Problems Relating to Sex and Reproduction
Any problem with the male reproductive tract and/or genitalia can present physiological as well as social and emotional difficulties for the individual. Therefore, with any condition involving the ability of an individual to procreate, health professionals must also be concerned about the mental anguish and social stigma the individual may presume and/or encounter.
Cryptorchidism
Failure of the testes to descend from the abdomen into the scrotum is termed cryptorchidism. While this can be quite alarming for new parents, in most cases it spontaneously resolves within the first few months of life. However, if not, this can be remedied by a surgical procedure called an orchiopexy.
Testicular Torsion
The surgical procedure just mentioned is also used to resolve the condition of testicular torsion. As explained earlier, the vas deferens as well as arteries, veins, and lymphatic vessels make up the spermatic cord. If the testis rotates within the scrotum, these vessels may become strangled as the vas deferens becomes twisted and braided within the cord. If not resolved, the reduced blood flow to and from the testis results in tissue death of the testis.
Male Infertility
The leading causes of male infertility are low sperm count and low sperm motility (movement). It isn’t enough to simply have sperm in the semen; there must be sufficient numbers so that those spermatozoa arrive at the end of the female reproductive tract in sufficient numbers for one to fertilize the egg. Many are required to rupture through the outer layers that protect the egg so that one (and only one) may fertilize. Additionally, if the sperm are present in sufficient numbers but have a reduced motility, their numbers are reduced at the time required for fertilization.
Why might sperm have reduced motility?
Defects in sperm shape or design reduces their ability to move. Once such common defect are sperm that possess two tails. Their wavelike movements don’t allow the sperm to move effectively.
Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a source of much research and has resulted in many drugs and treatments that can aid in this difficulty. As men age, the effectiveness of the veins that must close and trap the blood in the erectile columns in the penis become less effective and the resulting erection is insufficient for sexual activity.
Prostate Cancer
Cancer of the prostate gland is often thought to be the male homolog for breast cancer in females. As men age, the prostate increases in size normally and can cause urinary and possibly sexual dysfunction. However, the more rapid enlargement of the prostate could be due to the rapid division of prostate cancer cells. Most commonly this normally slow-growing cancer occurs in men over the age of 50. Therefore, it is recommended that men over the age of 40 begin to include digital rectal exams as a part of the annual checkups.
How effective is the PSA blood test for detecting cancer?
A blood test for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) could alert the physician that the patient has an increase in prostatic tissue, possibly from cancer. This test, however, has been met with mixed data that possibly shows that detection by PSA doesn’t increase the life expectancy of patients. Certainly, genetics has an impact on the risk of a person developing cancer. If a father or uncle or even grandfather had prostate cancer, the risks of developing this form of cancer increase.