Leviticus 15:1-12
Some see this uncleanness associated with the loss of two things required for life. The first being blood. The life is in the blood, loss of blood was equated to death, and thus uncleanness. The other was the loss of semen, the presence of it outside the reproductive organs was thought to be associated with the loss of life. Not all agree with these principals. They the 'discharge' more of a abnormal discharge. The IVP OT Background Commentary says this:
Described here is the discharge of mucus that is most frequently caused by gonorrhea (though only the more benign varieties were present in the ancient world). Alternatively, it has been identified as infectious urinary bilharzia, a known scourge of the ancient world. This disease was caused by the parasite Schistosoma related to snails in the water system that have been detected in excavations. Such discharges were believed to be evidence of demonic presence in the person in the larger ancient Near East, but in Israel they required only washing of the individual and purification of the sanctuary, not exorcism as in Mesopotamia.
[Matthews, V. H., Chavalas, M. W., & Walton, J. H. (2000). The IVP Bible background commentary: Old Testament (electronic ed., Le 15:1–15). InterVarsity Press.]
The discharge from the man causes uncleanness. This includes his bed and anywhere he has sat. Touching the bed could transmit this to another. They would have to wash their clothes, bathe and be unclean until evening. The same is true of the chair on which the man sat. Anyone else would have that transmitted to them from the chair. They were to wash their clothes, bathe and be unclean until evening. The same treatment would be required of the person touching the unclean man. Even the man's spit is unclean and could transmit it to another. The man's saddle would be unclean along with anything else under him. Whoever the one who has a discharge touches is treated similar to the one who touches him. Washing with water offers some defense. The clay vessel touched by the unclean was to be broken.
Leviticus 15:13-15
We see a similar formula for cleansing as that required after childbirth or skin disease; wait, bathe, launder, purification offering and burnt offering.
When the man is cleansed from his discharge, he begins the waiting period. In matters like this, only the man would really know when this starts and ends. The process again appears to be three tiers or degrees of cleanliness. The first would be free of the discharge. After the 7 day wait, he would bathe himself and wash his clothes. The end of verse 13 then declares the 2nd tier of clean was accomplished. He still is not able to enter the holiness of the tabernacle. He goes to the door of the tabernacle with two turtledoves or pigeons. The priest makes the purification offering and the burnt offering. At this point, he would be declared clean and able to enter and worship.
Leviticus 15:16-18
This passage deals with natural bodily function and not illness. In this case the waiting is very short, only to the evening. The man had to wash and launder any garment soiled with discharge. Likewise, the woman after sexual relations was unclean till evening.
Why was normal sexual activity unclean? The bible doesn't specifically tell us. Milgrom speaks of the uncleanness as an association with death. Male discharge outside the body can't create life and is therefore an associating with death. It seems we have to also consider that even normal reproduction also perpetuates the sin problem to another generation. It is a fulfillment of the command to 'be fruitful and multiply' but also spreads the sin nature.
Leviticus 15:19-30
We see a very similar situation with the woman. She is not put out of the camp, but great care is taken. Whatever she sits on becomes unclean. Her bed is unclean. Anyone touching these things is unclean and must wash and be unclean till evening. If a man lies with her, he would be unclean for seven days. Any discharge of blood is treated the same as a normal discharge. Once it ceases, she attains that first degree of clean. She waits seven days. It doesn't say she must bathe and launder but this would be assumed to be the case to attain the second level. She would then go to the tabernacle where the purification offering and burnt offering are made and she would be clean.
Leviticus 15:31-33
This is like a bookend to Leviticus 11:47 that commands the priests to distinguish between the clean and the unclean. The danger to the uncleanness is entering into the sacred space while unclean. Maybe others would never know you were unclean, but each individual had to manage it. Testing God at this wasn't wise. He made it clear they would die and the tabernacle would be defiled.
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