Men's Health Tips: Weight Gain, Hair Loss, and Disease Prevention Topic Guide

Enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia BPH) As the prostate gland grows, it may press on the urethra and cause difficulty with urination. Symptoms and signs of an enlarged prostate include blood in the urine, the inability to urinate, frequent urination, and a slow flow or dribbling urine.Medications and surgery are available if an enlarged prostate is causing problems. A man's prostate gland usually starts to enlarge after he reaches age 40 years or middle age.

The male erection is a complex process involving multiple body systems. As such, there are myriad causes for erectile dysfunction. Some causes are psychological issues problems with the nervous system; problems with the vascular system like high blood pressure; low testosterone levels; medical conditions like diabetes or prostate cancer; and side effects of medications.

Male sexual problems are often difficult to diagnose because many are reluctant to discuss them. Testing involves physical examination and lab testing to determine whether erectile dysfunction is caused by physical or psychological problems.

Getting adequate vitamin D intake or supplementation may help prevent hair loss. Vitamin D deficiency may contribute to hair loss in some cases. Talk to your doctor about the right dose for your condition.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) or male impotence is defined as the inability of a man to achieve and maintain an erection sufficient for mutually satisfactory intercourse with his partner. ED treatment may involve medications, lifestyle changes, vacuum devices, or surgery.

Erectile dysfunction (or ED), also called male impotence, describes a man's inability to achieve and maintain an erection of his penis sufficient for mutually satisfactory sexual intercourse with his partner. Erectile dysfunction is treatable with a variety of methods, including medications, devices and therapy. ED may be a symptom of other disorders and diseases such as high blood pressure or heart disease.

Orchitis is inflammation of one or both testicles in men, usually caused by an infection. Examples of causes of orchitis include a viral infection such as mumps, mononucleosis, coxsackievirus, E. coli, and STDs. Symptoms of orchitis include testicular swelling, redness, and pain; fever; nausea; fatigue; headache; body aches; and pain during urination. Treatment of orchitis depends upon the cause.

The male reproductive system includes seven structures, the penis, scrotum (balls), testicles (testes), vas Deferens, seminal vesicles, prostate gland (problems include enlarged prostate or BPH, prostate cancer, and proctitis), and the urethra (problems include urethra blockage, difficulty urinating, and increase in frequency).Certain drugs, medications, environmental factors, health problems, and a number of diseases and conditions can affect or alter the function of any or all of these structures.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is also referred to as impotence. Erectile dysfunction is the consistent inability to attain or maintain an erection. Medications to treat erectile dysfunction include: PDE5 inhibitors (sildenafil [Viagra], vardenafil [Levitra], tadalafil [Cialis]); androgens (Depo-Testosterone, Delatest, Andro-L.A., AndroGel, Testim, Androderm, Testoderm); and prostaglandins alprostadil (Caverject, Edex, Muse Pellet). Side effects, drug interactions, warnings and precautions, and patient information should be reviewed prior to taking any medication.

A Foley catheter is a thin, sterile tube inserted into the bladder to drain urine. Because it can be left in place in the bladder for a period of time, it is also known as an indwelling catheter.

Gynecomastia is an enlargement of the male breast; glandular tissue, not excess fat. Causes of gynecomastia are thought to be hormonal fluctuations during puberty. Certain conditions are associated with gynecomastia and include cirrhosis, kidney failure, testicular disorders, aging, and testicular cancer. Treatment of gynecomastia is generally with medication or surgery if necessary.

Osteoporosis (or porous bone) is a disease in which bones become weak and are more likely to break. Without prevention or treatment, osteoporosis can progress without pain or symptoms until a bone breaks. More than 2 million American men have osteoporosis and 12 million are at risk. Risk factors include: smoking, low calcium and vitamin D intake, small body frame, and low testosterone levels. Medications can treat bone loss, and exercise can prevent osteoporosis.

Prostate cancer often has no symptoms. Screening includes a digital rectal examination, PSA, and urinalysis. Treatment depends upon age, the patient's medical condition, and whether the tumor has metastasized. Risk factors for prostate cancer include advanced age, race, family history, infection with STDs, high-fat diet, and chemical exposure.

Prostate infections can be either acute prostatitis and chronic prostatitis. Chronic prostate infections are caused by E. coli and other bacteria. Symptoms of a prostate infection include pain with urination or ejaculation, increased urinary frequency, urgency to pass urine, and pain in the genital area. Treatment for prostate infections or prostatitis may include antibiotics.

Epididymitis is inflammation or infection of the epididymis that is usually caused by a bacterial infection. Two main groups of organisms are responsible for most cases of epididymitis; STD organisms and coliforms. Symptoms of epididymitis include abdominal pain, scrotal pain, scrotal swelling, painful urination, blood in the urine, urethral discharge, fever, chills, and nausea. Treatment is with antibiotics.

Testicular cancer is a cancer of the male sex organs essential for producing testosterone, libido and other crucial functions. Cancer is usually in only one testicle, the tumor is malignant if it begins to subsume the healthy tissue. Malignant testicular tumors can metastasize to other organs. Testicular cancer is a rare cancer with a high cure rate.

A testicular self-examination (TSE) is useful in the detection of cancer of the testicles. Testicular cancer is the most common solid tumor found in males age 20-34 years. Symptoms of testicular cancer include: small, painless lump in the testicle, male breast enlargement or tenderness, enlargement of the testicle, and pain in the testicle.

If you are a male, we don't need to describe what "testicular swelling, discomfort, or pain" feels like to you. And hopefully those around you can sympathetically understand the pain you're in. Medically speaking, testicular or scrotum pain is defined as a discomfort or pain in the testicles or scrotum. The pain can range from mild - to severe and serious as in testicular torsion - which is a surgical emergency.Causes of the pain range from common to less common; examples include trauma, epididymitis (testicle infection), kidney stones, testicular torsion (a surgical emergency), STDs (sexually transmitted diseases), enlarged prostate (BPH), inguinal hernia, orchitis (an inflammatory condition in one or both testicles caused by infections), cancer, kidney stones, abscesses, gangrene infections, vasculitis of the wall of the scrotum (henoch-schonlein purpura, HSP), testicular tumor with infection or hemorrhage, and varicocele. A doctor or other health-care professional can help diagnose the cause of your pain by performing a physical exam and ordering laboratory tests. Treatment of testicular or scrotal pain depends on the cause. In some cases, for example in kidney stones, the pain is resolved once the stones are removed. The prognosis depends upon the cause.

Testicular torsion is a painful condition caused by the twisting of the spermatic cord, which causes a loss of blood flow to the testicle. It is a surgical emergency that may result in the loss of the testicle. The main cause is an anatomical abnormality called the bell clapper deformity. Symptoms include testicular pain, sudden swelling, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or fever. Treatment for testicular torsion is surgery.

Urethritis, inflammation of the urethra, may cause symptoms and signs that include discharge, burning, pain, urinary urgency, itching, and blood in the urine. Treatment involves antibiotics, sitz baths, drinking plenty of fluids, and taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications.

Vasectomy is an elective surgical procedure performed on men for permanent contraception. In the procedure, the tubes that transport sperm from the testicles are severed, preventing the gametes from mixing with semen produced in the prostate gland in preparation for ejaculation. Vasectomy does not otherwise interfere with sexual function.