Few women know that men also have discharge.Just like women, men also experience them normally and they are odorless.Only in women is it called “leucorrhoea” and comes from the vagina, while leaks in men come from the urethra.Of course, any pathological discharge indicates health problems and requires consultation with a doctor.
Physiological secretions
Men's health is indicated by physiological secretion from the outlet of the urethra, which is observed in the following cases:
Libidinal or physiological urethrorrhea
This condition is observed when clear discharge appears during sexual arousal or in the morning immediately after sleeping.Their number varies between different men and is directly related to the severity of sexual arousal.But in any case, it is important to remember that this discharge, when excited, contains a small amount of sperm, therefore, if it reaches the partner's genitals, she runs the risk of becoming pregnant.The function of the secretions described is to ensure the passage of sperm through the woman's urethra and vagina, where there is an acidic environment harmful to the “living”, and they enter in a viable form into the uterine cavity and tubes to fertilize the egg.
Defecational prostatorrhea
During an increase in intra-abdominal pressure (during straining), a transparent, odorless secretion with possible grayish-white streaks may appear on the head of the penis.This secretion is viscous and consists of a mixture of secretions from the prostate and seminal vesicles.Similar discharge may appear after the end of urination, in which case we speak of urinary prostatorrhea.In exceptional cases, this discharge appears with a strong cough.They are not considered an organic pathology, but only indicate a violation of the autonomic regulation of the functioning of the genital organs.
Smegma
Smegma (preputial lubricant) is a secretion consisting of secretions from the sebaceous glands of the head of the penis and foreskin.Normally, if a man follows the rules of personal hygiene, this discharge does not cause inconvenience, as it is washed off mechanically with water.But if hygiene is neglected, smegma accumulates and microorganisms multiply in it, which serves as a source of unpleasant odors.
sperm release
Sperm, which contains a large number of sperm, is normally released during ejaculation (ejaculation) at the end of sexual intercourse or spontaneously during sleep (emission).Pollutions are seen in adolescent boys and occur several times a month or 1–3 times a week (hormonal changes).
In some cases, spermatorrhoea, that is, the secretion of sperm from the urethra without sexual intercourse and orgasm, indicates a pathology when the tone of the muscular layer of the vas deferens is disturbed due to chronic inflammation or brain diseases.
Pathological discharge
All other secretions that go beyond the physiological are pathological and indicate, first of all, inflammation of the urethra or urethritis.The causes of urethritis in men are different;they can be infectious and non-infectious.
Infectious causes are divided into specific and nonspecific.
- Specific etiological factors include sexually transmitted diseases - trichomoniasis.
- Nonspecific infectious urethritis is caused by opportunistic bacteria, viruses and fungi:
- chlamydial urethritis;
- urethritis due to ureaplasma and mycoplasma;
- Candida urethritis or urogenital candidiasis in men;
- herpetic urethritis and others (Escherichia coli, streptococci, staphylococci).
Non-infectious inflammatory factors include:
- allergic reactions
- mechanical damage to the urethral mucosa
- irritation of the urethra from chemicals
- trauma, narrowing of the urethra.
Male discharge can vary in clarity and color.These parameters are influenced by the intensity of the inflammatory process, its stage and etiological factor.The discharge is made up of fluid, mucus and various cells.
- Cloudy - if there are a large number of cells, the secretion will have a cloudy color.
- Gray or thick - when epithelial cells predominate in secretions, they acquire a grayish color and become thick.
- Yellow, green or yellow-green - when the secretion contains a large number of leukocytes, they turn yellow and even green;they are also called purulent discharge.
It should be noted that with the same pathology, the nature of the secretion changes over time.
White discharge
White discharge in men occurs for several reasons.First of all, candidiasis must be excluded.The following symptoms are observed with this disease:
- the head of the penis has an unpleasant smell of sour bread or yeast;
- the head of the penis is covered with a whitish coating;
- there is itching, burning and even pain in the penis and perineum;
- discharge appears when urinating;
- there are reddish spots (irritation, inflammation) on the head and on the inner surface of the foreskin;
- pain occurs during intercourse, discomfort is felt in the head and foreskin area;
- white discharge is not only observed during urination;
- the partner complains of itching and burning, pain during sexual intercourse and has viscous discharge.
In addition to urogenital candidiasis, white discharge can be caused by chlamydia and/or ureaplasmosis and mycoplasmosis, as well as talking about inflammation of the prostate gland, which is characterized by:
- difficulty and intermittent urination;
- burning sensation in the perineum and urethra;
- discomfort during bowel movements;
- frequent urge to urinate;
- sexual disorders (decreased libido and erection, rapid ejaculation, loss of orgasm).
It is important for men to remember that advanced prostatitis can lead not only to persistent erectile dysfunction, but also to infertility.
Transparent selections
- Chlamydia, ureaplasmosis - clear mucous discharge is possible with chlamydial urethritis or ureaplasma in the chronic stage of the disease.As the process worsens, the number of leukocytes in the secretion increases and they acquire a greenish or yellowish color.
