White discharge in men is a common occurrence.
But before you seek help from a doctor, you should find out what is normal and what should be alarming.
The appearance of such signs can be caused by various factors.
Normal body condition
Discharge from the urethra in men can occur due to normal processes occurring in the body. Not every time such a 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 can be different:
- 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 this occurs when waking up or having an erection in the morning.
- The appearance of sperm during intercourse or during wet dreams.
- The so-called prostorrhea of defecation is the appearance of discharge from the opening of the urethra. This is explained by the fact that the prostate fits tightly to the walls of the rectum, so during the passage of feces, the prostate can be compressed, which causes fluid to come out of the urethra.
- A small amount of prostate secretion can also be released during urination, the so-called micturative prostorrhea.
Discharge from the urethra in men is not always a sign of any inflammatory process. These symptoms are episodic. White discharge does not lead to pain, there are no male disorders and therefore there is no reason for concern.
What should worry?
The male body is designed in such a way that any change in its functioning is immediately visible to men. As soon as such a discharge from the urethra has become a frequent occurrence, they change their color and consistency, you should consult a doctor. It must be said about the signs:
- The discharge in men, which appears from the urethra, is of a pathological nature, there are gray, yellow, green liquids.
- If blood appears in the urine during urination, you should immediately seek help from a doctor.
- If an unpleasant smell emanates from the penis, then this is a clear sign of the inflammatory process and the activity of microorganisms, which can lead to inflammation, a white liquid appears.
- Pathological discharge, unlike normal, is released, accompanied by pain, discomfort. These symptoms are especially aggravated by urination or agitation.
- Discharge in men may indicate the presence of the disease. In this case, they can often be confused with ordinary ones, so they are the most difficult to recognize. On the other hand, the delay can lead to a chronic form of the disease.
What should be done to recognize the danger in time? You should be especially attentive to your health and follow a number of rules:
- More care should be taken when visiting the toilet after sleeping. During the period of sleep, secretions can accumulate in the urethra, so if they do occur, it is much easier to distinguish them in the morning.
- Underwear is of particular importance. If even during the whole day at least one drop is visible from the urethra, after drying, it will leave a visible mark.
- When you press 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 lead to the appearance of such phenomena.
- The lips of the opening of the urethra stick together or crusts form on them - all this may indicate the release of fluid, which then dries up.
- Most STDs are sexually transmitted, so you shouldn't forget that either. If, after accidental contact, there is white discharge, you should seek help, self-medication is not recommended.
What can it be related to?
White discharge from the urethra or other white fluids are important signs of an inflammatory process. The same should be said for purulent discharge. Doctors can extract enough information if they study the secreted fluid and make a diagnosis, start treatment.
Discharge in men can indicate the following diseases:
- Urethritis is the most common cause. The urethra tries to protect itself independently with the help of glands, which is why white mucus appears on its mucosa in the necessary amount.
- Sexually transmitted diseases, which include 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 secretions, their color and transparency are the result of any process that occurs in a man's body. Therefore, a certain color of 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, yellow, sometimes green, discharge appears.
- White mucus, resembling a 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 can be a white discharge, which then changes to yellow. This happens if the body has time to respond to a problem in the body.
What should be done in such situations?
Allotments in men immediately become a reason to go to the doctor, if the issue is not related to 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 needed.
You should not treat yourself or try to treat yourself, you should visit a urologist or venereologist. The doctor, in coordination with the patient, will prescribe studies that include secretion microscopy, nutrient inoculation, or polymerase chain reaction if previous methods have not yielded results.
Before visiting a medical institution, it is not recommended to take medication, as this can complicate the diagnosis of the disease. When a venereal disease is diagnosed, both partners undergo examination so that there is no re-infection in the future. If inflammation and mucus are found in both, treatment is prescribed for each partner.
Penile discharge is one of the most frequent complaints with which men seek help from a urologist. After questioning and examining the patient, the doctor may prescribe additional examinations to establish an accurate diagnosis. The methods of modern medicine make it possible to quickly discover the cause of pathological secretions and choose the optimal therapy regimen, taking into account all the features of the course of the disease.
