There are few women who know that men also have secretions.Like women, men also experience them normally and are odorless.Only in women is it 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
The health of a man is indicated by the physiological discharge from the urethra, which is observed in the following cases:
Urethral libidinal or physiological
This condition is observed when clear discharge appears during sexual awakening or in the morning, immediately after sleep.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 such discharge, when it wakes up, contains a small amount of sperm, so if it gets into the partner's genitals, she is at risk of getting pregnant.The function of the described secretions is to ensure the passage of sperm 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 stable form into the uterine cavity and the tubes for fertilization of the egg.
Defective prostatorrhea
During an increase in 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 secretion and seminal vesicles.Similar discharge can appear after the end of urination, in which case they talk about juvenile prostate.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.Normally, if a man follows the rules of personal hygiene, such a discharge does not cause discomfort, 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 sperm
Semen, which contains a large number of spermatozoa, is normally released during ejaculation (ejaculate) at the end of sexual intercourse or spontaneously during sleep (emission).Spotting is observed in teenage boys and occurs either several times a month or 1-3 times a week (hormonal changes).
In some cases, spermatorrhoea, that is, the discharge of sperm 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 brain diseases.
Pathological discharge
All other discharges that go beyond physiological are pathological and indicate, first of all, inflammation of the urethra or urethra.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 diseases that are sexually transmitted - 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, urethral stricture.
Male discharge can vary in clarity and color.These parameters are influenced by the intensity of the inflammatory process, its stage and the etiological factor.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 secretions, they take on a gray color and become thick.
- Yellow, green or yellow-green - when the discharge contains a large number of leukocytes, they become yellow and even green;also called purulent discharge.
It should be noted that with the same pathology, the nature of the discharge changes over time.
White discharge
White discharge in men is caused by several reasons.First of all, candidiasis must be ruled out.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 white layer;
- there is itching, burning and even pain in the penis and perineum;
- discharge appears during urination;
- there are reddish spots (irritation, inflammation) on the head and on the inner surface of the foreskin;
- pain appears during coitus, discomfort is felt in the area of the head and foreskin;
- white discharge is observed not only during urination;
- the partner complains of itching and burning, pain during intercourse, and there is a cheesy 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 intermittent urination;
- burning sensation in the perineum and urethra;
- discomfort during bowel movements;
- frequent urge to urinate;
- sexual disorders (decrease in sexual desire 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 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 take on a green or yellow 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 gonococcus.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 number of leukocytes and urethral mucus, has a yellow or green tint.Discharge that is yellow or mixed with green is a characteristic sign of sexually transmitted diseases.
- Gonorrhea - the discharge is thick and has an unpleasant rotten smell, observed throughout the day and accompanied by pain during urination.A man should first think about a gonorrheal infection if he has two classic symptoms: discharge and itching.
- Trichomoniasis - also with yellow discharge, trichomoniasis cannot be excluded, although it is often asymptomatic.With severe symptoms of trichomonas infection, in addition to purulent secretions, the man is bothered by 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.
Wind discharge
Poor hygiene
An unpleasant smell of the perineum and penis in particular can be observed if intimate hygiene conditions are not respected:
- Smegma is an excellent breeding ground for microorganisms that, as they multiply and die, create an unpleasant odor if the external genitalia are not properly washed regularly.
- In addition, the smegma itself can have an unpleasant smell if there is a metabolic disorder (for example, diabetes mellitus in men).In this case, the secretion of smegma is so intense that it is absorbed through the intestines.
Infections
Discharge with a smell 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 milky or white secretions in milk.
A fishy discharge smell 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 meaningless.Gardnerella is a conditionally pathogenic microorganism and begins to reproduce actively only under certain conditions:
- weakened immunity;
- accompanying inflammatory processes of the genitourinary organs;
- intestinal dysbiosis;
- the 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 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 secretions (not from the urethra, but smegma), these diseases are accompanied by hyperemia and itching, pain in the penis, as well as ulcers and wrinkles on the head.
Bloody discharge
Infections
Bloody discharge or blood-streaked discharge is often seen with an infectious lesion of the urethra.A mixture of blood is characteristic of gonorrheal urethritis, trichomonas or candidiasis.Moreover, the amount of blood is directly related to the intensity of inflammation.
Blood is often seen in chronic urethritis (the mucosa of the urethra loosens and responds 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 severe bougienage, installation and removal of a catheter, cystoscopy or taking a smear, immediate bleeding may be observed.They differ in that the blood is red, there are no clots, and the bleeding itself stops very quickly.
Stepping stones, sand
Among other things, bloody discharge 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, blood is more noticeable during urination, which is accompanied by pain.
Glomerulonephritis
General hematuria (blood in the urine, visible during urination) is also possible in the presence of glomerulonephritis.In this case, there is a trinity of symptoms: severe hematuria, edema, high 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 a man.In this case, the blood will be brown or dark and clots may appear.
Ejaculation of blood with semen
We must not forget about such a symptom as the release of blood with sperm (hematospermia).There are false and true hematospermia.In false cases, blood mixes with the sperm as it passes through the urethra.And indeed, blood enters the ejaculate even before it passes through the urethra.Hematospermia is associated with 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;
- increase in body temperature.
One of the causes of hematospermia is:
- Excessively active sex life or vice versa,
- long-term sexual abstinence, during sexual intercourse rupture of the vascular walls occurs 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.