Discharge from the penis

The hole at the end of the penis is the opening of the urethra (the tube for urine and semen that is inside the penis). Discharge is usually a sign of infection in the urethra.

 

Non-specific urethritis (NSU) is a common cause of discharge. ‘Urethritis’ means inflammation of the tube, and ‘non-specific’ means that is difficult to know the exact cause. NSU causes a discharge that is usually clear, and is worse in the mornings. You may find it uncomfortable to pass urine, and you may feel irritation along the urethra inside the penis.

 

NSU is caught during sex. Several types of bacteria may be responsible; about half of cases are caused by Chlamydia and about 40% are caused by other bacteria (such as Ureaplasma and Mycoplasma). These bacteria do not cause a discharge in women, or any other symptoms in the early stages, so most women do not know that they have an infection.

 

In women, Chlamydia can travel upwards into the Fallopian tubes (the tubes that carry the eggs from the ovaries to the womb), and can eventually affect the tubes, making the woman infertile. For this reason you need treatment, so that you do not pass the infection on to a female partner.

 

Gonorrhoea is caused by a bacteria called Gonococcus – you will find more information in the section on gonorrhoea. Like NSU, it is caught during sex, and often causes a discharge and pain when you pass urine. The discharge can be any colour – yellow, green, white, cloudy or clear. The symptoms may be so slight that you hardly notice them, or there may be a lot of discharge. Gonorrhoea can spread to the testicles, causing pain, swelling and redness. As with NSU, the woman you caught it from was probably unaware that she was infected; only 10–20% of women with gonorrhoea have a discharge.

 

Inflammation. Occasionally, the urethra can become inflamed without there being any infection. For example, if you poke anything up the urethra you can damage the lining, which will become inflamed and cause a discharge. Similarly, antiseptics, perfumed bubble baths or strong soaps can inflame the urethra if you are very sensitive to them. And check to make sure the discharge is actually coming from the urethral opening, rather than from a sore area under the foreskin.

Any discharge from the penis needs to be checked out by a doctor – either your family doctor or, preferably, a doctor at a genitourinary medicine clinic. This is because chlamydia and gonorrhoea can be easily treated with the correct antibiotics, but can cause problems to you and your future partners if they are not treated properly. Some types of the bacteria that cause gonorrhoea are resistant to certain antibiotics, but the genitourinary medicine clinic will be able to test you to select the correct one.

 

 

Dr Phil Hammond talks fully and frankly about genital infections in his Expert guide to Genital infections

Written by: Dr Margaret Stearn
Edited by: Dr Margaret Stearn
Last updated: Thursday, June 10th 2010

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Comments on this article

Posted by Optional 242 on 19/07/2010 at 05:02:12 am

hi. i have a discharge that comes out of my penis that was cloudy about two days ago, but now on the third day it has gotten a pale yellow color and it doesn't hurt to pee. What's is the problem?

Posted by karen on 15/06/2010 at 12:33:39 pm

to optionsl 25 3 2010 hiya.when you press your penis against your trousers when you are watching a porno film you are engaging in a form of masturbation you do this to release your sperm in order to get some pleasure.this will not harm you in any way good luck....karen

Posted by karen on 14/06/2010 at 08:03:50 am

to jack.no offence to you but you do have health issues with your penis first of all your penis is unclean very unclean.the yellow crumbs you referr to are dead skin cells smegma and dead sperm ,sweat bacteria ect.your penis has not been washed for sometime.this is causing you infections.you also mention that you have foreskin promblems together with your total lack of hygien and your masterbatery habits this is why you have some serious penile promblems. first of all you must wash under your foreskin.second you must never masterbate into any dirty repeptical all paper hankerchiefs toiletpaper should be disposed of down the toilet once you have brought your sperm up into them your penis should then be washed with warm soapy water.third you should consider circumcision your foreskin needs to be removed.you should talk to your doctor about this.when your hygien improves then you will find a sexual partner,untill then no girl will go with you.and because of the way you described your penile hygien and masturbatary habits thats why i am snd alot of other girls are devout belivers in circumcision.there is no excuse in this day and age for your lack of hygien what so ever so get this issue sorted out.....karen

Posted by karen on 13/06/2010 at 05:00:27 pm

to all boys worried about a white substance under their foreskins do not worry about it this is called smegma it is normal for teenage boys to produce this.girls produdce smegma inside our vaginas as well.just keep your foreskins washed especially after you have masterbated and after any wet dreams. warm soapy water is all you need.dont worry....karen.

Posted by Optional on 20/05/2010 at 08:45:55 pm

HI I AM FROM LAHORE PAKISTAN I HAVE PROBLAM IN MY PENIES, LOW HADNESS & DISCHAGE IN 2-MINT PLEASE SOLVE MY PROBLAM, I WANT TO HEALTHY PENIES & LONG TIME MASTRBUTING THANK U

Posted by Optional on 13/05/2010 at 12:46:48 pm

I have a yellow discharge that is coming out of my penis. I also get boiuls on my scrotum yet am HIV negative. What could be the problem?

Posted by izac on 10/05/2010 at 01:35:19 am

discharge of fluid from my penis

Posted by ajay on 09/05/2010 at 06:22:35 am

when i m doing masturbation ...i wl cmeout within a minute plz help me.........bcoz of this i m in fear......after mairrage........

Posted by Optional on 04/05/2010 at 03:40:23 pm

Hi Doc, I gave my wife an std some years back and she went to the doctor and was treated for it, unfortunately I wasn't. I had taken some antibotics I was give by a friend whose mother worked in a pharmacy. I still have a white discharge coming from my penis everyday and especially right before sex and I am afraid of the doctor. Although she asks me all the time to go to the doctor, I will Not go. She is constantly have discharge issues such as bactarial and yeast infections. Was I cleared after taking the antibotics not or am I causing her to constantly have these infections? What should I do? What kind of infection is this? Can this be treated and is this just a reversing cycle of sexually transmitted diease that we're constantly giving each other? Please response as soon as possible. Thank you!

Posted by Optional on 25/04/2010 at 05:12:57 pm

Sir, I am 34 yrs old male. From my pennis a white color fluid discharged without irritation & bad odour & no burning. It was stainned my dress.I am not having any illegal contact with male or female. I consult with skin doctor. He prescribed Doxycyclin 200mg (2 capsules per day) for 7 days & given clotrimaxozole cream. when it was taken there is no discharge when ever i stopped it start to discharge. Please sugest the name of the disease and give conformed drug.And give releif to my life. waiting for reply. Thanking you.

Posted by Optional on 12/04/2010 at 01:43:18 pm

hi , i after sex with my partner , next morning my penis go red and itchy and after two days some liquid started to come out of my penis itself . if anyone knows anything about it please tell me , im really scared :(

Posted by Optional on 25/03/2010 at 08:27:14 pm

i press my penis occasionally when i watch porn movies. due to this sperm is coming out from my penis. is it dangerous to health?

Posted by Andrew on 04/03/2010 at 02:54:38 pm

Hi I have hypospadias and the discharge is actually came out from the non functional hole. I have no discomfort or pain when passing urine either. but the milky liquid will kept coming out from the non functional hole. Is this Gonorrhoea?

Posted by ben on 05/02/2010 at 07:04:00 am

i had unprotected sex with a girl and the following morning i had a smal yellow/whitecoloured discharge from my penis. I have no other sypmtoms, no pain when urinating just that when i urinate the urine is warm.can you tell what should i use

Posted by HAGGAI on 17/01/2010 at 07:19:00 pm

I NOTICED A DISCHARGE OUT OF MY PENIS 24 HOURS AFTER HAVING SEX WHAT SYMPTOM IS IT FOR.