Discharge

[user01]

Is it normal to have a discharge of what looks like seminal fluid occasionally at the end of the urine stream, when the muscles that tighten after urination tighten up? This occurs for me when I've not had any sexual release for a while (a week or two or more) and especially if I've been close to my girlfriend but without release. I will usually also get some pain in my testicles and the related duct work after the discharge occurs.

[Jay]

Hi there,

I've had this sort of discharge under the same circumstances, as well as following constipated bowel movements (IBS-C is a lovely side condition of mine). It's not very uncommon, especially if you choose to abstain from ejaculation for a noteworthy period of time. Search for 'discharge' and you should find a number of posts.

My physician and physical therapist resolved together that, at least in my case, it was prostatic fluid being expelled. It also causes flares in my condition.

[user01]

Thank you. ANyone else out there have an opinion on this? What are your experiences with discharge?

[webslave]

Many posters only spend a few weeks on this forum before getting the answers they need and moving on, so you may have to wait a long time to get a reply from someone else with this pattern of leakage. That's why you're best advised to use the search function, as Jay said, to find specific answers.

[scotsman]

Is it normal to have a discharge of what looks like seminal fluid occasionally at the end of the urine stream, when the muscles that tighten after urination tighten up? This occurs for me when I've not had any sexual release for a while (a week or two or more) and especially if I've been close to my girlfriend but without release. I will usually also get some pain in my testicles and the related duct work after the discharge occurs.

I've had this many times in the past (exactly as you describe) and still suffer from such discharges if I don't ejaculate at least once every week. This used to be a problem when I had post ejaculation pain symptoms (and wanted to limit my ejaculations), but thankfully it's been years since I had post ejaculation symptoms so I have sex/ejaculate a number of times per week and don't have the problem now.

I've no solution to offer you apart from making sure you ejeculate at least once every 7 days. As Jay says above, it's not uncommon - just another one of those things that chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome sufferers have to bare during our recovery.

Richard.

[user01]

I have used the search function now, but did not see anything about my specific qustion (so far). There's lots about discharge caused by abnormal conditions, such as from STD's, but little about whether it's normal to have a discharge from just not releasing normal fluid through ejaculation.

[webslave]

Try different terms like "leakage" "fluid" "drip" "stain" etc

There have been quite a few people complaining of this over the years...

[Jay]

Hi there,

This is assumption on my part, but from reading your other thread, I wonder if you're worried about having a draining abscess or something like that?

If the above is the case, then it's actually very unlikely. An abscess would be more along the lines of acute bacterial prostatitis, which is 1) easily detected, and 2) presents symptoms constituting a medical emergency. Doctors can detect such a problem through palpation and urine testing. If those measures fail, transrectal ultrasound would no doubt pick up any 'hidden' abscess. That's setting aside the fact that you'd probably be in immense pain and headed for the hospital.

Having said that, I am not a doctor, but it really sounds from your description like you're leaking prostatic fluid. It sounds so much like what I pass, and what I've heard of others passing. If nothing else, I can assure you that it's very possible. In 27 years, you've no doubt had an Expressed Prostatic Secretion test, which is nothing more than a urologist applying pressure to force out prostatic fluids. Same thing here, except it's muscular action (or bowel movement pressure, etc) doing the work. The urologists even sometimes ask you to refrain from ejaculation for a while, so that it's easier to get fluid out!

As always, you should see your doctor if you are genuinely concerned. We aren't medical experts, and they may be able to provide some reassurance.

[user01]

Thanks for the reply.

Your assumption is correct; I am concerned about having a hidden abscess or cyst. I have had several TRUS's though, as well as an abdominal CT scan and an MRI of the prostate area (done by Dr. Wheeler in Sarasota FL). Nothing but a single 3mm calcification was found, although Wheeler also said that was a site of inflammation. He could tell that apparently from the amount of blood flow there. But he also said my prostatitis was one of the worst cases he'd ever seen, with a WBC of 300 to uncountable. In any case, nothing like a cyst or abscess has been found by any of the doctors I've seen so far.

However, I've noticed when I do a self-message of the prostate area, the upper-left side where that "calcification" was seen is always painful while the right side always normal/no pain. I have also noticed when my symptoms are really bad, and I've not had that discharge, I can feel something swollen on the upper left side, seemingly above the prostate. And if I barely touch it I can feel fluid move, get a discharge and then also very painful testicles for hours. Sometimes I also get fluid movement from that upper left side of my prostate as well, but usually not and if so, just a small amount of fluid.

So my thought was I have a partially obstructed seminal vesicle, but no uro I've seen to date will even entertain that idea. They all say if it was obstructed, the vesicle would be swollen. I think a partial obstruction that releases occasionally may not appear swollen and could account for at least some of my symptoms. I've read literature describing just this scenario.

Does anyone know of an open-minded doc in the Alanta, Savannah, Jacksonville, or any area who could test for this and possibly open up those ducts?

I have other questions I will post separately.

Thanks!

[Jay]

Hi,

Addressing the WBC count ... This can be a sign of infection, true, but not in the absence of bacteria. Between urine and EPS testing, infection just isn't that hard to pick up, and acute bacterial prostatitis is very straightforward to diagnose/treat.

White blood cells are also present with inflammation, which can exist for other reasons. In fact, there are separate 'classes' of chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome for inflammatory and non-inflammatory patients, though I'm aware of no practical difference when it comes to treatment method. It's the WBCs which set them apart under the microscope.

Calcifications, calculi, and prostatic stones are very common and tend to increase in quantity with age. This is true even of those without CPPS. They usually present no symptoms at all, but can sometimes be a factor in BPH. Techniques used to break up these calcifications haven't met with much success in the chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome population.

So! Having said all of that, I'd encourage you to avoid self-diagnosis. It's not a good thing. Here are the measures I suggest:

1) Go to a university-based medical center, where they are accustomed to seeing difficult cases,

OR

2) See a physical therapist. I think doing this first would be more worth your buck, but that's my opinion as a layman, only.

[graeme]

I also suffer from this. You are far from alone :icon11:

[user01]

Jay (or anyone),

Thanks for the thoughtful reply. On your suggestion to go to a university-based medical center, can you recommend one or two? I've thought of Mayo, but there may be better places.

Why see a physical therapist for a urological condition? If you're thinking they could look for internal trigger points, aren't therapists with such experience very difficult to find? Know of any in Georgia?

Thanks.