Men’s sexual health or urological health is not a topic of open discussion. However, it is of utmost importance for men to not only have increased awareness but also be comfortable about having an open conversation regarding their sexual or urological concerns. To assist you further, here we have discussed in detail the most common health issues related to male reproductive and urologic systems as well as their treatment options along with urology cancer prevention. To help you have increased awareness, we have also jotted down the common signs and symptoms.
Table of Contents
Feel free to skip ahead if one topic catches your eye:
- Male Sexual Health
- Male Sexual and Urological Problems
- Early signs and diagnosis of Male Urological Problems
- Treatment Options
- How to prevent Urological Cancer?
1. Male Sexual Health
It is considered essential to have adequate knowledge about one’s sexual health, not only when one wishes to be a parent but also in several other cases such as the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, or addressing other issues like erectile dysfunction. Moreover, the body starts experiencing changes related to sexual health with age. It is important to understand and be aware of such changes to have a healthy and smooth sex life at any point in life.
By consulting Dr. Vikram’s Urology Clinic, you can get detailed answers to all your queries related to the men’s sexual health and urology problems.
2. Male Sexual and Urological Problems
Here are some of the most common men’s sexual problems and urology problems one must be familiar with:
Erectile Dysfunction – This condition is characterized by the inability to get a penal erection or maintain it during sexual intercourse. Some of the common causes of erectile dysfunction include:
- Disruption in blood flow
- Disorders of the nervous system
- Stress, depression, or any mental health issue
- Conflicts in relationship
- Injury to the penis
- Chronic ailments like hypertension or high blood sugar
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Excessive consumption of alcohol or smoking
Retrograde Ejaculation – This type of condition is commonly found in men who are diagnosed with diabetes and have complications like diabetic nerve damage. Usually, weakened nerves in the bladder result in backward ejaculation of the semen. In some cases, retrograde ejaculation may also be a result of side effects of medications or bladder/prostate surgery.
Premature Ejaculation – Ejaculation before or just after initiation of sexual activity is known as premature ejaculation. It may act as a warning sign for erectile dysfunction in older men or any underlying mental health issue. Some other risk factors associated with premature ejaculation include previous sexual repression, lack of self-confidence, or relationship conflicts. In addition to this, researchers suggest that the breakdown of serotonin may also contribute to premature ejaculation. Certain antidepressant drugs may also cause nerve damage to the spinal cord further affecting the ejaculation process.
Enlarged Prostate – Common in older men, this condition is also known as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. The prostate gland increases in size causing an inability to urinate. If left untreated, it may lead to kidney problems and infections. Men with enlarged prostate usually have an urge to urinate but nothing comes out while urinating.
Prostate Cancer – This is one of the most common types of cancer and the second leading cause of death in men. It is essential for men to get their PSA levels checked on an annual basis and also have a digital rectal exam.
3. Early signs and diagnosis of Male Urological Problems
Given below are some of the most common signs and symptoms of urology problems in men, that must not be ignored:
Urinary incontinence – This involves involuntary leakage of urine, which is the loss of control over the urinary sphincter. A person urinates even when he does not want to.
Stress incontinence – This condition occurs when physical activity like coughing, laughing, sneezing, etc exerts pressure on the bladder leading to leakage of urine.
Overactive bladder – This occurs when the urinary bladder is not able to store enough urine leading to involuntary loss of urine. Some of the common causes include neurological disorders, bladder stones, aging, tumors, etc.
Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections – Urinary Tract Infections commonly occur when bacterial pathogens penetrate the urethra and infect the urinary tract. The infection can infect several regions associated with the urinary tract. However, the urinary bladder is the most commonly affected one.
Kidney stones – Kidney stones or urethral stones are formed when crystal-like particles are formed in the urine. The smaller-sized stones usually pass out with the urine, while the larger stones need surgical intervention to get removed. These stones usually cause painful urination.
Some of the common diagnostics tests done by doctors to identify the exact urological issue are as follows:
- Medical history and physical examination- Your doctor will take a detailed medical history by asking you several questions related to your past illness, medications, and habits. A physical examination would be conducted to get an idea about further diagnostics tests to be recommended according to the past medical history.
- Abdominal or renal ultrasound – This is done to examine organs beneath the abdomen. A gel is applied to the abdominal skin and the abdomen is scanned using a hand-held device known as a transducer.
- Computerized Tomography (CT) scan – This is used to get images of any lesions or masses present in the kidney or area around the urinary tract.
- Cystoscopy – This is done to examine the inner lining of the urethra. A small flexible instrument is inserted to detect any abnormalities such as abnormal growths, tumors, or recurrent urinary infections.
4. Treatment options
Scroll down below to find the treatment options for the most commonly found male urological and sexual health problems.
- Oral medications – This is usually the first line of treatment to treat any condition. Some of the common types of medications include antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and other medications to relieve the symptoms.
- Injections like interferon and collagenase reduce scar formation in conditions like Peyronie’s disease.
- Laser therapies to treat kidney or ureteral stones
- Rezum water vapor therapy, for the treatment of enlarged prostate gland
- Reconstructive urologic surgery to treat urinary incontinence and traumatic injury to the kidney, urinary bladder, genital areas, or the ureter.
- Relationship counseling for men’s sexual health problems
- Lifestyle changes such as avoiding smoking and alcohol
- Rehabilitation programs
5. How to prevent Urological Cancer
Urological cancer includes all types of cancers related to the male urological system including the urethra, urinary tract, bladder cancer, etc. Bladder cancer is the most common type of urological cancer found in men. Here are some of the common urology cancer prevention tips recommended to prevent bladder cancer:
Avoid smoking – While smoking you tend to consume, certain cancer-causing chemicals that can be collected in the bladder. You can talk to your doctor related to the smoking cessation program and the needed support.
Reduce exposure to the chemicals – If you work with chemicals, it is important to follow the safety rules to avoid excess exposure.
Drink adequate water – Drinking an ample amount of water helps in diluting the harmful substances and flush them out of the body.
Balanced diet – A good diet helps in boosting the body’s natural immune system to fight the cancerous cells on its own.
Take away
One can get rid of any kind of sexual problem or urological issues if there is a sufficient amount of awareness. It is only with this intention that this piece of article is written. Hopefully, it has managed to answer most of your queries related to men’s sexual health, urology problems, and urology cancer prevention. If you have any further questions, feel free to visit Dr. Vikram’s website or visit Dr. Vikram’s clinic. Their team of medical experts is available to guide you through detailed aspects of male sexual and urological health.