Male discharge a reason to see an andrologist

Discharge from the genitourinary tract is primarily noticed in men during or after urination. You need to be able to differentiate between normal physiological discharge and pathological discharge, which is often the first sign of genitourinary disease. The nature of the discharge allows us to determine the cause of the disease and make a preliminary diagnosis.

Types of pathological discharge in men

Pathological discharge is caused by diseases of the genitourinary tract and its adjacent organs. Pathological factors characterized by various etiologies can cause damage to the urethra, leading to the appearance of discharge. This process is called leukourethritis (urethritis). Pathological factors may be infectious, chemical, or mechanical in nature.

Mucopurulent discharge

• This secretion consists of serous exudate, urogenital mucus, and a small number of leukocytes. They have the appearance of a translucent milky liquid.
• This secretion can serve as a signal for trichomoniasis, chlamydiasis, and ureaplasmasis. These diseases are rarely accompanied by aches, pains, and itching. Basically, their manifestations are limited to mucopurulent discharge after urination.

purulent discharge

• Their appearance is considered a symptom of infectious urethritis. Purulent discharge consists of damaged epithelial cells of the genitourinary tract and urethral mucus. Their white blood cell concentration increases. Purulent discharge looks like a thick fluid that is completely yellow or slightly green.
• Typically, this discharge is accompanied by pain during urination, pain, itching, burning sensation, and is often profuse. The most common are symptoms of trichomoniasis and gonorrhea.

white discharge

When white discharge occurs, men should pay attention to its consistency.

• The white discharge has a cheese-like consistency.Basically, this discharge indicates candidiasis (thrush) in men and is rare. Candidiasis can be caused by the course of chemotherapy or antibiotics and a weakened immune system; it is not sexually transmitted.
• White discharge with frothy consistency.This discharge is often a sign of trichomoniasis and may also indicate chronic prostatitis. If the cause is prostatitis, the discharge is usually accompanied by a decrease or loss of potency and difficulty urinating.

diagnosis

No matter how pathological discharge looks, men must consult a urologist. Only a doctor can correctly diagnose a disease and choose a treatment; diagnosing it yourself is useless. In order to accurately determine the cause of the discharge, samples are usually taken for culture in nutrient media and bacteriological studies. Other diagnostic tools depend on the suspected disease; may be urography, CT, ultrasound.

treat

Treatment options depend on the symptoms of the disease the man is expelling.

• STDs.In this case, both parties must undergo treatment. Typically, this is antimicrobial therapy, judiciously combined with immunomodulatory drugs. Local treatments (physical therapy, prostate massage, placing medications in the urethra) and special diets are sometimes added. The specific plan depends on the type of STD.
• thrush.In most cases, candidiasis in men can be eliminated with topical treatments, but in advanced cases, general medical treatment is required. In addition, patients are required to take drugs that strengthen the patient's immunity and a special diet.

Penis discharge

Penile discharge is considered normal if it does not cause inconvenience or other negative signs. Otherwise, they are symptoms of various sexually transmitted diseases or diseases of the genitourinary system and other structures of the body.

How to distinguish between normal and pathological conditions?

symbol	specification	deviation
Appearance time and frequency	Before, during or after sexual intercourse, during sexual excitement	Regardless of the degree of intimacy, dripping sometimes continues after sleeping, urinating, and defecating.
smell	Characteristic (egg white or maroon) or tasteless	Rancid, sour, foul, fishy smell, etc.
color, consistency	Clear or whitish, the consistency is usually similar to raw protein, sometimes viscous	Clotted, sticky, white, green, brown, scattered with clots and pus. Can be transparent when viral illness occurs
Other symptoms	No	Itching, burning, redness, pain

When is penile discharge normal?

Healthy adult men do not have any type of strong discharge at rest. However, in some cases this is the norm:

1. prickham. When sexually aroused, a viscous, colorless substance—a lubricant—is released, creating a favorable environment for the proper transport of sperm. Doctors will suspect a problem if there are symptoms of heavy pre-ejaculation and low sexual arousal.
2. ejaculation. We're not talking about ejaculation at the end of sex, but the residue that sometimes occurs after intimacy. Usually this is a few drops of white or colorless liquid.
3. Ejaculation during wet dream. This is involuntary ejaculation due to sexual overstimulation and increased testosterone levels. Often appears in dreams.
4. Smegma is the secretion of glands located in the petal area of the foreskin.. Used as a protective fluid and lubricant for the glans penis. Thanks to it, it does not dry out, become inflamed or hurt. The amount of smegma is very small and almost invisible on the underwear. However, it can increase with hormonal changes; this is also normal if the imbalance is not related to pathology.Large amounts of smegma can enter the urethra, where it can accumulate and "discolor", forming congealed flakes, much like thrush. This is also considered conditional normalcy: if adequate hygiene is observed, the problem will disappear.

When is discharge a symptom of an illness?

