White discharge in men is common.
But before you seek help from your doctor, you should understand what is normal and what should be worrying.
The appearance of such signs can be caused by a variety of factors.
normal state of the body
Men may pass it out of the urethra due to normal processes that take place in the body. Not every such discharge can be considered an indicator of disease. The following secretions in men are evidence of the normal functioning of the body and may have various causes:
- With sexual arousal, there is a noticeable discharge from the head of the penis. This is due to the action of the urethral glands, a phenomenon designed to protect the inner surface of the urethra. In this case, it is worth repeating that this occurs during arousal or during a morning erection.
- Semen appears during intercourse or wet dreams.
- The so-called fecal overflow is the discharge from the opening of the urethra. This can be explained by the fact that the prostate clings to the wall of the rectum, so when passing stool, the prostate is compressed, causing fluid to emerge from the urethra.
- In small amounts, the secrets of the prostate can also be released during urination, the so-called stranguria.
Discharge from the male urethra is not always a sign of any inflammatory process. These symptoms are sporadic. The white discharge does not cause pain and there is no male disease, so there is nothing to worry about.
What should be concerned about?
The male body is designed in such a way that any changes in its function are immediately visible to the male. Once such urethral discharges occur frequently, they change color and consistency, and you should consult your doctor. Signs that should say:
- Male discharge from the urethra is pathological in nature, with gray, yellow, and green fluids.
- If blood appears in the urine when urinating, seek immediate medical attention.
- If the penis emits an unpleasant odor, this is a clear sign of inflammatory processes and microbial activity that can lead to inflammation and the appearance of a white fluid.
- Unlike normal, pathological secretions are released, accompanied by pain and discomfort. Especially these symptoms are exacerbated by urination or arousal.
- Discharge in men may indicate the presence of disease. In this case, they are often confused with the common ones, so they are the hardest to identify. Delays, in turn, can lead to chronic forms of the disease.
What needs to be done to detect danger in time? You should pay special attention to your health and follow some rules:
- Be more careful when going to the toilet after bed. During sleep, secretions build up in the urethra, so if present, it's easier to identify in the morning.
- Underwear is especially important. If at least one drop protrudes from the urethra even throughout the day, it will leave a clearly visible mark after drying.
- When you press on your penis, especially when you reach your hand from your pubic bone to the head of the organ, white mucus is released. It can be other colors and textures, depending on the disease.
- An unhealthy diet, especially eating foods that contain a lot of spices and alcohol, can also contribute to this phenomenon.
- The lips of the urethral opening stick together or form crusts over them - all of which indicate the release of fluid, which then dries up.
- Most STDs are sexually transmitted, so you shouldn't forget that either. If a white discharge occurs after accidental contact, you should seek help, and self-treatment is not recommended.
What can it be connected to?
White discharge from the urethra or other white fluids is an important sign of the inflammatory process. The same must be said about purulent discharge. If doctors study the secreted fluid and make a diagnosis, and start treatment, they can extract enough information.
Male discharge may indicate the following disorders:
- Urethritis is the most common cause. The urethra independently tries to protect itself with the help of glands, which is why white mucus appears in its mucous membrane in the required amount.
- Sexually transmitted diseases, including gonorrhea, chlamydia, mycoplasma, or ureaplasma.
- In penile cancer, fluid can also be released due to inflammation of the urethra.
- Inflammation may occur due to bacteria entering the urinary tract 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 tumor pathology of the prostate.
The consistency, color, and clarity of secretions are the result of any process in the body. Therefore, a certain color of discharge is explained by the following factors:
- If epithelial cells are abundant, the secretion is gray and highly viscous.
- During bacterial reproduction, large numbers of white blood cells enter the inflammatory foci. Therefore, yellow discharge occurs and sometimes green.
- White mucus, resembling curds, usually indicates the development of candidiasis.
- It is worth noting that the appearance of various secretions may appear in different ways depending on the situation. At the onset of the disease, this may be a white discharge that then turns yellow. This happens when the body has time to react to the problem with the body.
What to do in this situation?
If the problem does not involve the normal functioning of the body, the male assignment immediately becomes a reason to see a doctor. A single examination is not enough to make a diagnosis, so a series of analyses of the released fluid are required.
You shouldn't treat yourself or try to get treatment, you need to see a urologist or STD. If previous methods have not yielded results, physicians will coordinate with patients to conduct studies that include secretion microscopy, nutrient media inoculation, or polymerase chain reaction.
Taking medication is not recommended before going to a medical facility, as this can complicate the diagnosis of the disease. When identifying an STD nature, both parties are tested so that they won't be reinfected in the future. Treatment was prescribed for each partner if inflammation and mucus were found in both.
Penile discharge is one of the most common complaints 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 allow rapid detection of the cause of pathological secretions and selection of the best treatment, taking into account all the characteristics of the disease process.
physiological secretions
The secretions produced by the penis actually come from different parts of the genitourinary system. The resulting secret may be pathologically formed secretions on the urethra, sebaceous glands or skin. Some discharges are normal, while others are considered a sign of disease. After a thorough examination of the patient, the doctor will be able to distinguish the norm from the pathology.
Variations of penile physiological secretions:
erogenous urethra
Under this term, physiological secretions from 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, which is beneficial for promoting sperm production. Libido urethral leakage occurs only in males of reproductive age. In old age, the urethral glands atrophy and secretion stops.
The amount of secretions during sexual arousal is variable and depends on the individual characteristics of the organism. The normal secret of the urethral glands is that they are clear, mucous, and have no impurities of pus or blood. Significantly increased discharge requires consultation with a urologist.
sperm
Semen is a mixture of prostate secretions and sperm. Normally, ejaculate is thick, white, and free of foreign objects. Sperm is released during ejaculation during intercourse or masturbation. It is possible to release small amounts of sperm during wet dreams - involuntary ejaculation at night. Pollution occurs in boys after the age of 14 and is one of the hallmarks of puberty. It is not ruled out that men will experience wet dreams after prolonged abstinence (learn the benefits and harms of abstinence here).
smegma
Smegma is secreted by the foreskin and glans glands. Fresh smegma is off-white and turns yellow over time. In intimate hygiene conditions, the volume of smegma will be small. Inadequate self-care can lead to a significant buildup of smegma. This discharge can be seen as a symptom of the disease and can also lead to the development of inflammatory processes (balanitis and balanoposthitis).
Physiological discharge from the penis is normal and does not require treatment. The following changes are worth noting:
- increased secretions;
- Changes in consistency (discharge becomes too liquid or too thick);
- Color changes to yellow, yellow-green, brown;
- the presence of blood impurities;
- Unpleasant sensations appear: itching, burning, pain in the intimate area;
- Difficulty or difficulty urinating (increased frequency, false urge to empty the bladder, urinary retention, pain or burning when urinating).
pathological secretions
The cause of pathological secretions can be various diseases. Genital and urinary tract infections, foreign bodies, injuries, tumors—all of which can lead to an increase in secret volume, changes in color or consistency. It is difficult to make a diagnosis based on the type of discharge alone. If you experience any incomprehensible symptoms, you should consult your doctor.
Selection of pathological secretions from the penis:
mucus
A large, thick, thick, clear, or milky discharge from the penis indicates an infection. Similar symptoms are characteristic of the chronic course of Chlamydia, Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma infections, trichomoniasis. Other symptoms of the disease (itching, burning, difficulty urinating) are mild or absent.
Clear mucus discharge from the penis may be a sign of this pathological condition:
- Nocturnal emission - the release of sperm outside of sexual arousal, without an erection and orgasm. The cause of nocturnal emission is a decrease in the muscle tone of the vas deferens due to inflammation or impaired innervation. In this study, sperm were detected in the material.
- Prostatorrhea - spontaneously secreted by the prostate. Accompanied by prostate inflammation and tumors.
Purulent
Thick yellow and greenish-yellow discharge is found in many sexually transmitted diseases, including gonorrhea. Pus is a collection of dead cells, mucus, and large numbers of white blood cells from the urothelium. In the acute phase, there is itching and burning sensation in the private parts, and urination is uncomfortable. Body temperature may rise. In cases where the infection has metastasized to the bladder and developed cystitis, dysuria occurs in the form of frequent urination and painful urination or urinary retention.
bloody
The amount of blood released from the urethra can vary: from slightly stained brown or pink discharge to clear bleeding. The appearance of blood may be due to injury to the urethra or bladder (including foreign body entry or careless instrumentation). Bloody discharge is a common symptom of tumors of the prostate, urethra, and other organs in the genitourinary region.
What should I do?
Any suspicious discharge - pods from the penis, so contact a urologist. Many diseases of the reproductive organs and urinary system are similar to each other and cannot be self-diagnosed. Often, the disease even develops an atypical course, with symptoms that only a doctor can understand. Don't put off a visit to an expert and expect the problem to resolve itself miraculously.
At the first visit, the doctor always asks about complaints, examines the patient and obtains research materials. The doctor's further action will depend on the results obtained. Based on the test results, choose the best treatment plan to eliminate unpleasant symptoms and restore health.
in conclusion
Penile discharge is a symptom that occurs in a variety of conditions, from infections to tumors. Self-medication of any incomprehensible secretions is not permitted. Uncontrolled drug intake or use of traditional medical techniques can exacerbate disease progression and lead to adverse outcomes. Leave your health to the professionals. Following all the advice of your doctor will help avoid the development of complications and speed up recovery.