White discharge in men is a common occurrence.
But before seeking help from a doctor, you need to find out what is normal and what should be alarming.
The appearance of such signs can be caused by various factors.
The normal state of the body.
Discharge from the urethra in men can occur due to normal processes that occur in the body. Not always such discharge can be considered an indicator of the disease. The following discharges in men testify to the normal functioning of the body, the causes of which may vary:
- With sexual arousal, a clear discharge appears on the head of the penis. This is due to the work of the urethral glands, and this phenomenon is aimed at protecting the inner surface of the urethra. In this case, it is worth repeating that it appears during arousal or morning erection.
- The appearance of semen during sexual intercourse or during wet dreams.
- The so-called defecation prostorrhea is the appearance of discharge from the opening of the urethra. This is explained by the fact that the prostate fits snugly against the walls of the rectum, so when passing stool, the prostate can be compressed, which causes fluid to flow out of the urethra.
- In a small amount, the secret of the prostate can also be released during urination, the so-called voiding prostorrhea.
Discharge from the urethra in men is not always a sign of any inflammatory process. These symptoms are episodic. White discharge is painless, there are no male disorders, and therefore no cause for concern.
What should be cause for concern?
The male body is designed in such a way that any change in its functioning is immediately visible to men. As soon as such discharge from the urethra has become frequent, they change color and consistency, you should see a doctor. It should be said about the signs:
- The discharge in men, appearing in the urethra, is pathological in nature, there are gray, yellow, green fluids.
- If blood appears in the urine when urinating, you should immediately seek help from a doctor.
- If an unpleasant odor emanates from the penis, then this is a clear sign of the inflammatory process and the activity of microorganisms, which can provoke inflammation, a white liquid appears.
- Pathological discharge is released, unlike normal, accompanied by pain, discomfort. Especially these symptoms are aggravated by urination or excitement.
- The flow in men can indicate the presence of the disease. In this case, they can often be confused with the common ones, which is why they are the most difficult to recognize. In turn, the delay can lead to a chronic form of the disease.
What must be done to recognize the danger in time? You need to be especially attentive to your health and follow a number of rules:
- Greater care should be taken when visiting the bathroom after sleeping. During the period of sleep, secretions can accumulate in the urethra, so if they occur, it is much easier to recognize them in the morning.
- Underwear is of particular importance. If even throughout the day at least one drop protrudes from the urethra, then after drying it will leave a clearly visible trace.
- When you press on the penis, especially if you run your hand from the pubis to the head of the organ, white mucus is released. It can be of other colors and textures, depending on the disease.
- An unhealthy diet, especially the consumption of foods containing a lot of spices and alcohol, can also provoke the appearance of such phenomena.
- The lips of the opening of the urethra stick together or crust over them; all this may indicate the release of fluid, which then dries up.
- Most sexually transmitted diseases are sexually transmitted, so you should not forget about this either. If, after accidental contact, a white discharge occurs, you need to seek help, self-treatment is not recommended.
What can it connect to?
White discharge from the urethra or other white fluids are important signs of an inflammatory process. The same should be said about purulent discharge. Doctors can extract enough information if they study the secreted fluid and make a diagnosis, start treatment.
Discharge in men may indicate the following diseases:
- Urethritis is the most common cause. The urethra independently tries to protect itself with the help of glands, due to which white mucus appears on its mucous membrane in the required amount.
- Sexually transmitted diseases, including gonorrhea, chlamydia, mycoplasmosis, or ureaplasmosis.
- Cancer of the penis, in which fluid is also released due to inflammation of the urethra.
- The appearance of inflammation may be due to the entry of bacteria into the urinary tract from other organs. This is due to a weakened health, immune system, poor hygiene or trauma.
- The appearance of bloody discharge is a serious sign that may indicate an oncological pathology of the prostate.
The consistency of the secretions, their color and transparency are the result of any processes that occur in the body of a man. Therefore, a certain color of the discharge is explained by the following factors:
- If epithelial cells are present in large numbers, then the discharge is gray and has a high viscosity.
- A large number of leukocytes enter the focus of inflammation during the reproduction of bacteria. For this reason, a yellow discharge appears, sometimes green.
- White mucus, resembling curd mass, often indicates the development of candidiasis.
- It is worth noting that the appearance of various secretions can occur in different ways depending on the situation. At the beginning of the disease, this may be a white discharge, which later changes to yellow. This happens if the body has time to respond to a problem in the body.
What to do in such situations?
Assignments in men immediately become a reason to go to the doctor, if the matter does not concern the normal functioning of the body. An examination will not be enough to make a diagnosis, so a series of analyzes of the released fluid is required.
You should not self-medicate or try to be treated, you should visit a urologist or venereologist. The doctor, in coordination with the patient, will prescribe studies that include microscopy of secretions, inoculation into nutrient media, or polymerase chain reaction if the above methods have not given results.
Before visiting a medical institution, taking medication is not recommended, as this can complicate the diagnosis of the disease. When a disease of a venereal nature is established, both spouses are examined so that reinfection does not occur in the future. If inflammation and mucus are found in both, a treatment is prescribed for each pair.
Discharge from the penis is one of the most common complaints for which men seek the help of a urologist. After questioning and examining the patient, the doctor may prescribe additional tests to make an accurate diagnosis. The methods of modern medicine make it possible to quickly detect the cause of pathological secretions and select the optimal therapy regimen, taking into account all the features of the course of the disease.
physiological secretions
The discharge that arises from the penis actually comes from different parts of the genitourinary system. The resulting secret can be a discharge from the urethra, sebaceous glands, or pathological formations on the skin. Some discharges are normal, while others are considered a sign of illness. The doctor will be able to distinguish the norm from the pathology after a thorough examination of the patient.
Variants of physiological secretions from the penis:
libidinal urethrorrhea
Under this term, the physiological secretions of the urethra (urethra) are hidden during arousal. The secretions are secreted by glands located in and around the urethra (paraurethral and bulbourethral glands). The resulting secret maintains an alkaline environment in the urethra, favorable for the promotion of sperm. Libidinous urethrorrhea occurs only in men of reproductive age. In old age, the glands of the urethra atrophy and the secretion stops.
The volume of secretions during sexual arousal is variable and depends on the individual characteristics of the organism. The normal secret of the urethral glands is transparent, mucous, without impurities of pus or blood. A significant increase in the volume of discharge requires a consultation with a urologist.
Sperm
Semen is a mixture of prostatic secretion and sperm. Normally, the ejaculate is thick, white, without foreign inclusions. Sperm is released during ejaculation during intercourse or during masturbation. It is possible to release a small amount of sperm during wet dreams - involuntary ejaculation at night. Pollution occurs in children after the age of 14 and is one of the signs of puberty. The occurrence of wet dreams in men after a long abstinence is not excluded (read about the benefits and harms of abstinence here).
smegma
Smegma is a secret secreted by the glands of the foreskin and glans penis. Fresh smegma is grayish-white in color and turns yellow over time. Subject to intimate hygiene, the volume of smegma will be small. Significant accumulation of smegma is observed with insufficient self-care. Such discharge can be taken as a symptom of the disease, and also provoke the development of an inflammatory process (balanitis and balanoposthitis).
Physiological discharge from the penis is normal and does not require treatment. The following changes deserve attention:
- increase in the volume of secretions;
- change in consistency (discharge becomes too runny or thick);
- color change to yellow, greenish yellow, brown;
- the appearance of impurities in the blood;
- the appearance of unpleasant sensations: itching, burning, pain in the intimate area;
- dysuria or difficulty urinating (increased frequency, false urge to empty the bladder, urinary retention, pain or burning when urinating).
pathological secretion
The cause of pathological discharge can be a variety of diseases. Infections of the genital tract and urinary system, foreign bodies, injuries, tumors - all this can provoke an increase in the volume of the secret, a change in its color or consistency. It is quite difficult to make a diagnosis based on flow type alone. If you experience any incomprehensible symptoms, you should see a doctor.
Options for pathological discharge from the penis:
Mucous
Abundant, viscous and thick, clear or milky-white discharge from the penis indicates the development of an infection. Similar symptoms are characteristic of the chronic course of chlamydia, mycoplasma and ureaplasma infections, trichomoniasis. Other symptoms of the disease (itching, burning, dysuric phenomena) are mild or absent.
Transparent mucous discharge from the penis can be a sign of such pathological conditions:
- Spermatorrhea: the release of sperm outside of sexual arousal, without an erection or orgasm. The cause of spermatorrhea is a decreased tone of the muscles of the vas deferens as a result of inflammation or impaired innervation. In the study, spermatozoa are detected in the material.
- Prostatorrhoea - spontaneous discharge from the prostate. It occurs with inflammation of the prostate and the appearance of tumors.
Purulent
The thick yellow and greenish-yellow discharge is found in many sexually transmitted diseases (including gonorrhea). Pus is a collection of dead cells of the epithelium of the urethra, mucus and a large number of leukocytes. In the acute stage, there is itching and burning in the intimate zone, discomfort when urinating. Possible increase in body temperature. In the case of the transition of infection to the bladder and the development of cystitis, dysuric phenomena appear in the form of frequent and painful urination or urinary retention.
Bloody
The volume of blood released from the urethra can be different: from a slight staining of the discharge in brown or pink color to unequivocal bleeding. The cause of the appearance of blood may be an injury to the urethra or bladder (including the entry of foreign bodies or careless instrumental diagnostics). Bloody discharge is a common symptom of neoplasms of the prostate, urethra, and other organs of the urogenital area.
To do?
The appearance of any suspicious discharge from the penis - sheaths to contact a urologist. Many diseases of the genital organs and the urinary system are similar to each other, and self-diagnosis will not work. Often the disease even takes on an atypical course, and only a doctor can understand the full range of symptoms. Do not postpone a visit to a specialist and hope that the problem will resolve itself in a miraculous way.
At the first visit, the doctor always asks about complaints, examines the patient and takes material for research. Other actions of the doctor will depend on the results obtained. Based on the results of the examination, the optimal therapy regimen is selected to eliminate unpleasant symptoms and restore health.
conclusions
Discharge from the penis is a symptom that occurs in a variety of diseases, from infections to oncology. Self-medication for any incomprehensible discharge is not allowed. Uncontrolled drug intake or the use of traditional medicine techniques can aggravate the course of the disease and lead to an unfavorable outcome. Trust your health to a professional. Compliance with all the doctor's recommendations will help avoid the development of complications and speed up recovery.