Discharge from the urogenital canal is usually detected by men during or after urination. You must be able to distinguish between normal physiological secretions and pathological ones, which are often the first signs of diseases of the genitourinary system. The nature of the secretions makes it possible to determine the etiology of the disease and make a preliminary diagnosis.
Types of pathological discharge in men
Pathological secretions are caused by diseases of the urogenital canal and nearby organs. Pathological factors of various etiologies cause damage to the urethra, resulting in discharge. This process is called leukocyte urethra (urethritis). Pathological factors can be infectious, chemical or mechanical in nature.
Mucous purulent discharge
- Such secretions consist of serous exudate, urogenital mucus and a small number of leukocytes. They look like a transparent milky white liquid.
- Such secretions can be a signal of trichomonosis, chlamydia and ureaplasmosis. These diseases are rarely accompanied by pain, soreness and itching. Basically, their manifestation is limited to mucous purulent discharge after urination.
Purulent discharge
- Their appearance is considered a symptom of infectious urethritis. Purulent secretions consist of damaged urogenital canal epithelial cells 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 secretions appear along with pain, pain, itching, burning when urinating, and are 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 of a cheesy consistency. Basically, such secretions indicate male candidiasis (thrush), are rare. The cause of candidiasis can be a course of chemotherapy or antibiotic treatment, as well as a decrease in immunity, it is not spread sexually.White foam consistency discharge. Such discharge often becomes a sign of trichomonosis, and can also indicate chronic prostatitis. If the cause is prostatitis, discharge is often accompanied by a decrease or loss of potency, urination.
Diagnostics
No matter 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-diagnosis is useless. To determine the exact cause of the discharge, samples are usually taken for culture in a nutrient medium and for bacteriological tests. Additional diagnostic tools depend on the suspected disease: it can be urography, CT, ultrasound.
Treatment
The treatment program depends on the symptoms of the disease in the man's secretions.
STD. In this case, both partners must be treated. It is usually an antibacterial therapy judiciously combined with immunomodulatory drugs. Local treatment (physiotherapy, prostate massage, injection of medicine into the urethra) and a special diet are sometimes added. The specific program depends on the type of STD.Thrush. In most cases, candidiasis in men is eliminated by local treatment, but in advanced cases, generic drugs are needed. In addition, it is necessary to use drugs that strengthen the patient's immunity and a special diet.
Penile discharge
Penile discharge is considered normal if it does not cause discomfort or other negative symptoms. Otherwise, these are symptoms of various sexually transmitted pathologies or disorders of the genitourinary system and other body structures.
How to distinguish a normal condition from a pathology?
| Sign up | Norm | Deviation |
|---|---|---|
| Time of occurrence, frequency | Before, during or after sexual intercourse, during arousal | Regardless of intimacy, after sleep, after urination, defecation, sometimes it drips constantly |
| The smell | Characteristic (egg white or maroon) or odorless | Rotten, sour, greasy, fishy, etc. |
| Color, consistency | Transparent or whitish, the consistency often resembles raw protein, sometimes sticky, viscous | Curds, thick, white, greenish, brown, interspersed with blood clots and pus. May 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 any strong secretions at rest. However, in some cases this is the norm:
- Precum. When excited, a sticky, colorless substance is released - a lubricant that creates a favorable environment for normal sperm transport. Doctors will suspect a problem if there are complaints of a large amount of pre-ejaculate and low sexual arousal.
- Ejaculation. We are not talking about ejaculation as the finale of adequate 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. It is an involuntary ejaculation due to excessive sexual stimulation and increased testosterone levels. Often occurs in a dream.
- Smegma is the secretion of glands located in the area of the petals of the foreskin.. Serves as a protective fluid and lubricant for the glans penis. Thanks to it, it does not dry out, does not burn and does not hurt. The amount of smegma is small, it is almost invisible on underwear. However, it increases with hormonal changes; if the imbalance is not related to pathology, it is also normal.
