Allowances for men: norm or pathology?

Discharge from a man's penis can reveal 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 should pay close attention to them, observe changes in color, smell, consistency, etc.

Discharge from the male genital organ refers to all discharge from the urethra, sebaceous and skin glands, prostatic duct and ejaculatory duct. According to the nature of their occurrence, they are divided into physiological and pathological. The latter appear as a result of the development of an infectious, inflammatory or other disease of the prostate, bladder or other organ of the genitourinary system.

Everything is normal: physiological discharge

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

• urethrorrhea;
• 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 excitement. The purpose of the secret is to lubricate the ducts before the passage of sperm.

The amount of urethrorrhea excreted may 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, accompanied by urethrorrhea, a small amount of semen may be released, which will change color.

It should be noted that in the event that the amount of discharge has become larger 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 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 is made up of fats and bacteria. It accumulates under the inner leaf of the foreskin. Subject to daily hygiene procedures, 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 decay and rot. From there, it changes color from transparent white to yellow or green. There is an unpleasant smell.

Sperm

Semen refers to the physiological secretions of the male sexual organ. Usually semen is a mixture of gonad and sperm secretion, released during sexual contact or masturbation. Although men also face the involuntary release of semen, called wet dreams. Most often, they occur in boys during adolescence, at the time of puberty or in the event of prolonged abstinence. Involuntary ejaculation occurs at night or early in the morning, as it is associated with testosterone production.

Natural male secretions also include urine, the color of which can be transparent, yellow or light brown, and the secretion of the prostate. The specific smell of spermine will help distinguish prostorrhea. The discharge is thick and whitish in color. A change in the amount of secretions, 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 the own conditionally pathogenic flora;
• oncological diseases;
• STDs;
• consequences of operations or injuries.

In addition, pathological discharges differ in color. They can be white, gray, yellow, brown, etc. Also, there may be an admixture of blood or pus. The nature of the discharge can be rare or abundant, they can be distributed constantly or periodically, for example, in the morning or after going to the toilet, etc.

Different diseases often have similar secretions, but at the same time one disease can manifest itself in different ways in different representatives of the stronger sex. It is impossible to self-diagnose the disease by secretions. If you notice changes in their color, abundance, smell or the presence of an admixture of mucus, blood or pus, you should definitely consult a doctor and undergo the necessary studies.

Discharge from the penis associated with STDs

Sexually transmitted diseases are most often accompanied by:

1. Transparent mucous secretions, which are viscous. Usually their small number indicates the presence of mycoplasmic or ureaplasmic urethritis, or the development of chronic chlamydia. Microscopic examination shows a moderate amount of leukocytes.
2. Mucopurulent 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 rotting smell and are very dense. They also contain an increased number of leukocytes and microscopic particles of the epithelium. The 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 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. At the end of treatment, the disease attacks with renewed vigor, so you should not start the disease and self-medicate. The appointment of an effective treatment depends on the correct diagnosis. And it is impossible to establish it, 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, the fungus Candida, E. coli, streptococcus and others. Usually it does not make itself felt, but under certain conditions (hypothermia, stress, weakening of the immune system) it can provoke 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 nongonococcal urethritis (inflammation of the urethra). Their characteristic feature is a slight profusion, which may increase between large breaks in urination. The disease is not characterized by other symptoms (pain, itching), or they are very weakly expressed.
2. Balanoposthitis is accompanied by abundant mucous secretions of yellow or green color, sometimes accompanied by pus. Symptoms of inflammation of the foreskin are its strong redness, as well as pain and redness of the head of the penis.
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 changes to the chronic form, it changes color to whitish and decreases in quantity.
4. Candidiasis or thrush caused by Candida fungus is accompanied by a curdled discharge with a characteristic sour odor. 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 treatment with radio waves, as well as other factors that depress the immune system.
5. Gardnerellosis of the urethra occurs as a result of a violation of the microflora (dysbacteriosis) and is accompanied by rare 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 these secretions are mechanical damage, diseases of the nervous system, oncology, etc.

1. Spermatorrhea - spontaneously flowing sperm. The appearance of such secretions is in no way associated with sexual intercourse or masturbation. Semen flow is not accompanied by orgasm. The cause of this phenomenon is most often neurological diseases, as well as spinal injuries. The vas 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 during the process of taking a smear, instrumental examination, installation of a catheter, etc. Also, spotting after urination may indicate kidney stones, a tumor, or another serious condition.
3. Prostatorrhea - secretion of prostate secretion. The cause of prostorrhea is the relaxation of the muscles of the excretory duct of the prostate. A similar phenomenon often accompanies prostatitis or adenoma.
4. A brown discharge with or without mucus may indicate cancer of the prostate, bladder, penis, or urethra. The discharge may contain blood clots or pus.

Tests 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 complaining of discharge from the penis should undergo a series of studies that will help determine the cause of its occurrence. A doctor's examination 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 obligatory 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 pressed, etc.

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

The following clinical studies also help establish 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 establishing a diagnosis. This study allows not only to establish the pathogen, but also the prescription of the disease, its course, etc. The presence of an inflammatory process associated with an 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 give the most truthful information about the patient's state of health, it is necessary to prepare for the taking procedure. Before taking a smear, you can not urinate for at least 2 hours, or 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 should be completed 2 weeks before the study.

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

• Kidney, bladder or prostate ultrasound;
• computed tomography;
• urography.

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

If a patient asks for help with heavy spotting, he is immediately admitted to the hospital. In other cases, treatment is carried out after establishing 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 exacerbates the problem and can lead to the development of complications. If you are worried about your men's health, unusual discharge appears, do not postpone the visit to the urologist.