Physiological secretions
Penile discharge actually comes from different parts of the genitourinary system. The resulting secretion may 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 an 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:
Libidinous urethra
Under this term, physiological secretions from the urethra (urethra) are secreted during awakening. Secretions are secreted by glands located in and around the urethra (paraurethral and bulburethral glands). The resulting secretion maintains an alkaline environment in the urethra, favorable for the promotion of spermatozoa. Libidinous urethrorhoea occurs only in men of reproductive age. In old age, the urethral glands atrophy and secretion stops.
The volume of secretions during sexual arousal is variable and depends on the individual characteristics of the organism. The normal secretion of the urethral glands is transparent, mucous, without impurities of pus or blood. A significant increase in discharge volume requires a consultation with a urologist.
cum
Semen is a mixture of prostate secretion and spermatozoa. Normally, the ejaculate is thick, white, without foreign inclusions. Sperm is released during ejaculation during sexual intercourse or during masturbation. It is possible to release a small amount of sperm during wet dreams - involuntary ejaculation at night. Pollution appears in boys 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 here about the benefits and harms of abstinence).
Smegma
Smegma is a secret secreted by the glands of the foreskin and glans penis. Fresh smegma is gray to white, turning yellow over time. Depending on intimate hygiene, the volume of smegma will be small. A significant accumulation of smegma is observed with insufficient self-care. Such a discharge can be taken as a symptom of the disease, and also cause 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:
- increased volume of secretions;
- change in consistency (discharge becomes too liquid or thick);
- change in color to yellow, yellow-green, brown;
- appearance of blood impurities;
- the appearance of unpleasant sensations: itching, burning, pain in the intimate area;
- dysuria, or impaired urination (increased frequency, false urge to empty the bladder, urinary retention, pain or burning during urination).
Pathological discharge
The cause of pathological discharge can be a number of diseases. Infections of the genital tract and urinary system, foreign bodies, injuries, tumors - all this can lead to an increase in the volume of secretion, a change in its color or consistency. It is quite difficult to make a diagnosis based on the type of discharge alone. If you have any incomprehensible symptoms, you should consult a doctor.
Options for pathological discharge from the penis:
Mucosa
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 infections of chlamydia, mycoplasma and ureaplasma, 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:
- Spermatorhea - release of sperm outside of sexual arousal, without erection and orgasm. The cause of spermatorrhoea is a decrease in muscle tone of the vas deferens as a result of inflammation or damaged innervation. In the study, spermatozoa are detected in the material.
- Prostatorrhea - spontaneous secretion of the prostate. It occurs with inflammation of the prostate gland and the appearance of tumors.
purulent
Thick yellow and yellow-green discharge is found in many sexually transmitted diseases (including gonorrhea). Pus is a collection of dead cells of the urethral epithelium, mucus and a large number of leukocytes. In the acute phase, there is itching and burning in the intimate area, discomfort during urination. Possible increase in body temperature. In the case of passing the infection to the bladder and the development of cystitis, dysuric phenomena appear in the form of frequent and painful urination or retention of urine.
Bloody
The volume of blood released from the urethra can be different: from a slight coloring of the secretion in brown or pink to unclear bleeding. The cause of the appearance of blood can be an injury to the urethra or bladder (including the entry of foreign bodies or careless instrumental diagnosis). Bloody discharge is a common symptom of neoplasms of the prostate, urethra and other organs of the urogenital area.
What should be done?
The appearance of any suspicious discharge from the penis - pods to contact a urologist. Many diseases of the genital organs and urinary system are similar to each other, and self-diagnosis will not work. Often, the disease even takes an atypical course, and only a doctor can understand all the variety of symptoms. Don't put off a visit to a specialist and expect the problem to magically resolve itself.
At the first visit, the doctor always asks about complaints, examines the patient and takes materials for research. Further actions of the doctor will depend on the results obtained. Based on the results of the examination, the optimal therapy regimen is selected to get rid of unpleasant symptoms and restore health.
conclusions
Discharge from the penis is a symptom that appears in a number of diseases from infection to oncology. Self-medication for any incomprehensible discharge is not allowed. Uncontrolled intake of drugs or use of traditional medicine techniques can worsen 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.