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.
The normal state of the body
Discharge from the urethra in men can occur due to the normal processes occurring in the body. Not every time such 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 varied:
- 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 it appears during arousal or morning erection.
- The appearance of semen during sexual intercourse or during wet dreams.
- The so-called defecation prostorrhea is the occurrence of discharge from the opening of the urethra. This is explained by the fact that the prostate fits snugly against the walls of the rectum, so when passing feces, the prostate can be compressed, causing fluid to appear from the urethra.
- In a small amount, the secret of the prostate can be released even during urination, the so-called urinary prostorrhea.
Discharge from the urethra in men is not always a sign of inflammatory processes. These symptoms are episodic. White discharge does not cause pain, there are no male ailments and therefore there is no reason to worry.
What should you worry about?
The male body is designed in such a way that any changes in its functioning are immediately visible to men. As soon as such discharge from the urethra has become a frequent occurrence, they change color and consistency, you should consult a doctor. It should be said about the signs:
- Discharge in men, which appears from the urethra, is of a pathological nature, there are gray, yellow, green fluids.
- If blood appears in the urine when urinating, you should seek medical help immediately.
- 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. Especially these symptoms are aggravated by urination or arousal.
- Discharge in men can 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. In turn, the delay can lead to a chronic form of the disease.
What must be done to recognize the danger in time? You should be especially attentive to your health and follow a number of rules:
- You need to be more careful when going to the bathroom after sleep. During sleep, secretions can accumulate in the urethra, so if they do occur, 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 escapes from the urethra, after drying it will leave a clearly visible trace.
- When you press the penis, especially if you slide 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 occurrence of such phenomena.
- The lips of the urethral opening join together or crusts form on them - all this may indicate the release of fluid, which then dries up.
- Most sexually transmitted diseases are sexually transmitted, so you shouldn't forget that either. If, after accidental contact, white discharge occurs, you should seek help, self-treatment is not recommended.
What can it be connected with?
White discharge from the urethra or other white fluids are important signs of an inflammatory process. The same must be said about 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 independently tries to protect itself with the help of the glands, which is why white mucus appears in its mucous membrane in the required amount.
- STDs, which include gonorrhea, chlamydia, mycoplasmosis or ureaplasmosis.
- Penile cancer, in which fluid is also released due to inflammation of the urethra.
- The appearance of inflammation may be due to bacteria entering the urinary tract from other organs. This is due to a weakened health, immune system, poor hygiene or trauma.
- The appearance of secretions with blood is a serious sign that can indicate an oncological pathology of the prostate.
The consistency of the secretions, their color and their transparency are the result of any process that occurs in a man's body. Thus, a certain color of the discharge is explained by the following factors:
- If epithelial cells are present in large numbers, the discharge is gray and has a high viscosity.
- A large number of leukocytes enter the inflammation center during the reproduction of bacteria. For this reason, a yellow, sometimes green discharge appears.
- White mucus, similar to the 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 onset of the disease, this may be a white discharge, which then turns yellow. This happens if the body has time to respond to a problem in the body.
What to do in such situations?
Allocations in men immediately become a reason to go to the doctor, if the matter does not concern the normal functioning of the body. An examination will not be sufficient to make a diagnosis, so a series of analyzes of the released fluid is required.
You shouldn't treat yourself or try to be cured, you need to visit a urologist or venereologist. The doctor, in coordination with the patient, will prescribe studies that include microscopy of secretions, inoculation on 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 medicines, as this can complicate the diagnosis of the disease. When establishing a disease of a venereal nature, both partners are subjected to an examination so that in the future there is no reinfection. If inflammation and mucus are found in both, treatment is prescribed for each partner.
Discharge from the penis is one of the most common ailments with which men seek help from a urologist. After questioning and examining the patient, the doctor may order further tests to make an accurate diagnosis. The methods of modern medicine allow you to quickly detect the cause of pathological secretions and select the optimal treatment regimen, taking into account all the features of the course of the disease.
Physiological secretions
The discharge that arises from the penis actually comes from different parts of the genitourinary system. The resulting secret can 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 a disease. The doctor will be able to distinguish the norm from the pathology after a complete examination of the patient.
Variants of physiological penile secretions:
Libidinous urethrorrhea
Under this term, the physiological secretions of the urethra (urethra) are hidden during arousal. 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, conducive to the promotion of sperm. Libidinous urethrorrhea occurs only in men of reproductive age. In old age, the glands in the urethra atrophy and the secretion stops.
The volume of secretions during sexual arousal 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 a consultation with a urologist.
Semen
Sperm is a mixture of prostate and sperm secretion. Normally, the ejaculate is thick, white, without foreign inclusions. Sperm is released during ejaculation during intercourse or during masturbation. It is possible to release a small amount of semen during wet dreams - involuntary ejaculation at night. Pollution occurs in boys after 14 years of age and is one of the signs of puberty. The appearance of wet dreams in men after a long abstinence is not excluded (read here the benefits and harms of abstinence).
Smegma
Smegma is a secret secreted by the foreskin and glans glands. Fresh smegma is greyish-white, tending to yellow over time. Without prejudice to intimate hygiene, the volume of smegma will be small. A significant accumulation of smegma is noted with insufficient self-care. Such 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 (the discharge becomes too liquid or thick);
- color change to yellow, yellow-green, brown;
- the appearance of impurities in the blood;
- the occurrence of unpleasant sensations: itching, burning, pain in the intimate area;
- dysuria or reduced urination (increased frequency, false need to empty the bladder, urinary retention, pain or burning when urinating).
Pathological discharge
The cause of pathological discharge can be a variety 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 the secret, a change in its color or consistency. It is quite difficult to make a diagnosis based only on the type of discharge. If incomprehensible symptoms occur, you need to consult a doctor.
Options for pathological discharge from the penis:
mucous
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 chlamydial, mycoplasma and ureaplasma infections, 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:
- Spermatorrea - the release of semen outside of sexual arousal, without erection and orgasm. The cause of spermatorhea is a decrease in the tone of the muscles of the vas deferens due to inflammation or impaired innervation. In the study, spermatozoa are detected in the material.
- Prostatorrea - spontaneous secretion of the prostate. It occurs with inflammation of the prostate gland and the appearance of tumors.
Purulent
The thick yellow and yellow-green discharge is found in many sexually transmitted diseases (including gonorrhea). Pus is a collection of dead cells of the epithelium of the urethra, mucus and a large number of leukocytes. In the acute stage, there is itching and burning in the intimate area, discomfort when urinating. Possible increase in body temperature. In the case of the passage of 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 brown or pink discoloration of the secretion to unmistakable bleeding. The cause of the appearance of blood can be a lesion of the urethra or bladder (including the entry of foreign bodies or careless instrumental diagnostics). Bloody discharge is a common symptom of cancers of the prostate, urethra and other organs of the urogenital area.
What to do?
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 also acquires an atypical course, and only a doctor can understand the whole 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 for complaints, examines the patient and takes research material. Further actions of the doctor will depend on the results obtained. Based on the results of the examination, the optimal treatment regimen is selected to eliminate 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 is not allowed for any incomprehensible discharge. Uncontrolled medication intake or the use of traditional medicine techniques can aggravate the course of the disease and lead to an unfavorable outcome. Entrust your health to a professional. Compliance with all the recommendations of the doctor will help to avoid the development of complications and accelerate recovery.