White discharge in men is a common phenomenon.
But before you seek help from a doctor, you should know what is normal and what should be of concern.
The appearance of such signs can be caused by various factors.
The normal state of the body
Urethral discharge 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 secretions in men testify to the normal functioning of the body, the causes of which may vary:
- With sexual arousal, a clear discharge occurs at the head of the penis. This is due to the work of the urethral glands and this phenomenon is intended to protect the inner surface of the urethra. In this case, it is worth repeating that this occurs during arousal or morning erection.
- The appearance of semen during intercourse or during wet dreams.
- The so-called defecation protorrhagia is the appearance of secretions from the opening of the urethra. This is explained by the fact that the prostate is tightly attached to the walls of the rectum, so during the passage of feces, the prostate can be compressed, which causes fluid to appear from the urethra.
- In a small amount, the secret of the prostate can also be released during urination, the so-called nasal prostorrhoea.
Discharge from the urethra in men is not always an indication of any inflammatory processes. These symptoms are episodic. White discharge does not lead to pain, there are no male disorders and therefore there is no cause for concern.
What should he worry about?
The male body is designed in such a way that any changes in its function are immediately visible to men. As soon as such a discharge from the urethra has become a frequent phenomenon, they change their color and consistency, you should consult a doctor. It should 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 rejection, unlike normal, is released, accompanied by pain, discomfort. These symptoms are especially aggravated by urination or arousal.
- Rejection in men may indicate the presence of the disease. In this case, they can often be confused with ordinary ones, so they are more difficult to recognize. In turn, the delay can lead to a chronic form of the disease.
What should be done to recognize the risk in time? You should be especially careful about your health and follow certain 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 appear, it is much easier to recognize them in the morning.
- Underwear is of particular importance. If even during the whole day at least one drop stands out from the urethra, after drying, it will leave a clearly visible trace.
- When you squeeze the penis, especially if you run your hand from the pubic opening to the head of the organ, white mucus is released. It can have other colors and textures, depending on the disease.
- An unhealthy diet can also lead to the appearance of such phenomena, especially the consumption of foods containing many spices and alcohol.
- The lips of the opening of the urethra stick together or crusts form - all this can 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, white discharge appears, you should seek help, self-medication is not recommended.
What can it be connected to?
White discharge from the urethra or other white fluids are important signs of an inflammatory process. The same should be said about purulent discharge. Doctors can extract enough information if they study the secreted fluid and make a diagnosis, start treatment.
Rejection in men may indicate the following diseases:
- Urethritis is the most common cause. The urethra independently tries to protect itself with the help of glands, which is why white mucus appears on its mucosa in the required 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 bacteria entering the urinary system from other organs. This is due to weakened health, immune system, poor hygiene or trauma.
- The appearance of discharge with blood is a serious sign that may indicate oncological pathology of the prostate.
The consistency of secretions, their color and transparency are the result of any processes occurring in a man's body. Therefore, a certain color of the 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 bacterial reproduction. For this reason, yellow discharge appears, sometimes green.
- White mucus, which looks like a mass of curds, 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 may 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 to do in such situations?
Distributions in men immediately become a reason to go to the doctor, if the issue does not concern the normal functioning of the body. An examination will not be enough to establish the diagnosis, so a series of analyzes of the fluid released is required.
You should not treat yourself or try to get treatment, you should see a urologist or venereologist. The doctor, in coordination with the patient, will prescribe studies that include microscopy of secretions, inoculation in nutrient media or polymerase chain reaction, if the 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 detected, both partners are subject to examination, so that in the future there is no re-infection. If inflammation and mucus are found in both, treatment is prescribed for each partner.
Penile discharge is one of the most common complaints with which men seek help from a urologist. After questioning and examining the patient, the doctor may prescribe additional tests to make an accurate diagnosis. The methods of modern medicine make it possible to quickly identify the cause of pathological secretions and choose the optimal treatment regimen, taking into account all the features of the course of the disease.
Normal secretions
Discharge from the penis actually comes from different parts of the genitourinary system. The resulting secret may be a discharge from the urethra, sebaceous glands or pathological formations on the skin. Some secretions are normal, while others are considered a sign of illness. The doctor will be able to distinguish the norm from the pathology after a complete examination of the patient.
Variations in normal penile discharge:
Libidinous urethrorrhea
Under this condition, normal secretions from the urethra (urethra) are secreted during stimulation. The secretions are secreted by glands located in and around the urethra (paraurethral and bulbourethral glands). The resulting secret maintains an alkaline environment in the urethra, favorable for the promotion of spermatozoa. Libido urethrorrhea occurs only in men of reproductive age. In old age, the urethral glands atrophy, and secretion stops.
The volume of secretions during sexual stimulation is variable and depends on the individual characteristics of the organism. The normal secret of the urethral glands is transparent, mucous, without impurities of pus or blood. A significant increase in the volume of discharge requires consultation with a urologist.
Semen
Semen is a mixture of prostate secretion and spermatozoa. Normally, the ejaculate is thick, white, without foreign inclusions. Semen is released during ejaculation during intercourse or during masturbation. It is possible to release a small amount of sperm during wet dreams - involuntary ejaculation at night. Pollution occurs in boys after the age of 14 and is one of the signs of puberty. The occurrence of wet dreams in men after prolonged abstinence is not excluded (read about the benefits and harms of abstinence here).
Smegma
Smegma is a secretion secreted by the glands of the foreskin and glans penis. Fresh sebum is grayish-white, turning yellow over time. Subject to personal hygiene, the volume of sebum will be small. Significant accumulation of sebum is noted 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).
Normal discharge from the penis is normal and does not require treatment. The following changes are worth noting:
- increase in the volume of secretions.
- change in consistency (discharge becomes too liquid or thick);
- color change to yellow, yellow-green, brown.
- the appearance of impurities in the blood.
- the appearance of unpleasant sensations: itching, burning, pain in the intimate area.
- dysuria or disordered urination (increased frequency, false urge to empty the bladder, urinary retention, pain or burning during urination).
Abnormal secretion
The cause of pathological discharge can be a variety of diseases. Infections of the genital and urinary system, foreign bodies, injuries, tumors - all this can lead to an increase in the volume of the secret, a change in its color or consistency. It is quite difficult to make a diagnosis based on the type of discharge alone. If you experience any incomprehensible symptoms, you should consult a doctor.
Options for pathological discharge from the penis:
Mucous
Abundant, thick and viscous, clear or milky white discharge from the penis indicates the development of an infection. Similar symptoms are characteristic of the chronic course of chlamydia, mycoplasma and ureaplasma infections, trichomonas. 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:
- Spermatorrhea - the release of semen outside of sexual stimulation, without erection and orgasm. The cause of spermatorrhea is a decrease in the tone of the muscles of the spermatic vessel as a result of inflammation or reduced innervation. In the study, spermatozoa are detected in the material.
- Prostatorrhea - spontaneous discharge of the prostate. It occurs with inflammation of the prostate gland and the appearance of tumors.
Purulent
Yellow and yellow-green thick 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 stage, there is itching and burning in the intimate area, discomfort during urination. Possible increase in body temperature. In the case of the transition of the infection to the bladder and the development of cystitis, dysuric phenomena appear in the form of frequent and painful urination or urinary retention.
Bloody
The volume of blood released from the urethra can be different: from a slight staining of the discharge in brown or pink color to clear 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 diagnostic instruments). Bloody discharge is a common symptom of neoplasms of the prostate, urethra and other organs of the genitourinary region.
What to do?
The appearance of any suspicious secretions from the penis - lobes in order 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 acquires an atypical course, and only a doctor can understand all the variety of symptoms. Do not postpone a visit to a specialist and expect the problem to miraculously resolve itself.
At the first visit, the doctor always asks about complaints, examines the patient and takes material for research. The doctor's further actions will depend on the results obtained. Based on the results of the examination, the optimal treatment regimen is selected to get rid of the unpleasant symptoms and restore health.
conclusions
Discharge from the penis is a symptom that occurs in a variety of diseases from infection to oncology. Self-medication for any incomprehensible discharge is not allowed. Uncontrolled intake of drugs or the use of traditional medicine techniques can worsen the course of the disease and lead to an unfavorable outcome. Entrust your health to a professional. Compliance with all the doctor's recommendations will help avoid the development of complications and speed up recovery.