Penis Health Red Flag: Penile Discharge
When a man first notices penile discharge, he might hope that he’s wrong – that he hasn’t really seen what he thinks he saw. But in most cases, when a man notices something odd about his penis, he’s right in that something really is going wrong with the equipment. It’s a true penis care emergency in that a man needs to figure out what is causing the discharge as soon as possible, so as to help keep his penis health in tip-top shape – and of course, to help ensure that he protects the health of his sexual partners as well.
Penile discharge: Is it an STD?
Unfortunately, one of the most common reasons for penile discharge is a sexually transmitted disease. Though in most cases the infection comes along with other symptoms as well, some men experience a discharge with little to no other symptoms.
The discharge can take a variety of forms. In some cases it is very thin and watery, and is only a slow “drip” that might take a man a few days to notice. But in others, the discharge is copious, with large amounts of it showing up in his underwear in a short period of time. Some discharge might become thick as well.
When it comes to color, penile discharge can be anything from entirely clear to dark yellow or green. Some discharge can even be entirely white, as though chalk has been mixed with water. A discharge that includes any pink or red color might mean there is also blood in there, which doesn’t bode well for a man – it’s a sure sign he needs to get to the doctor as soon as possible.
Other potential signs
As mentioned earlier, there are often many other symptoms that accompany a penile discharge that is the result of a sexually transmitted infection. These can include a red penis, itching, swelling, penis pain, a feeling of fullness, an urge to urinate that leads to only a few drops coming out, a rash, painful urination and more. Any of these could indicate a serious medical issue, including an infection a man picked up from a partner.
What to do
When a man is confronted with a penile discharge, the first thing he must do is figure out where the problem is coming from. For most guys, that’s going to mean a quick visit to the doctor or health clinic, where he will be tested for sexually transmitted diseases. The doctor might take a swab of the discharge for further study and to help determine the STD more quickly; a guy can also expect to have blood taken for labs that can help pinpoint which problem he might have.
If a guy notices penile discharge that is mixed with blood, experiences penis pain with no explanation, or notices the discharge shortly after he suffered an injury to the penis, it’s time to go to the emergency room. These situations require a man to be thoroughly checked out as soon as possible to help him avoid any long-term problems that might result from the issue.
On a day-to-day basis, a guy should take steps to protect his penis. This includes using condoms when in bed with a new partner, keeping the penis clean and fresh, and reaching for a daily penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). A guy should look for a crème that contains Shea butter for dryness, vitamin C for overall skin health, vitamin A for odor control and alpha lipoic acid to fight the free radicals that can lead to signs of aging. A guy should also look for other nutrients, such as L-carnitine and L-arginine, which provide for better health of a guy’s favorite organ.
