Few women know that men also have secretions.Like women, men experience them naturally 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.
Normal secretions
The health of a man is indicated by a normal discharge from the exit of the urethra, which is observed in the following cases:
Libido or normal urethrorrhea
This condition is observed when clear discharge occurs during sexual arousal 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 stimulated, contains a small amount of sperm, so if it enters the partner's genitals, there is a risk that she will become 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 "live" and enter in a viable form into the uterine cavity and tubes for fertilization of the egg.
Defecating prostatorrhea
During an increase in intra-abdominal pressure (during exertion), a clear, odorless discharge may appear with possible gray-white streaks on the head of the penis.This discharge is thick and consists of a mixture of prostate secretion and seminal vesicles.Similar secretions may appear upon completion of urination, in which case they speak of urinary prostatorrhea.In exceptional cases, such secretion occurs with a strong cough.They are not considered an organic pathology, but only indicate a violation of the autonomous regulation of the function of the genital organs.
Smegma
Smegma (foreskin oil) is a secretion made up 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 inconvenience, as it is mechanically washed off with water.But if hygiene is neglected, sebum accumulates and microorganisms multiply in it, which serves as a source of unpleasant odor.
Sperm release
Semen, which contains a large number of spermatozoa, is normally released during ejaculation (ejaculation) at the end of sexual intercourse or spontaneously during sleep (ejaculation).Spotting is seen in adolescent boys and occurs either several times a month or 1-3 times a week (hormonal changes).
In some cases, spermatorrhea, that is, the outflow of sperm from the urethra without sexual intercourse and orgasm, indicates a pathology when the tone of the muscular layer of the spermatic vessel is disturbed due to chronic inflammation or brain diseases.
Abnormal secretion
All other discharges that exceed normal 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 causative agents include sexually transmitted diseases - trichomoniasis.
- Non-specific infectious urethritis is caused by opportunistic bacteria, viruses and fungi:
- chlamydial urethritis;
- ureaplasma and mycoplasma urethritis;
- candidiasis urethritis or urogenital candidiasis in men.
- herpetic urethritis and others (Escherichia coli, streptococci, staphylococci).
Non-infectious inflammatory agents include:
- allergic reactions
- mechanical damage to the urethral mucosa
- irritation of the urethra from chemicals
- trauma, urethral stricture.
Male secretions can vary in clarity and color.These parameters are influenced by the intensity of the inflammatory process, its stage and the causative factor.A discharge of fluid, mucus and various cells is formed.
- Cloudy - if there are a large number of cells, then the discharge has a cloudy color.
- Gray or thick - when epithelial cells dominate the secretions, they acquire a gray color and become thick.
- Yellow, green or yellow-green - when the discharge contains a large number of leukocytes, they turn yellow and even green.they are also called purulent discharge.
It should be noted that with the same pathology, the nature of rejection changes over time.
White discharge
White discharge in men is due to various 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 coating.
- there is itching, burning and even pain in the penis and perineum.
- discharge occurs during urination.
- there are reddish spots (irritation, inflammation) on the head and inner surface of the foreskin.
- pain occurs during intercourse, 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 has a cheesy discharge.
In addition to urogenital candidiasis, white discharge can be caused by chlamydia and/or ureaplasmosis and mycoplasmosis, and we are also talking about prostate inflammation, which is characterized by:
- difficulty and intermittent urination.
- burning sensation in 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 options
- Chlamydia, ureaplasmosis - clear mucous discharge is possible with chlamydial or ureaplasmal urethritis in the chronic stage of the disease.As the process worsens, the number of leukocytes in the discharge increases and acquires 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 at the initial stage of infection with Trichomonas or gonococci.In the case of chlamydia (ureaplasmosis), subjective sensations (pain, itching, burning) are often absent and clear discharge occurs after prolonged abstinence from urination.
Yellow discharge
The purulent discharge, which includes detached urethral epithelium, a significant number of leukocytes, and urethral mucus, has a yellowish or greenish tint.Yellow discharge or mixed with green is a typical sign of sexually transmitted diseases.
- Gonorrhea - the discharge is thick and has an unpleasant rotten smell, which is observed throughout the day and is accompanied by pain during urination.A man should first consider a gonorrhoeal infection if he has the classic pair of symptoms: discharge and itching.
- Trichomonas - also with yellow discharge, trichomoniasis cannot be ruled out, although it is often asymptomatic.With severe symptoms of trichomonad infection, in addition to purulent discharge, the man is bothered by burning and pain during urination, frequent and irresistible urge to urinate, feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen and discomfort in the perineum.
Discharge with odor
Poor hygiene
An unpleasant smell of the perineum and penis in particular can also be observed if the conditions of personal hygiene 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 can have an unpleasant odor if there is a metabolic disorder (for example, diabetes mellitus in men).In this case, the secretion of sebum is so intense that it soaks through the underwear.
Infections
Odorous discharge is most often observed with an infectious lesion of the urethra.First of all, you should rule out gonorrhoeal urethritis - thick, yellow or green discharge that is observed throughout the day.
The sour smell of secretions is a pathognomonic symptom of candidiasis of the genitourinary system.Infection with fungi of the genus Candida causes the appearance of cheesy or milky white discharge.
A fishy smell from secretions is also possible, which is inherent in gardnerellosis, which is more typical for women (called bacterial vaginitis), and in men the development of this disease is rather nonsense.Gardnerella is a conditionally pathogenic microorganism and begins to reproduce actively only under certain conditions:
- weakened immunity;
- simultaneous 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.
- unrestrained sex life.
Also, secretions 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 the discharge (not from the urethra, but from the sebum), these diseases are accompanied by hyperemia and itching, pain in the penis and ulcers and wrinkles on the head.
Bloody discharge
Infections
Bloody or blood-streaked discharge is often seen with an infectious lesion of the urethra.An admixture of blood is characteristic of gonorrhea, trichomonas or candidiasis urethritis.In addition, the amount of blood is directly related to the intensity of the inflammation.
Blood is often seen in chronic urethritis (the mucous membrane of the urethra relaxes 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 crude budging, catheter installation and removal, cystoscopy or smear taking, immediate bleeding may be observed.They differ in that the blood is red, does not have clots, and the bleeding itself stops very quickly.
Passing 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 mucous membrane and walls of blood vessels, causing bleeding.In this case, the blood is more noticeable during urination, which is accompanied by pain.
Glomerulonephritis
Gross 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: heavy hematuria, edema, 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.
Ejaculation of blood with semen
We should not forget about such a symptom as the release of blood with semen (haematospermia).There are false and true hematospermia.In false cases, blood mixes with semen as it passes through the urethra.And with real, blood enters the ejaculate even before it passes 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.
- increase in body temperature.
One of the causes of hematospermia is:
- overly active sex life or vice versa,
- long-term sexual abstinence, rupture of the vascular walls in the tissues of the genital organs occurs during intercourse
- previous surgery or biopsy can also cause blood in the semen
- Hematospermia occurs in benign and malignant neoplasms of the genitourinary organs
- presence of stones in the testicles and seeds
- with varicose veins of the pelvic organs.