Assignments in men: norm or pathology?

Discharge from a man's penis can tell about his male health, the presence of diseases in the genitourinary system. Often, discharge is 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 discharge from the urethra, sebaceous and skin glands, prostate duct and ejaculatory duct. Depending on the nature of their occurrence, they are divided into physiological and pathological. The latter appears as a result of the development of an infectious, inflammatory or other disease in the prostate, bladder or other organ of the genitourinary system.

Everything is normal: physiological discharge

There are three types of physiological secretions that are released from the penis to one degree or another and do not indicate the presence of diseases:

• urethrorrhea;
• smegma;
• sperm

urethra

In most cases, clear discharge in men is libidinal or physiological urethrorrhea. This is the secret behind a transparent color secreted by the urethral glands. A secret flows from the urethra, usually at the time of arousal. The purpose of the secret is to lubricate the ducts before the passage of sperm.

The amount of excreted urethror may be negligible or quite abundant. It depends on the period of sexual abstinence, as well as the individual characteristics of the man. After prolonged abstinence from sexual contact, along with urethrorrhea, a small amount of semen may be released, which will change 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, since such a phenomenon may indicate the development of the disease.

Smegma

Smegma, also called preputial lubrication, is secreted by glands located 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. In puberty it can be more, in old age - less.

Smegma consists of fat and bacteria. It accumulates under the inner leaf of the foreskin. Subject to daily hygiene procedures, the secret can be easily washed off. Otherwise, its accumulation is an excellent environment for the development of bacteria, which leads to an inflammatory process. If the fat is not washed off in time (this must be done at least once a day), it begins to dissolve and rot. From here 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 genitalia. Semen is usually a mixture of gonadal secretions and spermatozoa, released during sexual contact or masturbation. Although men also face the involuntary release of semen, which is called wet dreams. Most often, they occur in boys during the teenage years, when puberty occurs, or with prolonged abstinence. Involuntary ejaculation occurs at night or early in the morning, as it is associated with the production of testosterone.

Natural male secretions also include urine, the color of which can be transparent, yellow or light brown, and prostate secretions. The specific smell of spermine will help to distinguish prostate. The discharge is thick and whitish in colour. A change in the amount of discharge, their color and smell, as well as the appearance of cloudiness or mucus can be the first symptom of prostatitis or cancer.

Pathological discharge

The causes of pathological discharge can be very different. These include:

• inflammatory processes, including those caused by conditionally pathogenic own flora;
• oncological diseases;
• sexually transmitted diseases;
• consequences of operations or injuries.

Pathological discharges also 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 the discharge can be scanty or abundant, they can be assigned constantly or periodically, for example, in the morning or after going to the toilet, and so on.

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 by secretions. If you notice changes in their color, abundance, smell or the presence of a mixture of mucus, blood or pus, you should definitely visit a doctor and undergo the necessary examinations.

Discharge from the penis in connection with venereal diseases

Sexually transmitted diseases are most often accompanied by:

1. Mucous transparent secretions which are viscous. Usually, their small number indicates the presence of mycoplasmal or ureaplasmic urethritis or the development of chronic chlamydia. Microscopic examination shows a moderate amount of leukocytes.
2. Mucopurulent discharge of a 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.
3. Purulent discharge in men indicates gonorrhea. They can be brown, yellow or greenish in colour, have an unpleasant rotten smell and are very dense. They also contain an increased number of leukocytes and microscopic particles of the epithelium. Abundance depends on the degree of development of the disease. Other symptoms of gonorrhea are itching and burning, which increases 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 once. 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 examinations from discharge alone.

Self-diagnosis and subsequent self-treatment of sexually transmitted diseases with antibiotics leads to the disappearance of the symptoms of the disease, but the cause remains. After the course of treatment has ended, the disease attacks with renewed force, 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 determine that based only on the nature of the discharge.

Discharge associated with non-venereal inflammation

In the body of each person, the so-called conditionally pathogenic flora is constantly present, for example, Candida fungus, E. coli, streptococci and others. Usually it does not make itself felt, but under certain conditions (hypothermia, stress, weakening of the immune system) it can cause an inflammatory process.

Diseases of the genitourinary system, the cause of which is its own flora, are also accompanied by secretions:

1. Mucopurulent discharge often accompanies non-gonococcal urethritis (inflammation of the urethra). Their characteristic feature is a small abundance, which can increase between large interruptions in the discharge of water. The disease is not characterized by other symptoms (pain, itching), or they are very weakly expressed.
2. Balanoposthitis is accompanied by abundant mucous membranes of yellow or green color, sometimes with pus. Symptoms of inflammation of the foreskin are its strong redness as well as pain and redness of the penis head.
3. 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.
4. Candidiasis or thrush caused by the Candida fungus is accompanied by a curdled discharge with a characteristic sour smell. There is redness in the head and foreskin, there may be pain or itching. The causes of candidiasis are the use of antibiotics, chemotherapy or radio wave therapy as well as other factors that decrease the immune system.
5. Gardnerellosis in 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.

Discharges not associated with 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.

1. Spermatorrhea - spontaneous liquid semen. The appearance of such secretions is in no way connected with intercourse or masturbation. The flow of semen is not accompanied by an orgasm. The cause of this phenomenon is most often neurological diseases as well as injuries to the spine. The deferens lose their tone and ability to retain sperm.
2. Hematorrhea is bloody discharge from the urethra. Hematorrhea appears as a result of mechanical damage to the urethra in the process of taking a smear, instrumental examination, installation of a catheter, and so on. Additionally, spotting after urination can indicate kidney stones, a tumor, or another serious condition.
3. Prostatorrhea - secretion of the secretion of the prostate. The cause of prostorrhoea is the relaxed muscles in the excretory duct of the prostate gland. A similar phenomenon often accompanies prostatitis or adenoma.
4. Brown discharge with or without mucus can indicate cancer of the prostate, bladder, penis or urethra. The discharge may contain blood clots or pus.

Investigations to help determine the cause of the discharge

The appearance of pathological discharge can be associated with various diseases. Only a qualified doctor can determine the true cause of the discharge and prescribe the correct treatment.

A patient who complains of discharge from the penis must undergo a series of examinations that will help determine the cause of their appearance. An examination by a doctor begins with a detailed 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 palpation of the lymph nodes. The doctor checks whether they have increased or not, whether they remain mobile or immobile, whether pain occurs on pressure, and so on.

The doctor also examines the nature of the discharge immediately and after 2-3 hours (the patient must refrain from urinating during this period). Diseases of the prostate (adenoma, prostatitis or tumor) help to determine the palpation of the prostate gland. In normal conditions, both lobes of the prostate are the same size, in the presence of a disease, one lobe is larger than the other.

The following clinical tests also help 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 key role in making a diagnosis. This study allows not only to determine the pathogen, but also the prescription of 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 norm considers no more than 4 leukocytes in the field of view.

In order for the smear to provide the most truthful information about the patient's state of health, it is necessary to prepare for the intake procedure. Before taking a smear, you can not urinate 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 the discharge in men with an odor is abundant or other symptoms of the disease are observed, the doctor may prescribe:

• Ultrasound of kidneys, bladder or prostate;
• computed tomography;
• urography.

The doctor can only make a diagnosis of cancer after the results of a biopsy.

If a patient seeks help for heavy spotting, he is immediately admitted to hospital. In other cases, the 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. 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 discharge appears, do not postpone a visit to the urologist.