Men’s Health

Common conditions

BPH is not the only common men's health issue. Here's a brief outline of some other male health problems, with details of where to go for more information.

Testicle problems

Epididymitis

This is inflammation of the epididymis, the tube that transports sperm from the testicle to the penis. Inflammation of the epididymis causes pain and swelling in the testicle and you might also have a high temperature. It can follow on from a viral or bacterial infection.

Your doctor may refer you to a specialist to diagnose the problem. It's usually treated with antibiotics, and you might find that a painkiller helps. You'll also need to take it easy for a while.³²

Epididymal cysts

These are fluid-filled sacs found inside the testicle. They are most common in middle-aged and older men. You may find one or more lumps and they might be on both sides. They can be treated by draining them or having an operation to remove them, but they only need to be treated if you find them troublesome.

Hydrocoele

This is a collection of fluid in the testicle. It causes soft swelling in the testicle but it's not usually painful. It may not need any treatment or it may need to be drained. If it keeps coming back, you might need to have an operation to remove the fluid and examine the testicle.³²

Testicular cancer

Cancer of the testicles is quite rare, with about 1 in 10,000-50,000 men affected per year. But it's the most common type of cancer in men aged 20-40.³² In 80% of cases you or your partner will notice a small painless lump in the testicle or that one testicle is larger than the other, however testicular cancer can also cause pain or a feeling of heaviness in your testicle. You should remember that other, non-cancerous conditions can cause the same symptoms. It's really important that you check your testicles for lumps regularly. If you find one, visit your doctor immediately.³²

Varicocoele

This is a collection of enlarged veins in the testicle. It's common, affecting up to one in 8 men at some time. It causes a dull ache, especially at the end of the day or after you've been exercising. You might see and feel the swelling when you stand up - it's often described as "a bag of worms". It doesn't usually need treatment unless symptoms are severe or you are having problems with fertility. Treatment is usually with an operation.³²

Penis problems

Balanitis

This is inflammation of the head of the penis (the glans) and the foreskin. It can be caused by a bacterial or fungal infection. Treatment involves either antibiotics or an antifungal cream, depending on what's caused it.³² If you think you are suffering from balanitis it is important you speak to your partner and ensure you both seek treatment, as you may have passed it on to them (or them to you).

Phimosis

This is when you have a tight foreskin can't be pulled back from the head of the penis. The foreskin may obstruct the flow of urine out of the penis; it can also lead to infections because you can't wash underneath the foreskin and can make sex painful. The only treatment is circumcision (removal of the foreskin).³²

Peyronie's disease

This is a condition in which hard lumps form in the shaft of the penis, making it curve during an erection. This can be painful, and make sex difficult. These lumps are not cancerous. The condition affects up to one in 33 men and is most common in men aged 40-60 years.³² It often gets better on its own within 6-15 months.³³

Your doctor can prescribe vitamin E supplements (200mg) for you to take three times a day. Another option is a supplement called potassium amino benzoate. These two options have only limited success and the most effective treatment is surgery.³²

Erectile dysfunction (ED)

This means you can't get an erection, you can't keep an erection for long enough to ejaculate, or you can only get a partial erection. It's very common, affecting 52% of men between 40 and 70 years of age.³²

Many problems, both physical and emotional, can cause ED. These include: diabetes; nervous system problems such as multiple sclerosis; smoking or alcohol; depression, performance anxiety or stress. Depending on the cause, it can usually be treated. Lifestyle changes or counselling might help. There are also medicines available, including sildenafil, tadalfil, vardenafil.³⁴

Prostate problems

Prostate cancer

Cancer of the prostate is not common in men under 50³² and there is no greater risk of prostate cancer in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) than in men without symptoms.⁹

Early prostate cancer generally has no symptoms - the cancer usually starts in the outer part of the prostate so it does not obstruct the urethra at first. As it develops, you can have difficulty and pain urinating. There may also be blood in the urine.³⁵

