Discharge from the genitourinary canal is found mainly in men during or after urination. You should be able to distinguish normal physiological discharge from pathological discharge, which is often the first sign of a disease of the genitourinary system. The nature of the discharge allows us to establish 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 system and neighboring organs. Pathological factors, characterized by different etiology, cause damage to the urethra, which leads to the appearance of discharge. This process is called leukocyte urethra (urethritis). Pathological factors can be infectious, chemical or mechanical.
Mucous purulent discharge
- Such discharge consists of serous exudate, urogenital mucus and a small number of leukocytes. They have the appearance of a translucent milky white liquid.
- Such a discharge can serve as a signal for trichomoniasis, chlamydia and ureaplasmosis. These diseases are rarely accompanied by pain, soreness and itching. In principle, 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 urogenital 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 is accompanied by pain, pain, itching, burning when urinating and is usually abundant. Most often they are symptoms of trichomoniasis and gonorrhea.
White discharge
When a white discharge appears, a man should pay attention to its consistency.
White discharge with a cheesy consistency. In general, 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 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, discharge is often accompanied by a decrease or loss of 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 choose treatment, the diagnosis itself is useless. To accurately determine the cause of shedding, culture samples are usually taken on nutrient media and bacteriological studies. Additional diagnostic tools depend on what disease is suspected; it can be urography, CT, ultrasound.
Treatment
The treatment program depends on the symptoms of which disease the man was discharged from.
STD. In this case, both partners should undergo treatment. As a rule, this is antibacterial therapy, judiciously combined with immunomodulatory drugs. Sometimes local treatment is added (physiotherapy, prostate massage, introduction of medicine 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 drugs are needed. In addition, it is necessary to take 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 genitourinary system and other structures of the body.
How to distinguish the normal state from the pathology?
| Sign | norm | deviation |
|---|---|---|
| Time of occurrence, frequency | Before, during or after intercourse, during arousal | Regardless of intimacy, after sleep, after urination, defecation, sometimes drips constantly |
| Smell | Characteristic (egg white or chestnut) or odorless | Rotten, sour, smelly, fishy, etc. |
| Color, consistency | Transparent or whitish, the consistency often resembles crude protein, sometimes sticky, viscous | Condensed, thick, white, greenish, brown, dotted with blood clots and pus. It can be transparent in case of viral disease |
| Additional symptoms | No | Itching, burning, redness, pain |
When is penile discharge normal?
A healthy adult man does not have a strong current of any kind at rest. However, in some situations this is the norm:
- Precum. When excited, a sticky, colorless substance is released - a lubricant to create a favorable environment for the normal transportation of sperm. Doctors will suspect a problem if there are complaints of a large amount of preejaculate with low sexual arousal.
- Ejaculation. We are not talking about ejaculation in the form of an adequate finale to intercourse, but about the residue that sometimes comes out after intimacy. It is usually a few drops of whitish or colorless liquid.
- Ejaculation during wet dreams. This is an involuntary ejaculation due to sexual overstimulation and an increased amount of testosterone. It often happens in sleep.
- Smegma is a 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 does not dry out, does not get inflamed and does not hurt thanks to it. The amount of smegma is small, almost invisible on underwear. However, with hormonal changes, it increases; if the imbalance is not related to pathology, this is also normal.
Smegma in large quantities can enter the urethra, where it accumulates and "fades", forming pressed scales, as in thrush. This 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 an 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 the fluid secreted by the penis are sexually transmitted diseases, inflammatory processes and disorders in the functioning 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 6 months. The secretion appears when infected with the following diseases:
- hepatitis;
- HIV;
- gonorrhea;
- chlamydia;
- trichomoniasis;
- candidiasis;
- ureaplasmosis;
- Human papilloma virus;
- mycoplasmosis;
- AIDS.
Chlamydia, ureaplasmosis, mycoplasmosis first cause a clear, viscous discharge. The only sign of pathology is the absence of reasons for the natural appearance of the fluid. Additional pathologies lead to a change in the color and consistency of the secreted liquid - it becomes translucent, mucous, reminiscent of pus.
Gonorrhea is characterized by smelly greenish or brown substances. Accompanied by severe pain and itching.
Hepatitis often causes the leakage of a small amount of fluid, it accumulates on the head of the penis and when it dries, a white coating is formed. A characteristic additional symptom is the turbidity and darkening of the urine.
Candidiasis is accompanied by the appearance of cheesy clots, but there are significantly fewer of them than in the female "milkworm". There is itching, burning and redness of the head.
With trichomoniasis, stretchy, translucent mucus, pain and itching with frequent urination appear. 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 reaction. Abnormal discharge occurs due to inflammation of the urethra, spermatic cords, seminal 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 is foul-smelling and has an unpleasant color.
Changes in sperm volume and quality
If the sperm flows without prior arousal and subsequent orgasm, this is a pathology. Doctors diagnose spermatorrhea. The causes lie in muscle disorders and problems of the central nervous system. It is more common in old age or in advanced prostatitis, prostate adenoma.
Discharge with blood - hematospermia, occurs in malignant neoplasms in the urethra, penile cancer, trauma. Sometimes it is 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, specialists simultaneously take prostate juice through rectal massage. Additional laboratory tests are required:
- Blood analysis;
- Prostatic secretion;
- Urinalysis;
- sperm.
It is important to evaluate the disclaimer 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.
Doctors then proceed to instrumental diagnostics:
- Ultrasound of pelvic organs, penis, scrotum;
- Dopplerography;
- radiography;
- MRI;
- CT;
- cystoscopy;
- Urethroscopy;
- Scintigraphy.
If neoplasms are found during the examination, the diagnosticians make a puncture.
Treatment
Treatment methods depend on the diagnosis. First of all, doctors prescribe drugs that are suitable for eliminating pathogenic microflora:
- antibiotics;
- anti-virus;
- antifungal.
Urologists prescribe drugs mainly orally, sometimes intravenous or intramuscular administration of drugs is necessary.
In addition, a course of antihistamines and pain relievers is needed to relieve symptoms. Local drugs - antipruritic creams, gels, ointments - help to get rid of itching.
Patients are shown sitz baths with sedatives, pain relievers or anti-inflammatory drugs. Washing after each urination will help prevent the spread of the infection.
If the problem is in disorders of the central nervous system or endocrinological pathologies, doctors include highly specialized specialists.
Complementary therapies
Problems of the genitourinary system must be treated comprehensively. In addition to drugs, doctors choose:
- Rectal massage of the prostate;
- Therapeutic massages of 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 take vitamin complexes: vitamins C, E, A, group B.
Prevention
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 following a number of rules:
- To lead an active lifestyle.
- Monitor your own health and undergo preventive examinations.
- Treat pathologies promptly.
- 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 humans: selenium, zinc, magnesium, calcium.