HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

What Causes A Purple Stain In The Genitals Of An Elderly Person?

Posted on Wed, 14 Jun 2017

Question: I am a 60 year old male with very normal PSA tests and no real discomfort when urinating. I noticed last night a purple stain on my underwear. It is clearly purple and not red or pink. Subsequent urinations have not resulted in any discoloration. I used a Hemastix test strip on the next urine sample with normal results. What could this purple mean?

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Could be due to certain fungi

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

I have gone carefully through your query and understand your concerns. The purplish discoloration could be due to certain fungi or mold that often grow in the sweat and dead skin cells accumulated in underwears. Since hemastix test is negative and since there are otherwise no complaints I do not think that there is a cause for concern.

Let me know if I could help further.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (16 minutes later)

Dr.
Thank you for your prompt reply. I'm trying to attach an image for you to review in hopes that it will help you confirm your opinion. I should have done this initially. I hope the system will allow me to do so.

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (13 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Hard to explain

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back and for uploading the image. I find the stain rather intriguing. It is unlikely to be due to a fungal cause as I had suggested. Honestly speaking, I find it hard to explain but it could be that there was some amount of residual amount of detergent in the underwear before it was dried off and that acted as an acid base indicator reacting to some secretions that had oozed out. That is all I can explain. However, it does not seem to be a cause for concern. Keep your eyes open and if you find anything else, let me know and I will try to connect the dots.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (25 minutes later)

Again, thank you for the reply and for reviewing the image. The purple color is what intrigued me and the placement on the underwear. The coloring seem almost more pronounced on the outside than on the inside of the underwear.
In the past, I've had what my doctor believed was either minor kidney stones or prostatic varices, never did pin that down, that resulted in small blood spots on my underwear. But they were light red - nothing so clearly purple.

I will keep alert and please let me know if you have further thoughts.

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (0 minute later)

Brief Answer:
Not a cause for concern.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. The stain being more prominent goes in favor of my second explanation (acid base indicator due to residual detergent in garment). I do not suppose that you need to worry about kidney stones, prostatic varices and stuff like that.

Feel free to write back.

Regards

Note: Consult a Urologist online for consultation about prostate and bladder problems, sexual dysfunction, kidney stones, prostate enlargement, urinary incontinence, impotence and erectile dysfunction - Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar