Few women know that men also have discharge.Like women, men also experience them normally and are odorless.Only in women it is called "leucorrhoea" and it comes from the vagina, while in men the discharge comes from the urethra.Of course, any pathological discharge indicates poor health and requires consultation with a doctor.
Physiological secretions
A man's health is determined by the physiological secretion from the exit of the urethra, which is observed in the following cases:
Libidial or physiological urethrorhoea
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 strength 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 it gets on the partner's genitals, she has a risk of becoming pregnant.The function of the described secretions is to ensure the passage of spermatozoa through the urethra and vagina of a 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 the tubes for fertilization of the ovum.
Defecatory prostatorrhea
With an increase in intra-abdominal pressure (during tension), a clear, 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 secretion and seminal vesicles.Such discharge may occur after urination is completed, in which case it is called micturition 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 functioning of the genital organs.
Smegma
Smegma (preputial lubricant) is a secretion that consists of secretions from the sebaceous glands of the head of the penis and the foreskin.Usually, if a person observes the rules of personal hygiene, such a discharge does not cause inconvenience, as it is mechanically washed off with water.But if hygiene is neglected, smegma accumulates and microorganisms multiply in it, which serves as a source of unpleasant odor.
Release of semen
Semen, which contains a large number of spermatozoa, is usually released during ejaculation (ejaculation) at the end of sexual intercourse or spontaneously during sleep (emission).Spotting is seen in teenage boys and occurs several times a month or 1-3 times a week (hormonal changes).
In some cases, spermatorrhea, i.e.the discharge of spermatozoa 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 diseases of the brain.
Pathological discharge
All other discharges that exceed physiological are pathological and primarily indicate inflammation of the urethra or urethritis.The causes of urethritis in men are varied;they can be both infectious and non-infectious.
Infectious causes are divided into specific and non-specific.
- Specific etiological factors include sexually transmitted diseases - 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
- irritation of the urethra from chemicals
- trauma, narrowing of the urethra.
Male discharge can vary in purity and color.These parameters are influenced by the intensity of the inflammatory process, its stage and etiological factor.The secretion is formed by fluid, mucus and various cells.
- Cloudy - if there are a large number of cells, then the discharge has a cloudy color.
- Gray or dense - when epithelial cells predominate in the secretions, they acquire a gray color and become dense.
- Yellow, green or yellow-green - when the discharge contains a large number of leukocytes, they become yellow and even green in color;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 is due to 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 like sourdough 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 the inner surface of the foreskin;
- pain occurs during coitus, discomfort is felt in the area of the head and foreskin;
- white discharge is noted not only during urination;
- the partner complains of itching and burning, pain during intercourse, and a mushy discharge.
In addition to urogenital candidiasis, white discharge can be caused by chlamydia and / or ureaplasmosis and mycoplasmosis, as well as talk about inflammation of the prostate gland, which is characterized by:
- difficulty and periodic urination;
- burning sensation in the perineum and urethra;
- discomfort during bowel movements;
- frequent urge to urinate;
- sexual disorders (reduced 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 - transparent mucous 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, abundant discharge with a large amount of mucus, which is observed during the day, is possible in the initial stage of infection with Trichomonas or gonococci.In the case of chlamydia (ureaplasmosis), subjective sensations are often absent (pain, itching, burning), and after prolonged abstinence from urination, a clear discharge appears.
Yellow discharge
Purulent discharge, which includes desquamated epithelium of the urethra, a significant number of leukocytes and urethral mucus, has a yellowish or greenish tint.Yellow discharge or mixed with greenery is a characteristic sign of sexually transmitted diseases.
- Gonorrhea - the discharge is thick and has an unpleasant putrid smell, is observed throughout the day and is accompanied by pain during urination.A man should first think of a gonorrhea infection if he has the classic pair of symptoms: discharge and itching.
- Trichomoniasis - even 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 worried about burning and pain during urination, a frequent and irresistible urge to urinate, a feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen and discomfort in the perineum.
Odorous discharge
Poor hygiene
An unpleasant smell from the perineum and especially the penis can also be observed if intimate hygiene conditions are not observed:
- Smegma is an excellent breeding ground for microorganisms that, as they multiply and die, create an unpleasant odor if the external genitalia are not thoroughly washed regularly.
- In addition, the 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 intense that it permeates the underwear.
Infections
Odorous discharge is most often observed with an infectious lesion of the urethra.First of all, you need to rule out gonorrheal urethritis - 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 provokes the appearance of a cheesy or milky white discharge.
A fishy smell of discharge is also possible, which is inherent in gardnerellosis, which is more characteristic of women (called bacterial vaginosis), and in men the development of this disease is rather stupid.Gardnerella is a conditionally pathogenic microorganism and begins to actively reproduce only under certain conditions:
- weakened immunity;
- accompanying 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, discharge with an unpleasant smell can appear 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.
Blood discharge
Infections
Bloody discharge or discharge with blood streaks is often observed with an infectious lesion of the urethra.An admixture of blood is characteristic of gonorrheal, trichomonad or candidal urethritis.In addition, 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 loose and reacts 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.Immediate bleeding may be observed during rough probing, insertion and removal of a catheter, cystoscopy, or taking a Pap smear.They differ in that the blood is scarlet, there are no clots, and the bleeding itself stops very quickly.
Crossing stones, 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 microliths damages the mucosa and walls of blood vessels, causing bleeding.In this case, the blood is most noticeable when urinating, which is accompanied by pain.
Glomerulonephritis
In the presence of glomerulonephritis, gross hematuria (blood in the urine, visible during urination) is also possible.In this case, there is a triad of symptoms: gross hematuria, edema, increased blood pressure.
Malignant tumors
One of the signs of malignant tumors of the genitourinary system (cancer of the prostate gland, penis, testicles and others) is the appearance of blood in men.In this case, the blood will be brown or dark and clots may form.
Ejaculation of blood with semen
We must not forget about such a symptom as the release of blood with sperm (hematospermia).There is false and true hematospermia.In false cases, blood mixes with sperm as it passes through the urethra.And in truth, the blood 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 of the genitals (testicles and scrotum);
- discomfort and pain in the lower back;
- increase in body temperature.
One of the causes of hematospermia is:
- too active sex life or vice versa,
- long-term sexual abstinence, during sexual intercourse there is a rupture of the vascular walls in the tissues of the genital organs
- previous surgery or biopsy can also cause blood 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.