Few women know that men also have discharge.Like women, men also experience them normally and are odorless.Only in women is it called “leukorrhea” and it comes from the vagina, while in men the leaks come 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 secretion of the outlet of the urethra, which is observed in the following cases:
Libidinal or physiological urethrorrhea
This condition is observed when a clear discharge appears during sexual arousal or in the morning, immediately after sleeping.Their number varies between different men and is directly related to the severity of sexual arousal.But in any case, it is important to remember that this secretion, when excited, contains a small amount of sperm, so if it comes into contact with the partner's genitals, the partner runs the risk of becoming pregnant.The function of the secretions described is to ensure the passage of sperm through the woman's urethra and vagina, where there is an acidic environment harmful to the "living", and they viably enter the uterine cavity and the tubes for the fertilization of the egg.
Defecation prostatorrhea
During an increase in intra-abdominal pressure (during exertion), a transparent, odorless discharge with possible grayish-white streaks may appear on the head of the penis.This secretion is viscous and consists of a mixture of prostatic secretion and seminal vesicles.A similar secretion may appear when you finish urinating, 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, they 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.Normally, if a man follows the rules of personal hygiene, such discharge does not create inconvenience, since it is washed off 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 contain a large number of sperm, are normally released during ejaculation (ejaculation) at the end of sexual intercourse or spontaneously during sleep (emission).Contamination is observed in adolescents and occurs several times a month or 1 to 3 times a week (hormonal changes).
In some cases, spermatorrhea, that is, the discharge of sperm from the urethra without sexual intercourse or orgasm, indicates a pathology when the tone of the muscular layer of the vas deferens is disturbed due to chronic inflammation or brain diseases.
pathological discharge
All other secretions that go beyond the physiological are pathological and indicate, first of all, inflammation of the urethra or urethritis.The causes of urethritis in men are different;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;
- urethritis due to ureaplasma and mycoplasma;
- Candida urethritis or urogenital candidiasis in men;
- herpetic urethritis and others (Escherichia coli, streptococcus, staphylococcus).
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 clarity and color.These parameters are influenced by the intensity of the inflammatory process, its stage and etiological factor.The secretion is formed from fluid, mucus and various cells.
- Cloudy: If there are a large number of cells, then the secretion has a cloudy color.
- Gray or thick: When epithelial cells predominate in the secretions, they take on a gray color and become thick.
- Yellow, green or greenish-yellow - when the secretion contains a large number of leukocytes, they become yellow and even green;They are also called purulent discharge.
It should be noted that with the same pathology, the nature of the secretion changes over time.
white discharge
White discharge in men is due to several reasons.First of all, candidiasis must be excluded.The following symptoms are observed with this disease:
- the head of the penis smells unpleasantly of sour 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 inner surface of the foreskin;
- pain occurs during intercourse, discomfort is felt in the head and foreskin area;
- White discharge is observed not only when urinating;
- The partner complains of itching and burning, pain during sexual intercourse, and has cheesy discharge.
In addition to urogenital candidiasis, white discharge can be caused by chlamydia and/or ureaplasmosis and mycoplasmosis, and we also talk about inflammation of the prostate, which is characterized by:
- difficulty and intermittent urination;
- burning sensation in the perineum and urethra;
- discomfort during bowel movements;
- frequent need to urinate;
- sexual disorders (decreased libido and erection, rapid ejaculation, loss of orgasm).
It is important for men to remember that advanced prostatitis can lead to not only persistent erectile dysfunction, but also infertility.
Transparent selections
- Chlamydia, ureaplasmosis - clear 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 secretion increases and they acquire a greenish or yellowish color.
- Trichomoniasis, gonorrhea - clear, abundant discharge with a large amount of mucus, which is observed during the day, is also possible at the initial stage 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 desquamated epithelium of the urethra, a significant amount of leukocytes and urethral mucus, has a yellowish or greenish tint.Yellow discharge or discharge mixed with vegetation is a characteristic sign of sexually transmitted diseases.
- Gonorrhea - the discharge is thick and has an unpleasant putrid odor, which is observed throughout the day and is accompanied by pain when urinating.A man should first think of a gonorrheal infection if he has the classic pair of 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 bothered by burning and pain when urinating, frequent and irresistible urge to urinate, a feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen and discomfort in the perineum.
Smelly discharge
Bad hygiene
An unpleasant odor can also be observed in the perineum and on the penis in particular if intimate hygiene conditions are not respected:
- Smegma is an excellent breeding ground for microorganisms which, as they multiply and die, create an unpleasant odor if the external genitalia are not thoroughly 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 intense that it soaks the underwear.
Infections
Discharge with an odor is most often observed with an infectious lesion of the urethra.First of all, gonorrheal urethritis, a thick, yellow or green discharge that is observed throughout the day, must be excluded.
The sour odor of discharge is a pathognomic symptom of urogenital candidiasis.Fungal infection of the genus Candida causes the appearance of a caseous or milky white discharge.
A fishy smell in the discharge is also possible, which is inherent 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 actively reproduce only under certain conditions:
- weakened 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 sexual life.
Also, discharge with an unpleasant odor 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 discharge (not from the urethra, but from smegma), these diseases are accompanied by hyperemia and itching, pain in the penis and ulcers and wrinkles on the head.
bloody discharge
Infections
Bloody discharge or blood-streaked discharge is often observed with an infectious lesion of the urethra.An admixture of blood is characteristic of urethritis due to gonorrhea, trichomonas or candidiasis.Furthermore, 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 becomes 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.In the case of rough bougienage, installation and removal of a catheter, cystoscopy or smear, immediate bleeding may be observed.They differ in that the blood is scarlet, there are no clots in it, and the bleeding stops very quickly.
Passing stones, sand
Among other things, blood discharge may be observed when small stones or sand (from the kidneys or bladder) pass through the urethra.The hard surface of microliths damages the mucous membrane and the walls of blood vessels, causing hemorrhages.In this case, the blood is more noticeable when urinating, which is accompanied by pain.
glomerulonephritis
Gross hematuria (blood in the urine, visible when urinating) is also possible in the presence of glomerulonephritis.In this case, there is a triad of symptoms: macroscopic hematuria, edema and increased 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 a man.In this case, the blood will be brown or dark and clots may appear.
Discharge of blood with sperm.
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, blood enters the ejaculate even before passing 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 sexual life or vice versa,
- long-term sexual abstinence, during sexual relations the rupture of the vascular walls in the tissues of the genital organs occurs.
- Previous surgery or biopsy can also cause blood in the semen.
- Hematospermia appears 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.