There are some women who know that men also experience discharge.Like women, men also experience it as normal and odorless.Only in women it is called "leucorrhoea" and it comes from the vagina, while men's discharge comes from the urethra.Of course, any pathological discharge indicates poor health and requires consultation with a doctor.
Physiological secretions
The health of a man is indicated by the physiological discharge from the urethral outlet, which is observed in the following cases:
Libidinal or physiological urethrorrhea
This condition is observed when clear discharge appears during sexual stimulation or in the morning, immediately after sleep.Their number varies among different men and is directly related to the intensity of sexual stimulation.But in any case, it is important to remember that such discharge, when aroused, contains a small amount of sperm, so if it hits the partner's genitals, he has a risk of pregnancy.The secretory function described is to ensure the passage of sperm through the urethra and vagina of the woman, where there is an acidic environment that is harmful to the "living", and they enter in a viable form into the uterine cavity and tubes for fertilization of the egg.
Prostatorrhea defecating
During increased intra-abdominal pressure (during straining), a transparent, odorless discharge with possible gray-white streaks may appear on the head of the penis.Such discharge is viscous and consists of a mixture of prostate and seminal vesicle secretions.Similar discharge may appear after urination, in which case they talk about urinary prostatorrhea.In exceptional cases, such discharge appears with a strong cough.They are not considered an organic pathology, but only indicate a violation of the autonomous regulation of the function of the genital organs.
Smegma
Smegma (preputial lubricant) is a secretion consisting of secretions from the sebaceous glands of the glans penis and foreskin.Usually, if a man observes the rules of personal hygiene, such discharge does not cause difficulties, because it is washed 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 amount of sperm, is usually released during ejaculation (ejaculation) at the end of sexual intercourse or spontaneously during sleep (ejaculation).Pollution is observed in adolescent boys and occurs either several times a month or 1-3 times a week (hormonal changes).
In some cases, spermatorrhea, that is, the release 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 due to chronic inflammation or brain disease.
Pathological discharge
All other discharges that go beyond physiology are pathological and indicate, first of all, inflammation of the urethra or urethritis.The causes of urethritis in men are different;they can be contagious and non-contagious.
Infectious causes are divided into specific and non-specific.
- Specific etiological factors include the sexually transmitted disease - trichomoniasis.
- Non-specific infectious urethritis caused by bacteria, viruses and opportunistic 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 reaction
- mechanical damage to the urethral mucosa
- irritation of the urethra by chemicals
- trauma, urethral stricture.
Male discharge can vary in clarity and color.These parameters are influenced by the intensity of the inflammatory process, its stage and etiological factors.The discharge is made up of fluid, mucus and various cells.
- Cloudy - if there are a large number of cells, then the discharge has a cloudy color.
- Gray or thick - when epithelial cells predominate in secretion, they acquire a gray color and become thick.
- Yellow, green or yellow-green - when the discharge contains a large number of leukocytes, they become yellow and also green in color;they are also called purulent discharge.
It should be noted that with the same pathology, the nature of the discharge changes over time.
Whiteness
White discharge in men is caused by several reasons.First of all, candidiasis should be excluded.The following symptoms are observed with this disease:
- head of the penis smells unpleasant sour bread or yeast;
- the head of the penis is covered with a whitish coating;
- there is itching, burning and also pain in the penis and perineum;
- discharge appears when urinating;
- there are reddish spots (irritation, inflammation) on the head and inner surface of the foreskin;
- pain occurs during intercourse, discomfort is felt in the area of the head and foreskin;
- white discharge is observed not only during urination;
- partner complains of itching and burning, pain during intercourse, and discharge.
In addition to urogenital candidiasis, white discharge can be caused by chlamydia and/or ureaplasmosis and mycoplasmosis, and also talk 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 (decrease in 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 choice
- Chlamydia, ureaplasmosis - clear mucus discharge is possible with chlamydial or ureaplasma urethritis in the chronic stage of the disease.As the process worsens, the number of leukocytes in the discharge increases, and they acquire a greenish or yellowish color.
