There are few women who know that men also have discharge. As with women, they appear normal and odorless in men. Only in women is it called "leukorrhea" and they appear from the vagina, while men run from the urethra. Of course, any pathological discharge indicates poor health and requires a visit to the doctor.
Psychological discharge
Human health is evidenced by physiological discharge from the urethral outlet, which is observed in the following cases:
Libidal or physiological urethrosis
This condition is observed when a clear discharge appears during sexual arousal or in the morning, immediately after sleep. Their number varies in different men and is directly related to the severity of sexual arousal. But in any case, it is important to remember that such a discharge, when aroused, contains a small amount of sperm, so if they reach the genitals of the partner, there is a risk of getting pregnant. The function of the described secretions is to ensure the passage of sperm through the urethra and vagina of a woman, where there is an acidic environment that is destructive to the "gums", and their introduction in a sustainable form into the cavity and fallopian tubes to fertilize the egg.
Defective prostatitis
During an increase in intra-abdominal pressure (on exertion), a clear, odorless discharge with possible gray-white streaks may appear on the head of the penis. Such a discharge is viscous and consists of a mixture of prostate secretions and seminal vesicles. Such discharge may appear at the end of urination, in which case they speak of loud prostatitis. In exceptional cases, such discharge occurs with a strong cough. They are not considered organic pathology, but only indicate a violation of the autonomic regulation of the functioning of the sexual organs.
Smegma
Smegma (preputial lubrication) is a secretion that consists of secretions from the sebaceous glands on the head of the penis and the foreskin. Usually, if a man adheres to the rules of personal hygiene, such discharge does not create discomfort, because it is mechanically rinsed with water. But if hygiene is neglected, smegma accumulates, and microorganisms multiply in it, which serve as a source of unpleasant odor.
Sperm isolation
Sperm, which contain a large number of sperm, are normally secreted during ejaculation (ejaculation) at the end of intercourse or spontaneously, during sleep (wet dreams). Pollution occurs in adolescents and occurs several times a month or 1 to 3 times a week (hormonal changes).
In some cases, spermatorrhea, or the outflow of sperm from the urethra without sexual intercourse and orgasm, indicates pathology when the tone of the muscular layer of the vas deferens is disturbed in the presence of chronic inflammation or brain disease.
Pathological discharge
All other secretions that go beyond physiological are pathological and indicate primarily inflammation of the urethra or urethritis. The causes of urethritis in men are different, they can be contagious and non-infectious.
Infectious causes are divided into specific and nonspecific.
- Specific etiological factors include sexually transmitted diseases such as trichomoniasis.
- Nonspecific infectious urethritis is caused by opportunistic bacteria, viruses and fungi:
- chlamydial urethritis;
- ureaplasma and mycoplasma urethritis;
- candidal 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
- urethral irritation by chemicals
- trauma, narrowing of the urethra.
Male discharge can vary in transparency and color. These parameters are influenced by the intensity of the inflammatory process, its stage and etiological factor. Excretions are formed from fluid, mucus and various cells.
- Blurred - if there are a large number of cells, the discharge has a cloudy color.
- Gray or dense - with the predominance of epithelial cells in the secretions, they become gray and dense.
- Yellow, green or yellow-green - when there is a large number of leukocytes in the secretion, they become yellow, and even green, they are also called purulent secretions.
It should be noted that with the same pathology the nature of the discharge changes over time.
White discharge
White discharge in men occurs for several reasons. First of all, candidiasis should be ruled out. The following symptoms are observed in this disease:
- the head of the penis smells unpleasantly of sourdough or yeast;
- the head of the penis is covered with a whitish coating;
- Itching, burning, and even pain in the penis and perineal region have been observed;
- discharge occurs when urinating;
- there are reddish spots (irritation, inflammation) on the head and inner surface of the foreskin;
- pain occurs during coitus, discomfort is felt in the head and foreskin;
- white discharge is noticed, not only during urination;
- the partner complains of itching and burning, pain during intercourse, has a cheesy discharge.
In addition to urogenital candidiasis, white discharge can be caused by chlamydia and / or ureaplasmosis and mycoplasmosis, and also speaks of inflammation of the prostate, which is characterized by:
- Difficulty and intermittent urination
- tingling in the perineum and urethra;
- discomfort during bowel movements;
- frequent need to urinate;
- sexual disorders (decreased libido and erection, rapid ejaculation, blurred orgasm).
It is important for men to remember that neglected prostatitis can lead not only to permanent erectile dysfunction, but also to infertility.
Transparent selections
- Chlamydia, ureaplasmosis - a clear mucous discharge is possible with chlamydial or ureaplasmic urethritis in the chronic stage of the disease. As the process worsens, the number of leukocytes in the secretions increases and take on a greenish or yellowish color.
