Penile Discharge in Lagos: Causes, Tests, and What to Do Today
A discharge from the penis: especially if it is yellow, green, or accompanied by burning urination, is almost always an STI or urinary infection. This page tells you the causes, the tests, and why treating without testing leads to recurring infections.
What Causes Penile Discharge?
Penile discharge has a narrow differential: most cases are gonorrhoea, chlamydia, or urethritis from other organisms. The colour, timing, and associated symptoms give clues; a urethral swab test confirms.
Yellow or green, thick, purulent discharge: usually appearing 2–7 days after exposure. Often with burning urination. Very common STI. Treated with a single dose of ceftriaxone.
Clear or white, watery discharge: often mild or intermittent. Sometimes only noticed in the morning. Common STI; requires doxycycline 7–14 days.
Discharge with urethritis not caused by gonorrhoea: Mycoplasma, Ureaplasma, or Trichomonas. Swab tests help identify the cause.
A frothy, sometimes itchy discharge: Trichomonas vaginalis infection. Treated with metronidazole.
Less common in men: discharge may accompany urethral irritation from ascending infection. Urine culture required.
Redness, swelling, and discharge from the glans, often from candida (thrush) or non-infectious causes. Topical antifungal or steroid cream treats it.
🚨 Go to hospital or clinic today if you have:
- Discharge + testicular pain or swelling: possible epididymo-orchitis (urgent)
- Discharge + high fever and pelvic pain
- Discharge that has persisted despite antibiotic treatment
- Blood in the discharge
What Tests Do You Need?
Recommended at Mascot Healthcare
Urethral Swab + Rapid Chlamydia & Gonorrhoea Tests: a swab from the urethra is examined and cultured (microscopy, culture and sensitivity), alongside rapid chlamydia and gonorrhoea tests. Culture results in 24–48 hours.
Swab Microscopy: the discharge is examined under the microscope as part of the swab test, which can point to gonorrhoea early and guide treatment.
Full STI Screen: HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B, a full sexual health screen alongside swabs.
Urine Culture: If UTI is suspected: identifies the causative organism and antibiotic sensitivity.
What to Do Right Now
Taking antibiotics before the swab can make the test negative even when an infection is present. Get the test first, treatment follows the same day if indicated.
Until the infection is identified and treated, and for 7 days after treatment is completed, to prevent transmission.
STIs require partner notification and treatment. Both partners must be treated simultaneously to prevent re-infection.
Book today: same-day appointments are often available, and STI tests are walk-in. Mascot Healthcare provides confidential STI assessment without judgment.
Penile discharge? Confidential STI screen and treatment at Mascot Healthcare today.
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Last updated 18 October 2026.