Treatment depends on your age and whether the cancer is confined to the prostate. If it hasn't spread, it can be treated with surgery to remove the prostate. But this operation has common side-effects, including impotence and incontinence. Another option if the cancer hasn't spread is 'active surveillance' – not having any treatment but monitoring the cancer. Other prostate cancer treatments include radiotherapy, brachytherapy (internal radiotherapy) and hormone treatment. Prostate cancer can be slow-growing, and often men who have it will die of other causes before the cancer.¹⁰,³⁵

You may be able to reduce your risk of developing prostate cancer by leading a healthy lifestyle. Eat a healthy, balanced diet, low in saturated fat, meat and dairy, and high in fruit and vegetables, especially tomatoes.³⁵

Prostatitis

This is an inflammation or infection of the prostate. Symptoms include pain when passing urine, needing to go often and urgently. You also might feel generally unwell, with a high temperature and aches in your back, lower abdomen, thighs or genitals. It can usually be treated with a course of antibiotics, which you might need to take for up to four weeks.³⁶

Heart disease

This is also known as coronary heart disease. It's the most common cause of death in the UK. It occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle to keep it beating become narrowed due to a fatty substance called athermoma which builds up.³⁷

Symptoms

You'll have no symptoms at first, but as the blood supply to the heart muscle becomes reduced you'll begin to feel chest pain when you are active - this is angina. The pain may be in your left arm, shoulder, neck and jaw as well as your chest.

When an artery becomes completely blocked, the part of the heart supplied by that artery dies - this is called a heart attack or myocardial infarction. The pain is severe and ongoing, and you may also feel sick, breathless and sweaty.³⁷ Call an ambulance and take a dose of aspirin if you can – make sure the ambulance crew know you've taken it.

Treatment

You can improve angina with lifestyle changes, including stopping smoking, cutting back on alcohol, eating a healthy low-fat diet and taking regular exercise. There are medicines available to reduce high blood pressure or cholesterol, and other medicines that relieve angina episodes.³⁸

There are also a surgical procedure which can help to widen narrowed arteries or an operation on your heart where the narrowed arteries are bypassed by attaching healthy artery.³⁸

Heart attacks always need to be treated in hospital.

High blood pressure

As the blood flows along your arteries it pushes on the inside of their walls; this is called your blood pressure. The higher your blood pressure is above normal, the greater your risk of getting heart disease. High blood pressure doesn't have any symptoms unless it becomes very high, so you probably won't know if you have it.³⁹

It's normally given as two numbers, one 'over' another, such as '120 over 70'. This is written as 120/70. You have high blood pressure if your measurement is consistently above 140/90. Have your blood pressure checked at least every five years, especially if you are over 50 because blood pressure goes up as you get older. ³⁹

Treatment

A healthy lifestyle can reduce your blood pressure. In particular, don't smoke, eat a healthy diet that's low in salt, take regular exercise, don't drink more than the recommended amount of alcohol (up to 21 units per week) and limit coffee to five cups a day.³⁹

A number of medicines are available to treat high blood pressure which include calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, thiazide diuretics (sometimes called water tablets) and beta-blockers.³⁹

Diabetes

This is a condition where the body can't regulate the amount of sugar in the blood. Normally, the hormone insulin converts sugar (in this case, a type called glucose) into energy. Diabetes happens when the body either becomes resistant to insulin or does not produce enough insulin. This means that glucose builds up in the blood.⁴⁰

Diabetes commonly develops in people over 65. You are more likely to get it if you are obese (with a BMI of 30 or more).⁴⁰ Click here to calculate your BMI.

Symptoms

Having too much glucose in the blood can make you urinate often, make you feel tired and very thirsty. You may also lose weight even though you are hungry. In the long term, poorly controlled blood sugar can damage small blood vessels leading to problems with your eyes, kidneys and/or nerves. You are also more likely to have heart disease if you have diabetes.⁴⁰

Treatment

Often simple lifestyle changes will allow you to control your blood sugar. Make sure your diet is balanced and healthy, and includes at least five portions of fruit and vegetables every day, as well as plenty of starchy carbohydrates. Choose wholegrain varieties whenever you can. Aim to exercise for half an hour on most days of the week.

If diet and exercise don't work, there are medicines available to help the body to make more insulin or to use insulin more efficiently.⁴⁰