- Trichomoniasis, gonorrhea - also a transparent, abundant discharge with a lot of mucus, which is noticed during the day, are possible in the initial stage of infection with trichomonas or gonococci. In the case of chlamydia (ureaplasmosis), subjective feelings are often absent (pain, itching, burning), and a clear discharge appears after prolonged abstinence from urination.
Yellow discharge
The purulent discharge, which includes the desquamated epithelium of the urethra, a significant number of leukocytes, and urinary mucus, is yellowish or greenish. Yellow discharge or mixed with greens is a characteristic sign of sexually transmitted diseases.
- Gonorrhea - the discharge is thick and has an unpleasant putrid odor, is noticed during the day and is accompanied by pain when urinating. A man should first consider a gonorrhea infection if there is a classic pair of symptoms: discharge and itching.
- Trichomoniasis - also with a yellow discharge, trichomoniasis is not ruled out, although it is often asymptomatic. With severe symptoms of Trichomonas infection, in addition to pus-like discharge, the man is also concerned about burning and stinging during urination, frequent and irresistible urges to urinate, a feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen, and discomfort in the perineum.
Discharge with odor
Violation of hygiene
The unpleasant smell of the perineum and penis can be especially noticed if the conditions of intimate hygiene are not observed:
- Smegma is an excellent fertile ground for microorganisms that, by multiplying and dying, create an unpleasant odor if you do not wash your external genitalia regularly.
- In addition, smegma itself can have an unpleasant odor in the case of metabolic disorders (for example, diabetes mellitus in men). At the same time, the release of smegma is so intense that it absorbs underwear.
Infections
Odorless discharge is most commonly seen in an infectious urethral lesion. First of all, it is necessary to exclude gonorrheal urethritis - a thick, yellow or green discharge that is noticed during the day.
The sour smell of the discharge is a pathognomonic symptom of urogenital candidiasis. Infection with fungi of the genus Candida causes the appearance of a cheesy or milky white discharge.
The fishy smell of secretions is also possible, which is characteristic of gardnerelosis, which is more characteristic for women (it is called bacterial vaginosis), and in men the development of this disease is quite meaningless. Gardnerella belongs to conditionally pathogenic microorganisms and begins to actively reproduce only under certain conditions:
- weakening of immunity;
- concomitant inflammatory processes of the genitourinary organs;
- intestinal dysbiosis;
- use of condoms with spermicides;
- long-term treatment with antibiotics or immunosuppressants (cytostatics, corticosteroids);
- tight underwear made of synthetic fabrics;
- promiscuous sex life.
Also, an unpleasant-smelling discharge can be with 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 smegma), these diseases are accompanied by hyperemia and itching, pain in the penis, and ulcers and wrinkles are found on the head.
Discharge with blood
Infections
Bloody discharge or discharge with streaks of blood is often observed with an infectious lesion of the urethra. Blood supplementation is characteristic of gonorrhea, trichomonas or candidal urethritis. Moreover, the amount of blood is directly related to the intensity of inflammation.
Blood is often seen in chronic urethritis (the lining of the urethra is relaxed and responds by contact bleeding to the slightest irritation, including the passage of urine through the canal).
Medical manipulations
Another reason for that is urethral trauma during medical procedures. In the case of rough bougienage, catheter insertion and removal, cystoscopy or swabbing, spots may appear all at once. They differ in that the blood is crimson, there are no clots, and the bleeding itself stops very quickly.
Passage with stones, sand
Among other things, a bloody discharge can be noticed when small stones or sand (from the kidneys or bladder) pass through the urethra. The hard surface of the microlith damages the mucosa and vascular walls causing bleeding. In this case, the blood is most noticeable when urinating, which is accompanied by pain.
Glomerulonephritis
A large presence of hematuria (blood in the urine, visible during urination) is also possible in the presence of glomerulonephritis. In this case there is a triad of symptoms: major hematuria, edema, high 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.
Isolation of blood by sperm
We must not forget such a symptom as the release of blood by sperm (hematospermia). Distinguish false from true hematospermia. When it is false, the blood mixes with the seminal fluid during its passage through the urethra. And with real blood it enters the ejaculate even before it passes through the urethra. Hematospermia is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- pain during ejaculation;
- urination disorders;
- pain and / or swelling in the genitals (testicles and scrotum);
- discomfort and pain in the lower back;
- fever.
One of the causes of hematospermia is:
- overly active sex life or vice versa,
- prolonged sexual abstinence, while during sexual intercourse the vascular walls in the tissues of the genital organs rupture
- previous surgery or biopsy can also cause blood to appear in the semen
- hematospermia occurs 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.