Discharge from a man's penis can tell about his male health, diseases of the genitourinary system. Discharges are often the only or one of the symptoms of a serious illness, so it is necessary to monitor them very carefully, observe changes in color, smell, consistency, etc.
Male genital secretions refer to all secretions from the urethra, sebaceous and skin glands, prostatic duct and ejaculatory duct. Depending on the nature of their occurrence, they are divided into physiological and pathological. The latter occur due to the development of infectious, inflammatory or other diseases of the prostate, bladder or other organs of the genitourinary system.
Everything is normal: physiological discharges
There are three types of physiological secretions that are released from the penis to one degree or another and do not indicate diseases:
- urethra;
- smegma;
- sperm
urethra
In most cases, clear discharge in men is libidinous or physiological urethrhoea. This is the secret of the clear color secreted by the urethral glands. A secret flows from the urethra, usually during excitement. The purpose of the secret is to lubricate the ducts before the passage of the spermatozoa.
The amount of urine that is secreted can be insignificant or quite abundant. It depends on the period of sexual abstinence, as well as on the individual characteristics of the man. After long abstinence from sexual contact, a small amount of spermatozoa may be released together with the urethra, which will change its color.
It is worth noting that in the event that the amount of discharge has become higher than usual, it is necessary to consult a doctor, because such a phenomenon may indicate the development of the disease.
Smegma
Smegma, also called foreskin lubrication, is secreted by glands on 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. It can be more during puberty, less until old age.
Smegma consists of fat and bacteria. It accumulates under the inner foreskin. Following daily hygiene procedures, the secret is easily washed away. Otherwise, its accumulation is an excellent medium for the development of bacteria that cause 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. As a result, it changes color from white transparent to yellow or green. There is an unpleasant smell.
Sperm
Semen refers to the physiological secretions from the male genital organ. Semen is usually a mixture of secretions from the gonads and sperm that is released during sexual contact or masturbation. Although men also experience involuntary ejaculation, which is called wet dreams. They usually occur in boys during adolescence, puberty, or prolonged abstinence. Involuntary ejaculation occurs at night or early in the morning because it is related to the production of testosterone.
Natural male secretions include urine, which can be clear, yellow, or light brown in color, and prostate secretions. The specific smell of spermine will help to distinguish the spacer. 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 turbidity or mucus can be the first symptom of prostatitis or cancer.
Pathological discharge
The causes of pathological discharge can be very diverse. They include:
- inflammatory processes, including those caused by conditionally pathogenic flora;
- oncological diseases;
- STDs;
- the consequences of operations or injuries.
Also, pathological secretions differ in color. They can be white, gray, yellow, brown, etc. In addition, there may be impurities of blood or pus. Discharges can be scanty or abundant, they can be given continuously or periodically, for example, in the morning or after going to the toilet, etc.
Different diseases often have similar discharges, but at the same time, one disease can manifest itself differently in different representatives of the stronger sex. It is impossible to self-diagnose a disease based on secretions. If you notice any changes in their color, abundance, smell, impurities of mucus, blood or pus, you should definitely visit a doctor and carry out the necessary tests.
Penile discharge associated with sexually transmitted diseases
Sexually transmitted diseases are usually accompanied by:
- Mucous clear discharge that is viscous. Usually, their low number indicates mycoplasmic or ureaplasmic urethritis or the development of chronic chlamydia. Microscopic examination shows an average leukocyte count.
- Clear or white mucous discharge occurs in 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 smell of rot and are 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 include itching and burning that worsens after going to the toilet, pain and discomfort in the genital area.
A feature of sexually transmitted diseases is that several infections become their causative agents at the same time. In this case, the course of the disease, the nature and amount of secretions can change significantly, so it is impossible to diagnose the disease without clinical tests from the secretions alone.
Self-diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases and subsequent self-treatment with antibiotics leads to the fact that the symptoms of the disease disappear, but the cause remains. After the course of treatment, the disease attacks with new force, so you should not start the disease and self-medicate. The appointment of effective treatment depends on the correct diagnosis. And it is impossible to determine this based only on the nature of the release.
Discharge associated with non-venereal inflammation
The so-called conditionally pathogenic flora, such as Candida fungus, E. coli, streptococcus, etc. , is constantly present in the body of every person. It is usually not felt, but under certain conditions (hypothermia, stress, weakening of the immune system) it can cause an inflammatory process.