In large quantities, smegma can enter the urethra, where it accumulates and "fades", forming contracted flakes, as in the case of 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 abnormal discharge from the penis, he should consult a doctor. Without medical education and diagnostic equipment, it is difficult to independently diagnose the disease.
The most common pathologies associated with the appearance or change of fluids secreted from the penis are LPL, 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. Discharge occurs when infected with the following diseases:
- Hepatitis;
- HIV;
- gonorrhea;
- Chlamydia;
- Trichomoniasis;
- candidiasis;
- Ureaplasmosis;
- Human papilloma virus;
- Mycoplasmosis;
- AIDS.
Chlamydia, ureaplasmosis, mycoplasmosis primarily cause clear, viscous discharge. The only sign of pathology is the absence of reasons for the appearance of natural fluid. Further pathologies lead to a change in the color and consistency of the secreted liquid - it becomes transparent, mucous, resembles pus.
Gonorrhea is characterized by foul-smelling greenish or brownish substances. It is accompanied by severe pain and itching.
As a result of hepatitis, a small volume of fluid often comes out, settles on the head of the penis, and when it dries, a white coating is formed. A characteristic additional symptom is turbidity and darkening of urine.
Candidiasis is accompanied by the appearance of salty 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 appears during frequent urination, pain and itching occur. The urethra becomes swollen, red and inflamed around it.
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, which occurs after contact or is transmitted by airborne droplets.
In large quantities, bacteria, viruses and fungi cause an inflammatory reaction. Abnormal discharge occurs due to inflammation of the urethra, spermatic cords, spermatozoa, 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 has an unpleasant smell and an unpleasant color.
Changes in sperm quantity and quality
If the sperm flows without preliminary excitement and subsequent orgasm, this is a pathology. Doctors diagnose spermatorrhea. The causes lie in muscle disorders and central nervous system problems. It occurs more often in old age or with advanced prostatitis, prostate adenoma.
Discharge with blood - hematospermia, occurs with malignant tumors in the urethra, penile cancer, injuries. Sometimes the result of stones passing through the urinary tract.
Diagnostics
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 discharge itself. To do this, they are examined under a microscope. It is this method that allows you to identify the main source of the problem - bacteria, viruses, fungi.
Doctors then move on to instrumental diagnostics:
- Ultrasound of pelvic organs, penis, scrotum;
- Dopplerography;
- Radiography;
- MRI;
- CT;
- Cystoscopy;
- Urethroscopy;
- Scintigraphy.
If neoplasms are found during the examination, the diagnostician performs a puncture.
Treatment
Treatment methods depend on the diagnosis. First of all, doctors prescribe drugs suitable for eliminating pathogenic microflora:
- Antibiotics;
- Antivirus;
- Antifungal.
Urologists prescribe drugs mainly orally, sometimes it is necessary to administer drugs intravenously or intramuscularly.
In addition, a course of antihistamines and pain relievers is necessary to relieve symptoms. Topical medicines - anti-itch 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 infection.
If the problem lies in disorders of the central nervous system or endocrine pathologies, doctors use highly specialized specialists.
Additional therapies
Problems of the genitourinary system must be treated comprehensively. In addition to drugs, doctors choose:
- Rectal prostate massage;
- Therapeutic massages of the lumbar region;
- exercise therapy;
- Physiotherapy;
- Reflexology.
Such procedures restore natural metabolism and prevent stagnation. A urologist prescribes a special diet that helps strengthen men's health. It is necessary to use vitamin complexes: vitamins C, E, A, B group.
Prevention
In most cases, the cause of discharge from the penis is sexually transmitted diseases. Therefore, the most effective means of prevention is the careful choice of a sexual partner and the use of barrier contraception.
Urologists also advise following several rules:
- Live an active lifestyle.
- Monitor your health and do preventive tests.
- Treat pathologies in time.
- Wear loose underwear and pants.
- Avoid changing sexual partners frequently.
- Watch your diet. Food must contain vitamins, micro and macro elements necessary for a man: selenium, zinc, magnesium, calcium.