period of the acute form of the disease, the discharge becomes very abundant, and when it passes into the chronic form, it changes color to whitish and decreases in quantity.
- Candidiasis or thrush caused by the fungus Candida is accompanied by a curdled discharge with a characteristic sour smell. There is redness of the head and foreskin, there may be pain or itching. The causes of candidiasis are the use of antibiotics, chemotherapy or radiation therapy, as well as other factors that suppress the immune system.
- Gardnerellosis of the urethra occurs as a result of a violation of the microflora (dysbacteriosis) and is accompanied by scanty secretions of yellow or green color with a characteristic fishy smell.
Secretions not related to the inflammatory process
Discharges that do not accompany the inflammatory process are extremely rare in the stronger sex. The cause of such secretions is mechanical damage, diseases of the nervous system, oncology and so on.
- Spermatorrhea - semen that flows spontaneously. The appearance of such secretions is in no way related to sexual intercourse or masturbation. The flow of sperm is not accompanied by an orgasm. The cause of this phenomenon is most often neurological diseases, as well as spinal injuries. The seeds lose their tone and ability to hold sperm.
- Hematorrhea is bloody discharge from the urethra. Hematorrhea occurs as a result of mechanical damage to the urethra during the process of taking a smear, examining organs, installing a catheter, etc. In addition, spotting after urination can indicate kidney stones, a tumor, or another serious condition.
- Prostatorrhea - secretion of prostate secretion. The cause of prostatitis is the relaxed muscles of the excretory duct of the prostate. A similar phenomenon often accompanies prostatitis or adenoma.
- Brown discharge with or without mucus may indicate prostate, bladder, penile, or urethral cancer. The discharge may contain blood clots or pus.
Tests to help determine the cause of the discharge
The appearance of pathological secretion can be related to various diseases. Only a qualified doctor can determine the real cause of the rejection and prescribe the right treatment.
A patient who complains of discharge from the penis should undergo a series of studies that will help determine the cause of its appearance. The examination by a doctor begins with a detailed examination of the genital area for rashes, redness and other visible symptoms. Often, the discharge remains in the underwear, which the doctor also carefully examines.
One of the mandatory stages of the examination is the palpation of the lymph nodes. The doctor checks whether they have increased or not, whether they remain mobile or immobile, whether there is pain when pressed, etc.
The doctor also examines the nature of the discharge immediately and after 2-3 hours (the patient during this period must refrain from urinating). Diseases of the prostate (adenoma, prostatitis or tumor) help to determine the palpation of the prostate gland. In the normal state both lobes of the prostate are the same size, in the presence of disease one lobe is larger than the other.
The following clinical studies also help to determine the cause of the discharge:
- general blood analysis;
- detailed urinalysis;
- blood sugar test (taken in the morning on an empty stomach).
- Smear from the urethra;
- culture of urethral secretions.
In the case of an infectious disease, the smear plays a decisive role in the diagnosis. This study allows not only to determine the pathogen, but also to prescribe the disease, its course and so on. The presence of an inflammatory process associated with infection is indicated by an increased number of leukocytes. The rule does not consider more than 4 leukocytes in the field of view.
In order for the smear to give the most truthful information about the patient's state of health, it is necessary to prepare for the reception procedure. Before taking a smear, you can not urinate for at least 2 hours, as well as do water procedures. In addition, for three days it is necessary to stop local treatment with antibiotics or other drugs. The course of treatment with oral antibiotics or injections must be completed 2 weeks before the study.
If the discharge in men with a smell is abundant or other symptoms of the disease are observed, then the doctor may prescribe:
- Ultrasound of kidneys, bladder or prostate.
- Computed Tomography?
- urography.
The doctor can make a diagnosis of cancer only after the results of the biopsy.
If a patient asks for help with abundant spots, then he is immediately admitted to the hospital. In other cases, treatment is carried out after the cause of the rejection is established.
Discharge from the male genital organ can be a symptom of a serious illness. But remember that only a doctor can determine the cause of this unpleasant phenomenon during a personal examination and research. Self-medication only worsens the problem and can lead to the development of complications. If you are concerned about your men's health, if unusual secretions appear, do not postpone the visit to the urologist.