Noticing white penis discharge can be worrying, since it’s not something that most men experience frequently.

White discharge from penis

There are different conditions that can lead to white discharge from your penis, and learning more about them can help you determine when it may be time to visit your doctor.

Causes of white discharge from penis

Some of the common causes of white discharge from the penis include:

Smegma
Urethritis
Balanitis
Prostatitis
Yeast infection
Chlamydia
Gonorrhea
Trichomoniasis

Penile discharge is any substance that comes from your penis that isn’t urine, pre-ejaculate, or semen. Depending on its cause, penile discharge can be clear, white, yellow, green, brown, and even tinged with blood or pus.

Let’s go over some of the possible causes of white discharge from the penis.

Smegma

Smegma isn’t exactly penis discharge, but it can look quite similar. Smegma is a substance that results from the combination of dead skin cells, water, and skin oils or sebum. Smegma can affect both male and female genitalia, but it’s far more common in uncircumcised men, because it can collect under the foreskin.

A small amount of smegma is normal, but excessive smegma can lead to irritation, a foul smell, and promote the growth of harmful microorganisms.

The best way to prevent a buildup of smegma is through good intimate hygiene. The UK’s NHS provides some techniques that can help you achieve this, including:

If you’re uncircumcised, make sure to retract your foreskin and wash underneath
Choose a mild, non-perfumed soap to wash your genital area
Don’t retract a baby’s or boy’s foreskin, since it can be attached to the glans. Young boys don’t need to be cleaned under their foreskin
Look for any unusual lumps or lesions when you clean your genitals

Urethritis

As its name suggests, urethritis is the inflammation of the urethra. In most cases, urethritis is caused by the same pathogen that causes gonorrhea, which is a bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhoeae — thus the name gonococcal urethritis. However, non-gonococcal urethritis can be caused by a wide range of pathogens, and even by reactive arthritis. Harvard Health states that, in rare cases, urethritis can even be the result of exposure to an irritant agent, such as spermicides or antiseptics.

Symptoms of urethritis include:

Painful, urgent urination
Itching or burning sensations on the urinary meatus (opening of the penis)
Blood in the urine or semen
Discharge that can be cloudy, white, or yellow-green

Balanitis

Balanitis is the inflammation of the head of the penis, also known as glans. This condition is more common in uncircumcised men and young boys, but it can affect any man.

According to information posted by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), balanitis can be caused by certain STIs, yeast, and other bacteria and viruses. Symptoms of balanitis include:

Pain and swelling of the glans
Tight foreskin that can’t be retracted
An unpleasant odor
Painful urination
White or yellowish discharge under the foreskin
Swollen lymph nodes near the penis

Prostatitis

The prostate is a small gland that is located around the urethra and produces prostatic fluid, which is one of the components of semen. Prostatitis is characterized by inflammation of the prostate, which can be caused by an infection or an injury.

Symptoms of prostatitis can include:

Clear or whitish urethral discharge
Urethral discharge during bowel movements
Foul smelling urine
Blood tinged urine
Painful, difficult urination
Pain during ejaculation
Frequent urge to urinate
Lower back pain
Fever and/or chills

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, although prostatitis isn’t an STI, it can result from untreated STIs. It’s also possible to develop chronic prostatitis, which lasts at least three months and can cause recurrences.

Yeast infection

Yeast infections, caused by an overgrowth of candida spp., commonly affect women, but they can happen to anyone. According to the NHS, symptoms of yeast infections in men can include:

Moist skin on the penis
A white, thick discharge collecting on the skin folds of the penis
Itching or burning sensation on the penis
Redness and swelling
Difficulty retracting the foreskin

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is an STI caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. Chlamydia can be spread through vaginal, anal, or oral sex. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), chlamydia symptoms in men can include:

Thick discharge that can be cloudy, yellowish, or even brown
Painful urination
Frequent urge to urinate
Rectal pain, discharge, or bleeding
Swollen, tender testicles

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Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is caused by a bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and it’s one of the most common STIs around the globe. According to the NHS, symptoms of gonorrhea typically appear within 2 weeks of the infection, although they can sometimes remain dormant for months. Symptoms of gonorrhea in men include:

Penis discharge that can be white, yellow, or green
Painful or burning sensation when you urinate
Tender testicles
Rectal pain, bleeding, or discharge

Buy an At-Home Gonorrhea Test

Test for Gonorrhea in a Lab Near You

Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis is an STI caused by the bacteria Trichomonas vaginalis. It’s more common in women, but it can also affect men. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), up to 70 percent of all people infected with trichomoniasis don’t develop any symptoms at all.

Symptoms of trichomoniasis in men can include: