Discharge from the urethra in men is of a different nature, occurs most often in infectious and inflammatory diseases and serves as an immediate reason for contacting a specialist.
If you do not pay attention to this in time, latent symptoms may occur.
Physiological secretions include:
- discharge during excitement coming from the glands of the urethra;
- Discharge during bowel movements upon straining;
- Smegma is the secretion of the foreskin glands that accumulates due to inadequate intimate hygiene;
- Sperm – released during ejaculation or emission (during puberty, with prolonged abstinence).
Pathological discharge has causes such as:
- mechanical damage;
- diseases of the sexual organs;
- sexually transmitted infections;
- Development of the existing flora.
The type of discharge is different and is assessed based on the following parameters:
- Crowd,
- Consistency,
- Color,
- Timing and frequency of occurrence.
Discharge from the urethra associated with certain pathological flora (gonococci, chlamydia, trichomonas and other sexually transmitted pathogens) may look like this:
- transparent, slimy, usually few of them - often associated with the presence of ureaplasma and mycoplasma;
- mucopurulent – the result of the presence of trichomonas, chlamydia and other pathogens in the acute phase;
- purulent: thick, yellowish or greenish. Characteristic of gonorrhea. The so-called "morning drop" phenomenon occurs: When you first urinate in the morning, a drop of pus is released because the discharge is thick and sticky.
These features of pathological discharge should not be used as a basis for making a diagnosis. Coinfection, i. e. the presence of several pathogens, often occurs, making the clinical picture uncertain. In latent and asymptomatic forms of the disease, as well as in the remission phase, the discharge is extremely scanty or completely absent.
Nonspecific processes in the urethra are also accompanied by pathological discharge. Its causes include poor personal hygiene, weakened immunity and other factors. Opportunistic flora (staphylococci, fungi, streptococci, etc. ) begin to actively multiply on the mucous membranes and cause typical symptoms of urethritis. They are usually less pronounced than with specific inflammations.
The discharge is accompanied by some phenomena:
- Itching, burning in the urethra;
- frequent urge to urinate;
- painful sensations when urinating;
- Discomfort in the lower abdomen.
If you do not pay attention to the alarming symptoms, the inflammatory process will spread to the prostate, seminal vesicles, testicles and their appendages. Balanitis and balanoposthitis often occur.
Pathological discharge in diseases of the sexual organs in men also includes:
- Prostatorrhea: Secretion of prostate secretion. Often this is a sign of prostatitis, adenoma;
- Release of sperm outside of sexual arousal. It is accompanied by pathological changes in the vas deferens and chronic inflammation;
- Bleeding or hematorrhea: often occurs after manipulation of the urethra, improper smear technique, insertion of a urinary catheter, cystoscopy, or injury from a passing stone. In some cases, hematorrhea is a very dangerous symptom indicating malignant pathology.
Diagnosis of the causes of urethral discharge
Diagnosis of diseases accompanied by urethral discharge includes laboratory and instrumental studies:
- Smear with subsequent microscopy, bacteriological culture, PCR. This is necessary to determine the pathogens present and the severity of the pathological process.
- Direct examination of discharge after urethral massage.
- General clinical examinations of blood and urine.
- Analysis of prostate secretion, PSA.
- Ultrasound of the pelvic organs, MRI, urography, etc.
The presence of an inflammatory process in the urethra serves as an indication for examination and treatment as early as possible, as complications are much more difficult to treat later. One of the most dangerous complications of urethritis is infertility.