Diseases of the genitourinary system caused by its own flora are also accompanied by discharge:
- Mucous purulent discharge often accompanies non-gonococcal urethritis (inflammation of the urethra). Their characteristic feature is a small abundance, which can increase between large breaks in urination. Other symptoms (pain, itching) are not characteristic of the disease, or they are very weakly expressed.
- Balanoposthitis is accompanied by abundant yellow or green mucous discharge, sometimes with pus. Symptoms of inflammation of the foreskin include severe redness of the foreskin, as well as pain and redness of the glans penis.
- Prostatitis is characterized by cloudy discharge after urination. During the acute form of the disease, the secretions become very abundant, and during the transition to the chronic form, they change color to whitish and their quantity decreases.
- Candidiasis or thrush caused by the fungus Candida is accompanied by acidic discharge with a distinctive sour smell. There is redness of the head and foreskin, pain or itching may occur. The causes of candidiasis include the use of antibiotics, chemotherapy or radiation therapy, as well as other factors that suppress the immune system.
- Gardnerellosis of the urethra is caused by damage to the microflora (dysbacteriosis) and is accompanied by scanty yellow or green discharge with a characteristic fishy smell.
Discharge not related to the inflammatory process
Discharge that is not accompanied by an inflammatory process is extremely rare for the stronger sex. The cause of such secretions is mechanical damage, diseases of the nervous system, oncological diseases, etc.
- Spermatorrhea - spontaneous flow of semen. The appearance of such secretions has nothing to do with sexual intercourse or masturbation. Sperm flow is not accompanied by orgasm. The cause of this phenomenon is usually neurological diseases, as well as spinal injuries. Blood vessels 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 when taking a smear, instrumental examination, installing a catheter, etc. Also, spotting after urination can indicate kidney stones, a tumor, or another serious condition.
- Prostatorrhea - secretion of prostate secretion. Prostorrhea is caused by relaxed muscles of the prostate gland's excretory duct. A similar phenomenon often accompanies prostatitis or adenoma.
- Brown discharge with or without mucus can indicate cancer of the prostate, bladder, penis, or urethra. The discharge may contain blood clots or pus.
Tests to help determine the cause of the discharge
The appearance of pathological secretions can be related to various diseases. Only a qualified doctor can determine the true cause of the discharge and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
A patient who complains of discharge from the penis needs to undergo a number of tests that will help determine the cause of their appearance. The doctor's examination begins with a thorough examination of the genital area for rashes, redness and other visible symptoms. Often, the discharge remains on 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, stationary, painful when pressed, etc.
Also, the doctor examines the nature of the discharge immediately and after 2-3 hours (the patient must refrain from urinating during this period). Prostate diseases (adenoma, prostatitis or tumor) help to determine the palpation of the prostate gland. In normal condition, both lobes of the prostate are equal in size, in disease, one lobe is larger than the other.
The following clinical tests also help determine the cause of the discharge:
- general blood analysis;
- detailed urine test;
- blood sugar test (performed in the morning on an empty stomach);
- smear from the urethra;
- urethral secretion culture.
In the case of an infectious disease, the smear plays a key role in establishing the diagnosis. This test allows not only to identify the causative agent of the disease, but also to prescribe the disease, its course, etc. The presence of an inflammatory process associated with infection is indicated by an increased number of leukocytes. Norma believes that there are no more than 4 leukocytes in the field of vision.
In order for the smear to provide the most correct information about the patient's state of health, it is necessary to prepare for the sampling procedure. Before taking the smear, you can refrain from urinating for at least 2 hours, as well as perform water procedures. In addition, it is necessary to stop local treatment with antibiotics or other drugs for three days. The course of treatment with oral antibiotics or injections must be completed 2 weeks before the examination.
If male discharge with a smell is abundant or other symptoms of the disease are observed, the doctor may prescribe:
- Ultrasound of the kidneys, bladder or prostate;
- Computed tomography;
- urography.
A doctor can only diagnose cancer after receiving the results of a biopsy.
If the patient seeks help for profuse lubrication, he is immediately admitted to the hospital. In other cases, treatment is carried out after determining the cause of the discharge.
Discharge from the male genital organ can be a symptom of a serious illness. However, remember that only a doctor can determine the cause of this unpleasant phenomenon during a personal examination and examination. Self-treatment only worsens the problem and can lead to complications. If you are worried about the health of your men, if unusual discharge occurs, do not delay a visit to the urologist.