White discharge in men

Not all discharge in men indicates pathology and the development of serious diseases, there is also physiological secretion from the penis, usually transparent. Unfortunately, diseases in this area do not always manifest themselves with obvious symptoms, so white discharge should be a warning sign. A visit to a urologist will clarify the situation and allow you to identify the problem at an early stage, which is important not only for the man, but also for his family or sexual partner.

Epidemiology

According to statistics, more than a million people worldwide are infected with sexually transmitted infections every day. Thus, in 2016, the WHO recorded 127 million cases of chlamydia, 87 million cases of gonorrhea, 156 million cases of trichomoniasis. In the USA, 8% of all urological diseases are prostatitis.

Causes white discharge in men

The appearance of white discharge in men has several causes:

• candidiasis (caused by Candida fungi); [ 1 ]
• mycoplasmosis (caused by tiny bacteria – mycoplasmas); [ 2 ]
• chlamydia (chlamydia penetrates the cell, multiplies, and destroys it); [ 3 ]
• prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate gland); [ 4 ]
• gonorrhea (a sexually transmitted disease caused by the gonococcus bacteria). [ 5 ]

Risk factors

Poor intimate hygiene, promiscuous sex, and unprotected contact contribute to the spread of sexually transmitted infections and venereal diseases.

Pathogenesis

Each of the listed diagnoses has its own pathogenesis. Thus, in candidiasis, fungi attach to the walls of the epithelium, colonize and penetrate deeply into it. Their penetration into the body in 30-40% of cases is facilitated by sexual contact with an infected partner.

Mycoplasmosis, chlamydia, gonorrhea - with different structures of pathogenic microorganisms (with or without a cell membrane), they produce intracellular parasitism, ultimately destroying the cell, causing inflammation.

Symptoms white discharge in men

White discharge on men's underwear is a fairly common occurrence, which does not always indicate health problems. They accompany sexual arousal, their appearance in the morning indicates morning emission, which is quite normal for young men.

White discharge in men on the head of the penis without odor, not causing discomfort in most cases is physiological in nature and should not cause concern.

The first signs of trouble are signaled by white discharge with a smell. This may be an alarm bell indicating infection with gonorrhea. In addition, there is pain in the groin, burning during urination, fever.

An unpleasant odor also appears with mycoplasmosis, chlamydia. The latter is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases. It often proceeds asymptomatically for a long time, and then white glassy discharge from the urethra in men and pain during urination, itching, pain in the scrotum, lower back, testicles appear.

Mycoplasmosis produces similar symptoms: during emptying of the bladder, leucorrhoea is released from the urethra, it also appears in the morning, urination is difficult and frequent, pain is felt in the scrotum area, radiating to the anus.

If white, cheesy discharge appears on the head of the penis in men, having a dense concentration and a sour smell, and the process of urination is accompanied by burning, itching, pain, then the diagnosis is predictable - candidiasis or thrush. The disease affects the head and foreskin, under which white flakes also accumulate.

In addition to white discharge, prostatitis is characterized by pronounced clinical manifestations in the form of increased temperature, chills, pain in the lower back, abdomen, anus, signs of general intoxication (general weakness, fatigue), pain during defecation and urination, burning, and sexual dysfunction.

Complications and consequences

Most of the listed diagnoses are dangerous due to their consequences and complications. Thus, an acute inflammatory process in the prostate gland can lead to cystitis, pyelonephritis, and general blood poisoning.

Bacterial sexually transmitted infections often result in infertility. Gonorrhea is dangerous due to the development of complications such as balanoposthitis, couperitis, paraurethritis, prostatitis, vesiculitis, and the formation of urethral stenosis. The man's sexual function may also suffer.

Diagnostics white discharge in men

Diagnosis of diseases accompanied by white discharge from the genital organ consists of a number of examinations, including a doctor's examination, tests, and instrumental examination. The patient will be sent for a general urine and blood test, for sugar, and a smear will be taken for culture, which allows identifying the pathogen and its reaction to the antibiotic. The material for bacterioscopic analysis is a secret from the prostate gland, scraping from the urethra.

A comprehensive approach to detecting the disease includes computed tomography, ultrasound, and urography.

Differential diagnosis

Many diseases of the male genital area with white discharge have similar symptoms. The task of differential diagnostics is to determine the true cause of such a phenomenon, identify the pathogen and direct therapeutic measures to its destruction.

