Allocations in men: norm or pathology?

Discharge from a man's penis can tell about his male health, the presence of diseases of the genitourinary system. Often the discharge is the only or one of the symptoms of a serious illness, so you have to be very careful about them, changes in color, smell, consistency, and so on.

Discharge from the male genital organ refers to any discharge from the urethra, sebaceous and skin glands, the prostate duct and the ejaculatory duct. Depending on the nature of their occurrence, they are divided into physiological and pathological. The latter appear as a result of the development of an inflammatory, inflammatory or other disease of the prostate, bladder or another 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:

• urthrorrhea;
• smegma;
• Sperm

urethrorrhea

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

The amount of excreted urethrorrhea 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 prolonged abstinence from sexual contact, together with urethrorrhea, a small amount of sperm can be released, which changes its color.

It is worth noting that in the event that the amount of discharge is greater than usual, it is necessary to consult a doctor, because such a phenomenon may indicate the development of the disease.

Smegma

Smegma, also called preputial lubricant, 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. During puberty it can be more, in old age - less.

Smegma consists of fat and bacteria. It accumulates under the inner layer of the foreskin. Regarding daily hygiene procedures, the secret is easily washed away. Otherwise, its accumulation is an excellent environment for the development of bacteria, which leads to an inflammatory process. If the fat is not washed in time (this should be done at least once a day), then it starts to break down and rot. From this the color changes from white-transparent to yellow or green. There is an unpleasant smell.

Sperm

Sperm refers to the physiological secretions of the male reproductive organ. Normally, semen is a mixture of secretions from the gonads and spermatozoa, released during sexual contact or masturbation. Although men are also faced with the involuntary release of sperm, which is called wet dreams. Most often they occur in boys of adolescence, when puberty occurs, or with prolonged abstinence. Involuntary ejaculation occurs at night or early in the morning because 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 secretion. The specific smell of spermine helps to distinguish 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.

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;
• STDs;
• Consequences of operations or injuries.

Even pathological discharges differ in color. They can be white, gray, yellow, brown and so on. In addition, there may be a mixture of blood or pus. The nature of the discharge can be scanty or abundant, they can be constantly or periodically distributed, for example, in the morning or after the toilet, and so on.

Different diseases often have similar secretions, but at the same time, a disease can manifest itself in different ways in different representatives of the stronger sex. It is impossible to diagnose the disease itself 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 do the necessary studies.

Discharge from the penis associated with STDs

Sexually transmitted diseases are usually accompanied by:

1. Mucous transparent secretions that 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 color, 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 that increase after going to the toilet, pain and discomfort in the genital area.

A feature of sexually transmitted diseases is that several infections simultaneously become their causative agents. In this case, the course of the disease, as well as the nature and quantity of the 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 fact that the symptoms of the disease disappear, but the cause remains. After completing the course of treatment, 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 is impossible to establish it, based only on the nature of the discharge.

Discharge is associated with non-venereal inflammation

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

Diseases of the genitourinary system, the causative agent 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 slight well-being, which increases between large interruptions of urination. The disease is not characterized by other symptoms (pain, itching), or they are very weakly expressed.
2. Balanoposthitis is accompanied by abundant mucus 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, the color changes to whitish and decreases in quantity.
4. Candidiasis or thrush caused by the Candida fungus is accompanied by a curdled discharge with a distinctive sour smell. There is redness of the head and foreskin, there may be pain or itching. The causes of candidiasis are the use of antibiotics, chemotherapy or radio wave treatment, as well as other factors that depress the immune system.
5. Gardnerellosis of the urethra occurs as a result of an injury to 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 are mechanical damage, diseases of the nervous system, oncology, etc.

1. Spermatorrhea - spontaneous flow of sperm. The appearance of such secretions is in no way related to intercourse or masturbation. The flow of sperm is not accompanied by an orgasm. The cause of this phenomenon is mostly neurological diseases, as well as injuries of the spine. The vas deferens lose their tone and ability to hold sperm.
2. Hematorrhea is a bloody discharge from the urethra. Hematorrhea appears as a result of mechanical damage to the urethra in the process of a smear, instrumental examination, installation of a catheter and so on. In addition, spotting after urination can indicate kidney stones, tumor or another serious condition.
3. Prostatorrhea - secretion of the secretion of the prostate. The cause of prostatorrhea is the relaxed muscles of 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 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 about the discharge of the penis must go through a series of studies 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 the palpation of the lymph nodes. The doctor checks whether they have increased or not, whether they remain mobile or immobile, whether pain appears when you press, etc.

The doctor also checks the nature of the discharge immediately and after 2-3 hours (the patient does not have to urinate during this period). Diseases of the prostate (adenoma, prostatitis or tumor) help to determine the palpation of the prostate gland. In the normal state, the two lobes of the prostate are of the same size, in the presence of a disease, one lobe is larger than the other.

The following clinical studies also help to 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 the diagnosis. This study allows not only to establish the pathogen, but also the prescription of the disease, its course, and so on. The presence of an inflammatory process associated with the infection is indicated by an increased number of leukocytes. The norm does not take into account more than 4 leukocytes in the field of view.

In order for the smear to provide the correct information about the patient's state of health, it is necessary to prepare for the procedure. 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. The course of treatment with oral antibiotics or injections must be completed 2 weeks before the study.

If the discharge in men is abundant with an odor or other symptoms of the disease are observed, the doctor can prescribe:

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

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

If a patient seeks help with profuse spots, he is immediately admitted to the hospital. In other cases, the treatment is carried out after the cause of the discharge has been determined.

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 aggravates the problem, and can lead to the development of complications. If you are worried about your men's health, if unusual discharge appears, do not postpone the visit to the urologist.