- Trichomoniasis, gonorrhea - also clear and abundant discharge with a large amount of mucus, which is observed during the day, is possible in the early stages of infection with Trichomonas or gonococci.In the case of chlamydia (ureaplasmosis), subjective sensations are often absent (pain, itching, burning), and clear discharge appears after prolonged abstinence from urination.
Yellow discharge
Purulent discharge, which includes a desquamated urethral epithelium, a large number of leukocytes and urethral mucus, has a yellowish or greenish color.Yellow discharge or mixed with greenishness is a characteristic sign of sexually transmitted diseases.
- Gonorrhea - the discharge is thick and has an unpleasant odor, is observed throughout the day and is accompanied by pain when urinating.A man should first think about a gonorrhea infection if he has a pair of classic 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 disturbed by burning and pain during urination, frequent and irresistible urge to urinate, heaviness in the lower abdomen and discomfort in the perineum.
Discharge with odor
Poor hygiene
An unpleasant smell on the perineum and penis in particular can also be observed if intimate hygiene conditions are not observed:
- Smegma is an excellent breeding ground for microorganisms that, when they multiply and die, produce an unpleasant odor if the external genitalia are not washed regularly.
- In addition, smegma itself may have an unpleasant odor if there is a metabolic disorder (for example, diabetes mellitus in men).In this case, the secretion of smegma is so strong that it seeps through underwear.
Infection
Discharge with an odor is most often observed with infectious lesions of the urethra.First of all, you should rule out gonorrheal urethritis - thick, yellow or green discharge observed throughout the day.
A sour smell of discharge is a pathognomic symptom of urogenital candidiasis.Infection with fungi of the genus Candida causes the appearance of cheesy or milky white discharge.
A fishy smell of discharge is also possible, which exists in gardnerellosis, which is more typical for 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:
- weak immunity;
- simultaneous inflammatory process of genitourinary organs;
- intestinal dysbiosis;
- use of condoms with spermicide;
- long-term treatment with antibiotics or immunosuppressants (cytostatics, corticosteroids);
- tight underwear made of synthetic fabric;
- free sex life.
Also, discharge with an unpleasant smell 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 the discharge (not from the urethra, but smegma), the disease is accompanied by hyperemia and itching, pain in the penis, and ulcers and wrinkles are present on the head.
Bloody discharge
Infection
Bloody discharge or blood-streaked discharge is often observed with infectious lesions of the urethra.Mixture of blood is characteristic of gonorrheal urethritis, trichomonas or candidiasis.In addition, the amount of blood is directly related to the intensity of inflammation.
Blood is often observed in chronic urethritis (the mucous membrane of the urethra is loosened and reacts with contact bleeding to the slightest irritation, including the passage of urine through the channel).
Medical manipulation
Another reason for this is injury to the urethra during medical procedures.In the case of gross bougienage, installation and removal of catheters, cystoscopy or taking a smear, immediate bleeding may be observed.They differ because the blood is red, does not have clots, and the bleeding itself stops quickly.
Stone passes, sand
Among other things, discharge with blood can be observed when small stones or sand (from the kidneys or bladder) pass through the urethra.The hard surface of the microlite damages the mucous membrane and blood vessel walls, causing bleeding.In this case, blood is most noticeable when urinating, which is accompanied by pain.
Glomerulonephritis
Gross hematuria (blood in the urine, visible during urination) may also occur in the presence of glomerulonephritis.In this case, there is a triad of symptoms: gross hematuria, edema, increased blood pressure.
Malignant tumor
One of the signs of a malignant tumor of the genitourinary system (cancer of the prostate gland, penis, testis, etc.) is the appearance of blood in a man.In this case, the blood will be brown or dark, and clots may appear.
Blood discharge with sperm
We must not forget about symptoms such 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 indeed, blood enters the ejaculate even before it 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;
- increased body temperature.
One of the causes of hematospermia is:
- too active sex life or vice versa,
- long-term sexual abstinence, during sexual intercourse rupture of the vascular wall in the tissues of the genital organs occurs
- A previous surgery or biopsy can also cause blood in the semen
- hematospermia appears in benign and malignant neoplasms of the genitourinary organ
- with the presence of stones in the testicles and vas deferens
- with varicose veins of the pelvic organs.