- Trichomoniasis, gonorrhea - also clear and profuse discharge with a large amount of mucus, observed during the day, is possible at the initial stage of infection with Trichomonas or gonococci.In the case of chlamydia (ureaplasmosis), there are often no subjective sensations (pain, itching, burning) and a clear discharge appears after prolonged abstinence from urination.
Yellow discharge
The purulent secretion, which includes desquamated epithelium of the urethra, a significant number of leukocytes and urethral mucus, is yellowish or greenish in color.Discharge that is yellow or mixed with greenery is a characteristic sign of sexually transmitted diseases.
- Gonorrhea - the discharge is thick and has an unpleasant putrid odor, observed throughout the day and accompanied by pain when urinating.A man should first think about a gonorrheal infection if he has the classic pair of symptoms: discharge and itching.
- Trichomoniasis - also with yellow discharge, trichomoniasis cannot be ruled out, although it is often asymptomatic.With severe symptoms of trichomonas infection, in addition to purulent discharge, a man is bothered by burning and pain when urinating, frequent and irresistible urge to urinate, a feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen and discomfort in the perineum.
Discharge with odor
Bad hygiene
An unpleasant odor from the perineum and the penis in particular can also be observed if intimate hygiene conditions are not observed:
- Smegma is an excellent breeding ground for microorganisms which, when they multiply and die, create an unpleasant odor if the external genitalia are not washed well regularly.
- Furthermore, smegma itself may have an unpleasant odor if there is a metabolic disorder (e.g. diabetes mellitus in men).In this case, the smegma secretion is so intense that it penetrates the underwear.
Infections
Odorous discharge is most often observed in infectious lesions of the urethra.First of all, gonorrheal urethritis must be excluded - thick, yellow or green discharge that is observed throughout the day.
The sour smell of discharge is a pathognomonic symptom of urogenital candidiasis.Infection with fungi of the genus Candida causes the appearance of curdled or milky-white discharge.
A fishy smell in the discharge is also possible, inherent in gardnerellosis, which is more typical in women (called bacterial vaginosis), and in men the development of this disease is quite absurd.Gardnerella is a conditionally pathogenic microorganism and begins to reproduce actively only under certain conditions:
- weakened immunity;
- concomitant inflammatory processes of the genitourinary organs;
- intestinal dysbiosis;
- use of condoms with spermicides;
- prolonged treatment with antibiotics or immunosuppressants (cytostatics, corticosteroids);
- tight underwear made of synthetic fabric;
- promiscuous sex life.
In addition, discharge with an unpleasant odor can occur due to diseases such as:
- balanitis (inflammation of the head of the penis)
- balanoposthitis (inflammation of the inner surface of the foreskin).
But in addition to discharge (not from the urethra, but from smegma), these diseases are accompanied by hyperemia and itching, pain in the penis, and ulcers and wrinkles are found on the head.
Bloody discharge
Infections
Bloody or blood-streaked discharge is often seen in infectious lesions of the urethra.An admixture of blood is characteristic of gonorrheal urethritis, trichomonas or candidiasis.Furthermore, the amount of blood is directly related to the intensity of inflammation.
Blood is often seen in chronic urethritis (the mucous membrane of the urethra is loose and responds with contact bleeding to the slightest irritation, including the passage of urine through the canal).
Medical manipulations
Another reason for this is injury to the urethra during medical procedures.In the case of gross bugienage, catheter installation and removal, cystoscopy or smear, immediate bleeding may be observed.They differ in that the blood is scarlet, there are no clots, and the bleeding stops very quickly.
Passing stones, sand
Among other things, bloody discharge can be observed when small stones or sand (from the kidneys or bladder) pass through the urethra.The hard surface of microliths damages the mucous membrane and walls of blood vessels, causing bleeding.In this case, blood is more noticeable when urinating, which is accompanied by pain.
Glomerulonephritis
Macroscopic hematuria (blood in the urine, visible when urinating) is also possible in the presence of glomerulonephritis.In this case, there is a triad of symptoms: macroscopic hematuria, edema, increased blood pressure.
Malignant tumors
One of the signs of malignant tumors of the genitourinary system (cancer of the prostate, penis, testicles and others) is the appearance of blood in men.In this case, the blood will be brown or dark and clots may appear.
Discharge of blood with sperm
We must not forget about such a symptom as the release of blood with sperm (hematospermia).There are false and true hematospermia.In false cases, blood mixes with sperm as it passes through the urethra.And it is true that blood enters the ejaculate before it even passes through the urethra.Hematospermia is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- pain during ejaculation;
- urinary disorders;
- pain and/or swelling in the genitals (testicles and scrotum);
- discomfort and pain in the lower back;
- increase in body temperature.
One of the causes of hematospermia is:
- excessively active sex life or vice versa,
- long-term sexual abstinence, during sexual intercourse there is rupture of the vascular walls in the tissues of the genital organs
- Previous surgery or biopsy can also cause blood in the semen
- hematospermia appears in benign and malignant neoplasms of the genitourinary organs
- in the presence of stones in the testicles and vas deferens
- with varicose veins of the pelvic organs.