“Abnormal loss of fluid that is not urine or semen from the urethra (urine tube) at the tip of the penis”

Emobileclinic Trending Topic: Penile discharge

Penile discharge can be a very worrying problem for a man. Penile discharge is the abnormal loss of fluid that is not urine or semen from the urethra (urine tube) at the tip of the penis. It is commonly the sign of a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Penile discharge may be watery (clear) or cloudy (containing pus). The discharge may also be bloody. Urinary tract infection (UTI) or a sexually transmitted infection are common causes of penile discharge. Penile discharge is often accompanied by pain or burning during urination and a need to urinate frequently.

Itching can also accompany penile discharge. Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomonas infections are common infections that may cause penile discharge.

Symptoms

The discharge can vary in amount from scanty to profuse and in colour from clear to yellow or green. The timing can vary from loss in the morning only to throughout the day. The discharge is often accompanied by other symptoms such as:

burning on passing urine (dysuria)

frequent need to pass urine

excessive need to urinate at night (nocturia)

rash in the genital area, which can be painful or itchy

swollen lymph nodes (glands) in the groin.

Causes of penile discharge

Common causes are:

gonococcal urethritis

non-gonococcal or non-specific urethritis (NSU).

Gonococcal urethritis (gonorrhoea)

Gonorrhoea is caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Diagnosis

Penile discharge or urethritis is diagnosed by finding white blood cells (neutrophils or pus cells) on a urethral swab or ‘first catch’ urine sample (ie urine taken from when you first begin to pass water).

The infecting organism might be identified from these samples.

The development of more sensitive tests, such as polymerase chain reaction and ligase chain reaction, might allow for more precise diagnosis, particularly in patients with no symptoms and especially if they are sexual contacts of proven infected women.

Treatment

One of several antibiotics can be given as a single dose

Sexual partners are given similar treatment.