Allocation in men: norm or pathology?

Discharge from a man's penis can tell about a man's health, the presence of diseases in the genitals. Discharge is often one or one of the symptoms of a serious illness, so you have to be very careful with it, observing changes in color, smell, consistency and so on.

Male genital discharge refers to all discharge from the urethra, sebaceous and epidermal glands, prostate gland and ejaculatory duct. Depending on the nature of their occurrence, they are divided into physiological and pathological. The latter appears due to the development of an infectious, inflammatory disease or other diseases in the prostate, bladder or other genital organ.

Everything is normal: physiological discharge

There are three types of physiological secretions, which to some extent are released from the penis and do not indicate the presence of diseases:

• urethra;
• smegma;
• semen

urethra

In most cases, clear discharge in men is libido or physiological urethra. This is the secret of the transparent color secreted by the urethral glands. Secretion oozes from the urethra, usually during arousal. The purpose of the secret is to lubricate the ducts before the sperm leaves.

The amount of urine excreted may be negligible or quite large. It depends on the period of sexual abstinence, as well as the individual characteristics of the man. After prolonged abstinence from sex, along with the urethra, a small amount of semen may be released, which changes color.

It is worth noting that if the amount of discharge has become more than usual, it is necessary to contact 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 friction between the glans and the foreskin. Smegma is constantly released. During puberty it can be more, after old age - less.

Smegma consists of fat and bacteria. It accumulates under the inner lobe of the foreskin. Subject to daily hygiene practices, the secret is 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 should be done at least once a day), then it begins to disintegrate and rot. From this it changes color from white transparent to yellow or green. There is an unpleasant smell.

Sperm

Semen refers to physiological secretions from the male genitalia. Normally, semen is a mixture of gonadal secretions and sperm, which is released during sex or masturbation. Although men also face the involuntary release of semen, known as wet dreams. Most often, they occur in boys during adolescence, when puberty occurs, or with prolonged abstinence. Involuntary ejaculation occurs in the evening or early morning, as it is related to the production of testosterone.

The natural secretions of men also include urine, the color of which can be transparent, yellow or light brown, and secretions from the prostate gland. The specific smell of semen will help diagnose prostorrhoea. The discharge is thick and whitish in color. A change in the amount of discharge, its color and smell, as well as the appearance of clouds or mucus can be the first symptom of prostatitis or cancer.

Morbid discharge

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

• inflammatory processes, including those caused by conditionally pathogenic autophagy;
• cancer diseases;
• Venereal diseases;
• consequences of operations or injuries.

Also, pathological discharges vary 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 scarce or abundant, they can be distributed continuously or regularly, 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, one disease can appear in different representatives of the stronger sex in different ways. It is impossible to self-diagnose the disease by secretion. If you notice any 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 tests.

Penile discharge associated with sexually transmitted diseases

STDs are usually 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. Mucous discharge of 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 color, have an unpleasant rotten smell and are very dense. They also contain an increased number of leukocytes and microscopic particles of the epithelium. Much depends on the development of the disease. Other symptoms of gonorrhea include itching and burning that worsen after going to the toilet, pain and discomfort in the genitals.

A characteristic of sexually transmitted diseases is that several infections become their cause 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 studies from the 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, the disease attacks with renewed vigor, so you should not start the disease and self-medicate. The appointment of a successful treatment depends on the correct diagnosis. And that is impossible to convey, based solely on the nature of the discharge.

Discharge associated with non-STD inflammation

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

Diseases of the genitals, the causative agent of which is its own flora, are also accompanied by secretions:

1. Mucous discharge often accompanies non-gonadococcal urethritis (inflammation of the urethra). Their characteristic feature is a slight excess, which can increase between large urinations. The disease is not characterized by other symptoms (pain, itching), or they occur very weakly.
2. Balanoposthitis is accompanied by a lot of mucus of a yellow or green color, sometimes with pus. Symptoms of inflammation of the foreskin are its strong redness, as well as pain and redness in the head of the penis.
3. The appearance of prostatitis is characterized by cloudy discharge after urination. In the acute form of the disease, the discharge becomes very profuse, and when it goes 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 thick discharge with a distinct sour smell. There is redness on the head and foreskin, there may be pain or itching. Causes of candidiasis include antibiotic use, chemotherapy or radiation therapy, as well as other factors that suppress the immune system.
5. Gardnerellosis in the urethra occurs due to a violation of the microflora (dysbacteriosis) and is accompanied by a small secretion of yellow or green color with a characteristic fishy smell.

Discharge not related to the inflammatory process

A discharge that does not accompany the inflammatory process is extremely rare in the stronger sex. The cause of such secretion is mechanical damage, diseases of the nervous system, oncology, etc.

1. Spermatorrhea - semen that flows spontaneously. The appearance of such discharge is in no way related to intercourse or masturbation. Ejaculation does not accompany orgasm. The cause of this phenomenon is usually neurological diseases, as well as injuries to the spine. The seminal vesicles lose their tone and ability to hold sperm.
2. Hematorrhea is a bloody discharge from the urethra. Blood dryness occurs as a result of mechanical damage to the urethra in the process of taking a smear, examining the equipment, installing a catheter, and so on. Additionally, spotting after urination can indicate kidney stones, a tumor, or another serious condition.
3. Prostate - secretion of the secretion of the prostate gland. The cause of prostorrhoea is 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.

Examinations to determine the cause of the discharge

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

A patient complaining of penile discharge needs to undergo a series of tests that will help determine the cause of their appearance. The doctor's examination begins with a thorough examination of the genitals for rashes, redness and other visible symptoms. The discharge is often left on the underwear, which the doctor also examines carefully.

One of the mandatory stages of the study is the palpation of the lymph nodes. The doctor checks whether they have increased in number or not, whether they remain mobile or immobile, whether there is pain when pressed and so on.

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

The following clinical tests also help determine the cause of the discharge:

• general blood analysis;
• accurate urinalysis;
• blood sugar test (taken in the morning on an empty stomach);
• swab from the urethra;
• culture of urethral secretions.

In the case of an infectious disease, the smear plays a key role in diagnosis. This study allows not only to determine the cause of the disease, but also to prescribe 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 does not count more than 4 leukocytes in the visual field.

In order for the smear to provide the most accurate information about the patient's health, it is necessary to prepare before taking it. Before taking a smear, you can not urinate for at least 2 hours, as well as perform water procedures. In addition, for three days it is necessary to stop local treatment with antibiotics or other drugs. Treatment with oral or injectable antibiotics must be completed 2 weeks prior to the study.

If discharge in men with a smell is profuse or other symptoms of the disease appear, the doctor may prescribe:

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

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

If a patient seeks help for heavy spotting, he is admitted to hospital immediately. In other cases, treatment is carried out after the cause of the discharge has been confirmed.

Discharge from the male genitalia 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-treatment only exacerbates the problem and can lead to complications. If you are concerned about the health of your men, if unusual discharge occurs, do not postpone a visit to the urologist.