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Men - Health & Contraception Issues
Health
The rising incidence of prostate cancer among our men over the age of 50, is indeed a disturbing trend. If you are 45 or over, you should have an annual prostate examination.Where is the prostate located?
The prostate gland is situated in the pelvic region, just below the bladder. The gland surrounds the urinary passageway as it exits the bladderWhat does the prostate do?
The prostate gland's primary function is to manufacture and excrete a milky fluid. This fluid becomes a carrier for the sperm, produced in the testes, and is ejaculated during the male orgasm. It is also believed to function as a protective medium for the sperm after ejaculation.What can happen to the prostate?
A variety of things:
- Bacterial infection, either acute (short term) or chronic (long term).
- Benign enlargement. Normally, the prostate gland enlarges as a man enters his late years. This enlargement (hypertrophy) itself is not a major concern to physicians. That is why it is called benign. But if the enlargement causes blockage of the urethra or urinary passageway, it gives rise to problems.
- Tumor. Cancer is not, by far, the leading cause of prostate problems, but, of course, it is the one that gives us all the greatest concern. Because cancer is easiest to treat successfully in its early stages, early discovery is vitally important. Cancer of the prostate is the most common cancer in men over 50 in this country.
Why do I need a prostate examination?
You feel fine, and you have no symptoms. Why the exam? To be sure your prostate gland is healthy. There are types of prostate diseases that are silent. That is, there are no symptoms, but by palpating (feeling) the gland itself with his finger, your doctor can tell when something about the prostate is not right. Chances are you have nothing wrong with your prostate. But because prostate problems develop in so many men in their middle or later years, doctors recommend that all men over 40 years of age, undergo annual prostate exams. Also, you may have cancer of the prostate and yet have no complaints in the early stages.Early signs of prostate problems:
- Vague muscle pains and fever
- Low back pain
- Low sex drive
These could be symptoms of a variety of diseases. However, your doctor may want to perform a prostate examination to at least rule out prostate disease.
Signs that definitely warrant a prostate examination:
- Difficulty in urinating - hesitancy (difficulty in starting a stream)
- Frequent urination - urgency (a need to void in a hurry)
- Painful urination
- A feeling that you have not emptied your bladder
Once again, these could be symptoms of some other condition, but they are strongly suggestive of a prostate problem.
What happens during prostate examination?
The garb you wear will depend on the extensiveness of the examination. You may be asked to remove your clothing and put on a gown in a private changing room. Or, if your physician plans to limit the examination to the prostate, you may be asked simply to drop your trousers and underwear for the brief moment it takes to complete the examination. Wearing a glove, the doctor will liberally lubricate the index finger. This will be inserted into the anal canal and the inside of the rectal wall examined. The hand will than be rotated so that the flat part of the finger comes into contact with the surface of the prostate gland.Is there anything I can do to help?
Believe it or not, there is RELAX. No, it isn't easy, because the most natural thing is to clamp down on the rectal muscles, to resist the intrusion of a foreign object. But, if you can make yourself relax those muscles, you'll make it a lot easier yourself. Here's a tip: As the doctor starts to insert his finger, strain down slightly as if you were having a bowel movement. At the same time, breathe rapidly through your mouth. These are sure ways to relax those muscles and assist in a quick, smooth, and thorough examination.What does the doctor feel?
Assuming your prostate is healthy, the doctor will feel a soft (but not too soft), smooth, symmetrical, heart-shaped gland that is only 2.5 centimeters (one inch) long. And you will feel nothing but the presence of his finger in your rectum. If the prostate feels tender to the touch, there is a strong suggestion that infection is present. An enlarged, elastic smooth gland with no tenderness suggests hypertrophy. An irregular shaped, lumpy prostate suggests the presence of a tumor.Where do we go from here?
The doctor may request a special blood test called the Prostatic Specific Antigen test. Very probably you can go home with a renewed feeling of confidence, because the doctor would have told you that you have a healthy prostate. However, should some abnormality be found, your doctor will probably want you to undergo further tests and examinations to define the problem more precisely. He will therefore refer you to a urologist.For more information, advice and counselling come in or call our clinics.
Contraception
For men there are basically two methods of contraception: the condom and the more permanent vasectomy. The latter is recommended for men who are perfectly sure that they don't want anymore children. The operation has been successfully performed on millions of men all over the world.A vasectomy is a 15-30 minute operation under a local anaesthetic in the doctor's office, clinic or hospital. It is a permanent method of birth control. The doctor closes the narrow tubes (vas deferens) through which the sperm travels from the testes to the penis so that sperm can no longer enter the semen that is ejaculated. When semen does not contain sperm, a man can no longer cause a woman to become pregnant.
