Male Reproductive Organs and Functions Topic Guide

The practice of birth control is as old as human existence. Birth control barrier methods include: the male condom, female condom, diaphragm, cervical cap and sponge.

Many different types of birth control are available, and include hormonal methods, barrier methods, and behavioral methods. The type of birth control depends on the method or options a woman chooses. Common side effects of the birth control pill (the most common form of birth control used by women in the US) include, fluid retention, breakthrough bleeding, missed periods, anxiety, mood changes, and decreased sexual desire (libido).

The practice of birth control is as old as human existence. Your choice of birth control method involves factors such as how easy it is to use, safety, risks, cost, and personal considerations. Each form of birth control has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Permanent methods of birth control include tubal ligation or implants for women and vasectomy for men. Pre-procedure, procedure, and post-procedure information should be reviewed with your physician to discuss effectiveness of the procedure, recovery time, and any other necessary concerns in regard to the procedure.

Bladder control problems, or urinary incontinence, affect over 13 million people in the U.S. Causes include urinary tract infection, overactive bladder, blocked urethra, medication side effect, and muscle weakness. Symptoms and signs include hematuria, straining, dribbling, frequency, and urgency. Treatment may incorporate behavioral therapy, medication, and surgery.

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.

Chlamydia is a bacterial sexual transmitted disease (STD) spread when people have sexual relations. Often, there are no symptoms. Chlamydia is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis and is transmitted either from person to person through sexual contact (oral, anal, or vaginal); or from mother to child during birth. Symptoms of chlamydia may vary in men and women. Treatment is generally through antibiotics.

Most symptoms and signs of cancer may also be explained by harmless conditions, so it's important to limit one's risk factors and undergo appropriate cancer screening. Common cancer symptoms and signs are a change in bowel habits or urination, persistent cough, blood in the stool, urine, or saliva, lump in the breast or testicle, hoarseness, swollen glands, a change in a wart or mole, unusual vaginal bleeding or discharge, difficulty swallowing, unexplained weight loss, and headaches.

Common health tests may be performed in your doctor's office or even in the pharmacy. Regular health checks and screening for certain diseases and conditions have become routine for most. Common health tests include a mammogram, cholesterol tests, and colonoscopy.

In addition to helping prevent pregnancy, male condoms -- either latex or vinyl -- can help protect against a number of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). They include HIV-AIDS, gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, and some genital ulcer diseases.

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.

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.

Infertility affects about 6.1 million people in the United States—about 10% of men and women of reproductive age. A fertility specialist is usually an obstetrician-gynecologist (specialist in women's reproductive health) with advanced education, research, and professional skills in reproductive endocrinology.

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.

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.

Low testosterone (low-T) is a condition that describes below normal levels of the hormone testosterone in males and females. Low-T symptoms in men include erectile dysfunction (ED), decreased libido, and depression. Low-T symptoms in women differ with age. Causes of low-T are primary hypogonadism, secondary hypogonadism, or tertiary low-T. Low-T treatment in males is testosterone therapy. There is no FDA-approved replacement for low testosterone in women.

Men need to make sure that they are aware of their own special health needs. Learn various ways men can improve their health on topics like the lifestyle changes men can make to help prevent diseases, what medical screening tests should be performed as men age, men's sexual health, men's prostate health, erectile dysfunction, and low T (low testosterone in men).

Different categories of medical (non-surgical) treatments exist to cure or assauge erectile dysfunction. They include medications, supplements, hormonal therapy, intraurethral pellets, penile injections and external vacuum devices. A number of medical and/or psychological factors may cause erectile dysfunction.

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.

Having to urinate more than eight times a day or waking up to go to the bathroom more than once a night is considered frequent urination. Symptoms include urgency, frequency, hesitancy, dribbling, straining, hematuria, and urinary incontinence. Treatment of frequent urination depends upon the underlying cause.

The inability to urinate (urinary retention) may be caused by an enlarged prostate, a urinary tract infection, or ruptured disc. Symptoms include abdominal pain and fever. Acute urinary retention requires a trip to the emergency department.

Peyronie's disease is a condition characterized by a hard lump, or plaque, that forms within the penis. Symptoms of Peyronie's disease range from mild to severe. Treatment for Peyronie's disease includes medication, and often surgery.

Pregnancy planning is important to help prevent exposure of the mother and fetus to potentially harmful medications and substances during the early days, and throughout the pregnancy. Nutritional planning, prevention of birth defects, conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and kidney disease need careful monitoring. Gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and pregnancy-induced hypertension are conditions that may arise during pregnancy. Immunizations, inherited disorders, exercise, air travel, intercourse, and birth control are important factors to consider when planning a pregnancy.

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.

The prostate specific antigen (PSA) test measures levels of a protein that may be elevated when a man has prostate cancer. The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and American Urologic Association (AUA) have different recommendations regarding PSA screening depending on the age, health status, family history, and risk factors of a man. The change in PSA levels over time may be more useful for cancer screening than any one PSA value.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are among the most common infectious diseases in the United States. STDs can be spread through any type of sexual activity involving the sex organs, the anus or mouth, or through contact with blood during sexual activity. Examples of STDs include, chancroid, chlamydia, gonorrhea, granuloma inguinale, lymphogranuloma venereum, syphilis, genital herpes, genital warts, hepatitis B, trichomoniasis, pubic lice (crabs), and scabies.Treatment is generally with antibiotics; however, some STDs that go untreated can lead to death.

Spermicides are chemicals that are used during sexual intercourse that prevent conception by rendering sperm ineffective. They come as jellies, films, suppositories, foams, or tablets. Spermicides don't work as well as other reversible barrier methods of birth control.

Learn about the prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in men including genital herpes, syphilis, HPV, scabies, crabs, chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, hepatitis, and chancroid.

Surgical options are available to treat erectile dysfunction are available for those who don't respond to medical treatment. Surgical options include: Semirigid or malleable rod implants Inflatable implants Vascular reconstructive surgery Each procedure has it own advantages and drawbacks.

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.

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.