Men should consult a doctor if they notice unnatural discharge from their penis. Without medical education and diagnostic equipment, it is difficult to determine the disease independently.The most common pathologies associated with the appearance or changes in penile discharge are STDs, inflammatory processes, and dysfunction of the muscle structure and central nervous system.

sexually transmitted diseases

Sexually transmitted infections are initially asymptomatic and have an incubation period of 7 to 21 days, sometimes up to 6 months. Discharge occurs when infected with:

• hepatitis;
• HIV;
• gonorrhea;
• Chlamydia;
• Trichomoniasis;
• Candidiasis;
• Ureaplasmosis;
• human papillomavirus;
• Mycoplasmosis;
• AIDS.

Chlamydia, Ureaplasma, and Mycoplasma first cause clear, thick discharge. The only sign of pathology is the absence of the cause of naturally occurring fluid. Further pathology leads to changes in the color and consistency of the secretion - it becomes translucent, mucus-like, reminiscent of pus.Gonorrhea is characterized by a foul-smelling green or brown substance. accompanied by severe pain and itching.Hepatitis usually causes a small amount of fluid to leak; the fluid settles on the glans penis and dries to form a white coating. A typical additional symptom is cloudy and dark urine.Candidiasis is accompanied by the appearance of caseous clots, but their number is significantly less than that of "thrush" in women. Itching, burning, and redness of the head.With trichomoniasis, stretchy, translucent mucus occurs, along with frequent urination and pain and itching. The urethra swells and the surrounding area becomes red and inflamed.

inflammatory process

Lesions that cause penile discharge are not always spread through sexual intercourse. Sometimes the problem occurs in the context of spread of infection after tactile contact or through airborne droplets.A large number of bacteria, viruses, and fungi can cause an inflammatory response. Abnormal discharge occurs due to inflammation of the urethra, spermatic cord, spermatic tubercle, prostate, foreskin and other parts of the reproductive system.The type of discharge depends on the microorganism causing the disease. For example, bacteria cause the appearance of pus almost immediately: the mucus has a foul odor and an unpleasant color.

Changes in sperm quantity and quality

It is a pathology if sperm flows without prior arousal and subsequent orgasm. The doctor diagnosed it as nocturnal emission. The cause is muscle imbalance and central nervous system problems. It mostly occurs in the elderly or late-stage prostatitis and prostate adenoma.Bloody discharge - hematospermia, occurs in urethral malignant tumors, penile cancer, and trauma. Sometimes it's the result of stones passing through the urinary tract.

diagnosis

After listening to the patient's complaints and taking a medical history, the urologist examines the genitals. In this case, the specialist simultaneously extracts prostatic fluid through rectal massage. Further laboratory testing is required:

• blood analysis;
• Prostatic secretion;
• urinalysis;
• sperm.

It is important to evaluate the discharge itself. To do this, they need to undergo microscopic examination. It is this method that allows you to identify the main source of the problem - bacteria, viruses, fungi.Next, the doctor continues with instrument diagnosis:

• Ultrasound examination of pelvic organs, penis, and scrotum;
• Dopplerography;
• radiography;
• MRI;
• CT;
• Cystoscopy;
• Urethroscopy;
• Scintigraphy.

If a tumor is found during the examination, the diagnostician will perform a puncture.

treat

Treatment depends on the diagnosis. First, doctors prescribe drugs suitable for the elimination of pathogenic microbiota:

• antibiotic;
• antiviral substances;
• Antifungal.

Urologists prescribe medications primarily by mouth and sometimes by intravenous or intramuscular injection.Additionally, a course of antihistamines and painkillers will be needed to relieve symptoms. Topical medications—anti-itch creams, gels, ointments—can help relieve itching.Patients require sitz baths with sedatives, analgesics, or anti-inflammatory medications. Washing after each urination can help prevent the spread of infection.If the problem lies in a central nervous system disease or endocrine pathology, doctors will call in highly specialized specialists for treatment.

additional therapy

Urogenital problems should be treated comprehensively. In addition to medication, doctors may also choose:

• Rectal prostate massage;
• waist massage therapy;
• exercise therapy;
• physiotherapy;
• Reflexology.

These procedures restore natural metabolism and prevent stagnation. Urologists prescribe a special diet that helps enhance male health. It is necessary to take multivitamins: vitamins C, E, A, and B.

prevention

In most cases, the cause of penile discharge is a sexually transmitted disease. Therefore, the most effective prevention measures are careful partner selection and the use of barrier contraception.Urologists also recommend following some rules:

1. Live an active lifestyle.
2. Monitor your health and get preventive check-ups.
3. Treat any lesions promptly.
4. Wear loose-fitting underwear and long pants.
5. Avoid changing sexual partners frequently.
6. Watch your diet. The diet should contain the necessary vitamins, trace elements and macroelements for men: selenium, zinc, magnesium, calcium.