Treatment white discharge in men

The above diseases are treated mainly with broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs. If intracellular bacteria are detected, an antibiotic is prescribed that can penetrate the cell.

Fungal infections are treated with antifungal medications. Painkillers and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may also be used.

Both internal administration of medications and local treatment are used.

In the treatment of gonorrhea, combination antibacterial therapy is used, consisting of the following drugs: ceftriaxone intramuscularly and orally with azithromycin or doxycycline twice a day.

Ceftriaxone is a third-generation antibiotic with prolonged action, powder for solution. The injection is done once a day at 255 mg. It can cause side effects in the form of a hypersensitivity reaction, shortness of breath, bronchospasm, headache, dizziness, diarrhea. Contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Azithromycin is a broad-spectrum antibacterial agent. It is used once in a dose of 1 g. It can cause nausea, vomiting, flatulence, stomach pain, diarrhea, general weakness, anxiety, convulsions, arrhythmia, tachycardia. It is not prescribed for hypersensitivity to the components.

In case of prostatitis, an antibiotic sensitive to the microorganisms that caused it is determined. This may be moxifloxacin, levofloxacin, minocycline, chloramphenicol.

Moxifloxacin is a drug from the quinolone group. It is administered intravenously once a day in the form of slow infusions of 400 mg, lasting 60 minutes. After a few days, you can switch to oral tablets. The course of treatment on average fluctuates between one and two weeks. Side effects include allergies, anemia, a state of nervous excitement, dyspepsia, gastritis. Contraindicated for children under 18, pregnant women, lactating women, people with serious cardiac or liver dysfunction.

Sexually transmitted bacterial infections such as mycoplasmosis and chlamydia are successfully treated primarily with erythromycin and its derivatives – macrolides, one of which is fromilid.

Fromilid is an acid-resistant antibiotic, and also has an immunostimulating effect. Take one tablet twice a day for 7-14 days. The drug is safe to use (has less than 1% of side effects). It is especially effective in combination with ciprinol.

Candidiasis in men is treated mainly with local remedies such as Zalain cream, Lomaxin 2%.

Zalain is a synthetic antifungal drug. It is applied in a thin layer to a cleanly washed organ in the morning and evening. The course of treatment can be up to 4 weeks. The ointment is well tolerated, in rare cases itching, redness, peeling appear.

Any pathology is easier to overcome by strengthening the immune system. Vitamin and mineral complexes and food products with balanced vitamins and minerals will help strengthen the immune system. For men, they should contain vitamins A, C, E, K1, group B, folic acid, biotin, iodine, calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, selenium, chromium, etc.

Physiotherapeutic procedures are widely used in the complex therapy of prostatitis. The need for them arises due to the fact that drugs poorly penetrate the prostate gland, where their concentration is significantly weaker than in the blood serum. Such procedures as finger massage of the prostate gland, its electrical stimulation, magnetic therapy, rectal and urethral thermal treatment come to the rescue.

Warming and medicinal compresses, mud therapy, the use of ozokerite, paraffin, UHF, and electrophoresis for wraps are widely used to treat chronic gonorrhea and its complications.

In other cases, physical methods are used to stimulate immune processes and conduct anti-relapse therapy.

Traditional methods of treating white discharge in men involve external treatment of the head and foreskin of the penis, as well as taking internally agents that strengthen the body's resistance.

Most often, herbs are used for this. The most suitable for washing, applications are chamomile, calendula, St. John's wort, eucalyptus, oak bark, and succession. It is best to prepare decoctions and infusions from their collections, which can also be taken internally. Echinacea and ginseng will increase immunity.

Homeopathy will in no way replace drug treatment of white discharge in men, but it will play a positive role in the complex therapy of diseases of the genital area, restore the balance of beneficial microflora. Among such drugs are Natrium muriaticum, Sulfum, Kalium muriaticum, Sabal serrulata. Only a homeopathic doctor can determine the appointments, methods of administration and doses.

All the above-mentioned diagnoses are treated with conservative methods. Surgical intervention is resorted to mainly in cases where complications occur and it is necessary to restore normal urine flow.

Prevention

To prevent diagnoses in men accompanied by white discharge, not much is needed: adhere to a healthy lifestyle, observe intimate hygiene, avoid stress, overwork, hypothermia, be selective in sexual relations, use protection if you are unsure about the safety of intimacy.

Macrolide antibiotics can be used to prevent genital chlamydial infection.

Forecast

Timely and competent treatment will relieve a man from pathological discharge and will not have dangerous consequences.