Secretion from the genitourinary canal is mainly detected by men during or after urination. You need to 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 secretion makes it possible to establish the etiology of the disease and make a preliminary diagnosis.
Types of pathological discharge in men
Pathological secretion is caused by diseases of the genitourinary canal and organs adjacent to it. Pathological factors, characterized by different etiologies, cause damage to the urethra, leading to the appearance of discharge. This process is called leukocyte urethria (urethritis). Pathological factors can be infectious, chemical or mechanical in nature.
Mucous purulent discharge
- This secretion consists of serous exudate, urogenital mucus, and a small number of leukocytes. They have the appearance of a translucent milky white liquid.
- Such discharge can serve as a sign of trichomoniasis, chlamydia and ureaplasmosis. These diseases are rarely accompanied by pain, pain and itching. Basically, its manifestation is limited to mucopurulent secretion at the end of urination.
Purulent discharge
- Its 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 looks like a thick liquid, completely yellow or slightly green.
- Often this discharge is accompanied by pain, pain, itching, burning when urinating and is usually profuse. 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, this 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; is not transmitted sexually.
- 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 usually accompanied by decreased or lost potency and difficulty urinating.
Diagnosis
No matter what the pathological discharge looks like, a man should consult a urologist. Only a doctor can correctly diagnose the disease and select treatment; diagnosing alone is useless. To accurately determine the cause of secretion, samples are usually taken for culture on nutrient media and bacteriological studies. Additional diagnostic tools depend on the suspected disease; it can be urography, computed tomography, ultrasound.
Treatment
The treatment program depends on the symptoms of man secretion disease.
- STD.In this case, both partners must undergo treatment. As a rule, this is antibacterial therapy, wisely combined with immunomodulatory drugs. Sometimes local treatment is also added (physiotherapy, prostate massage, installation of medication 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 by local treatment, but in advanced cases, general medications are necessary. 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 inconvenience or other negative signs. Otherwise, these 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?
| Signal | Standard | Detour |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance time, frequency | Before, during or after sexual intercourse, during arousal | Regardless of intimacy, after sleeping, after urinating, defecating, sometimes constantly dripping |
| Smell | Characteristic (egg white or chestnut) or odorless | Putrid, sour, fetid, suspicious, etc. |
| Color, consistency | Transparent or whitish, the consistency often resembles raw protein, sometimes sticky, viscous | Curdled, thick, white, greenish, brown, interspersed with blood clots and pus. Can be transparent in case of viral disease |
| Additional symptoms | No | Itching, burning, redness, pain |
When is penis discharge normal?
A healthy adult man does not experience heavy discharge of any kind at rest. However, in some situations this is the norm:
- Pre-cum. When excited, 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 large amounts of pre-ejaculation with low sexual arousal.
- Ejaculate. We are not talking about ejaculation in the form of a proper end to sexual intercourse, but about the residue that sometimes comes out after intimacy. These are usually a few drops of a whitish or colorless liquid.
- Ejaculating during wet dreams. It is an involuntary ejaculation due to sexual overstimulation and an increase in the amount of testosterone. They often occur in a dream.
- Smegma is the secretion of glands located in the region of the foreskin petals.. It serves as a protective and lubricating liquid for the head of the penis. It doesn't dry out, it doesn't inflame and you don't get hurt thanks to it. The amount of smegma is small, almost invisible in underwear. However, with hormonal changes it increases, if the imbalance is not associated with pathology it is also normal.
Smegma in large quantities can enter the urethra, where it accumulates and "disappears", forming curdled flakes, as happens with thrush. This is also conditionally considered the norm: if sufficient hygiene is observed, the problem disappears.
When is secretion a symptom of a disease?
If a man notices abnormal discharge from the penis, he should see 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 alteration of the liquid 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 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 and mycoplasmosis first cause clear, viscous discharge. The only sign of pathology is the absence of reasons for the natural appearance of fluid. Other pathologies lead to a change in the color and consistency of the secreted liquid - it becomes translucent, mucous, resembling pus.
Gonorrhea is characterized by greenish or brown substances with a foul smell. Accompanied by intense pain and itching.
Hepatitis usually causes a small volume of fluid to leak; it deposits on the head of the penis and, when it dries, a white layer forms. A characteristic additional symptom is cloudiness and darkening of 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 on the head.
In trichomoniasis, elastic and translucent 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 transmitted sexually. Sometimes the problem occurs against the background of an infection that spreads after tactile contact or is transmitted by airborne droplets.
Bacteria, viruses and fungi in large quantities cause an inflammatory reaction. Abnormal discharge appears due to inflammation of the urethra, spermatic cords, spermatic tubercle, prostate, 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 sperm volume and quality
If sperm flows without prior arousal and subsequent orgasm, this is a pathology. Doctors diagnose spermatorrhoea. The reasons lie in muscular disorders and central nervous system problems. It occurs more often in old age or with advanced prostatitis, prostate adenoma.
Discharge with blood - hematospermia, appears with malignant neoplasms in the urethra, penile cancer, trauma. Sometimes the result of stones passing through the urinary tract.
Diagnosis
Urologists, after listening to the patient's complaints and collecting anamnesis, examine the genitals. In this case, experts simultaneously take prostate juice through rectal massage. Other laboratory tests are required:
- Blood analysis;
- Prostate secretion;
- Urine analysis;
- Sperm.
It is important to evaluate the secretion itself. To do this, they are subjected to 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 diagnosis:
- Ultrasound of the pelvic organs, penis, scrotum;
- Dopplerography;
- Radiography;
- magnetic resonance imaging;
- TC;
- Cystoscopy;
- Urethroscopy;
- Scintigraphy.
If neoplasms are found during the examination, diagnosticians make a puncture.
Treatment
Treatment methods depend on the diagnosis. First of all, doctors prescribe appropriate medications to eliminate pathogenic microflora:
- Antibiotics;
- Antiviral;
- Antifungal.
Urologists prescribe medications primarily orally, sometimes requiring intravenous or intramuscular administration of medications.
Additionally, a course of antihistamines and analgesics is necessary to alleviate symptoms. Local medicines - antipruritic creams, gels, ointments - help eliminate itching.
Patients receive sitz baths with sedatives, analgesics or anti-inflammatories. 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 involve highly specialized specialists.
Additional therapies
Problems of the genitourinary system must be treated comprehensively. In addition to medications, doctors choose:
- Rectal prostate massage;
- Therapeutic massages of the lower back;
- exercise therapy;
- Physiotherapy;
- Reflexology.
Such procedures restore natural metabolism and prevent stagnation. The urologist prescribes a special diet that helps strengthen the man'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 careful selection of a sexual partner and the use of barrier contraception.
Urologists also advise following a number of rules:
- To live an active lifestyle.
- Monitor your own health and get preventive exams.
- Treat pathologies in a timely manner.
- Wear loose-fitting underwear and pants.
- Avoid frequent changes of sexual partners.
- Watch your diet. The diet should contain vitamins, micro- and macroelements necessary for humans: selenium, zinc, magnesium, calcium.