Nowadays, the problem of men's health is quite acute. Factors such as sexually transmitted infections, poor nutrition, poor environment, bad habits, and constant stress can lead to the fact that the number of male diseases that have a negative impact on reproductive function is steadily growing.
There are a large number of different male diseases, but among them the most common are:
- chronic and acute prostatitis.
- benign prostatic hyperplasia (adenoma).
- prostate cancer.
- disease of the scrotal organs.
Symptoms of male diseases
Among the main symptoms of male diseases are the following:
- urination disorders (frequent, difficult, painful, nighttime urination, etc.)
- sexual function disorders (weakened erection, rapid ejaculation, dullness of orgasm or its pain, decreased libido, etc.)
- pain or discomfort in the projection of the genital organs (lower abdomen, perineum, testicles, penis, sacrum, groin areas, itching or burning in the urethra, etc.)
- various types of discharge from the urethra (purulent, mucous, bloody, etc.)
- Impaired fertility (male infertility)
If any of these symptoms appear, it is extremely important to immediately consult a specialist and undergo a comprehensive examination. Depending on the results of the examination, the patient will be prescribed treatment, which must be strictly followed.
Diseases of the genitourinary system in men
Diseases of the genitourinary system in men: types
The list of urological diseases is quite long.
Conventionally, all diseases of this group can be divided into:
- Kidney diseases,
- Bladder;
- Urinary system;
- Erectile dysfunction and infertility;
- Infections.
Let's take a closer look at what diseases are possible.
Kidney pathology: pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis, nephritis of other etiologies.
- The urethra becomes inflamed with urethritis .
- When inflammatory changes are located on the head of the penis, this is balanitis .
- The same process, supplemented by damage to the leaves of the foreskin - balanoposthitis .
- Inflammation of the testicle, also called orchitis .
- Epididymitis is an infectious or traumatic disease of the epididymis.
- Inflammatory disease of the prostate gland - prostatitis .
- Cystitis is when the bladder becomes inflamed.
- Pyelonephritis is an acute or chronic inflammation of the kidney tissue. Caused by a bacterial infection and requires antibiotic therapy.
- Glomerulonephritis is an inflammatory process in the renal glomeruli. It may be asymptomatic and cause gradual shrinkage of the kidney. In acute glomerulonephritis, edema, hypertension, and renal failure may develop.
- Bladder pathology: When the bladder becomes inflamed, this phenomenon is called cystitis .
- The urethra becomes inflamed with urethritis .
Pathology of the penis:
- When inflammatory changes are located on the head of the penis, this is balanitis .
- The same process, supplemented by damage to the leaves of the foreskin - balanoposthitis .
Pathology of the testicle and appendages:
- Orchitis : inflammation of the testicle.
- Epididymitis is an infectious or traumatic disease of the epididymis.
Prostate pathology:
- hyperplasia : degeneration of prostate tissue occurs.
- Tumor formations : benign and malignant. Currently, their formation is possible at a young age. This is the reason why doctors recommend annual preventive examinations.
- Prostatitis: inflammatory disease of the prostate gland. Often it is prostatitis that causes problems with urination and impairs potency.
Diseases of the genitourinary system in men: causes
Pathology of the genitourinary system does not occur without cause.
In 90% of cases, you can find an infectious agent that triggered the inflammation.
The following causes of diseases of the genitourinary system in men are identified:
- Causative agents of sexually transmitted infections : gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, ureaplasmosis, mycoplasmosis, genital herpes, papillomavirus lesions, candidiasis.
- Other infectious diseases caused by staphylococci, streptococci, E. coli, Proteus, influenza viruses, rubella, mumps.
- Injuries : mechanical, thermal, chemical, radiation.
- Tumors are benign and malignant.
- Allergic reactions.
- Exposure to toxic substances, including medications.
Diseases of the genitourinary system in men: symptoms
Let's look at the main symptoms of diseases of the genitourinary system in men, depending on the suspected disease.
- Urethritis is the most common disease of the genitourinary tract in men. It is characterized by discomfort, burning or cutting, stabbing pain during urination (usually at the beginning or middle). Also typical are mucous, purulent discharges with or without blood.
- Balanoposthitis - lesions of the glans penis and foreskin in the form of redness, blisters, erosions, accompanied by itching, burning or pain. White or yellow patches may appear on the skin.
- Orchitis is pain in the projection of the scrotum and its redness. The pain may radiate to the perineum or groin.
- Prostatitis – pain of varying severity in the perineum and rectum, erectile dysfunction, discharge from the urethra and high risks of secondary infertility.
- Cystitis is a rarer disease for men. It manifests itself as pain in the suprapubic region at the end of urination and discomfort between them, frequent or false urge to urinate. Characteristic impurities of protein or blood in the urine.
Treatment of diseases of the genitourinary system in men
Treatment methods and prescribed medications can vary significantly, depending on the cause and nature of the disease.
Remember! You should not self-medicate if you suspect a genitourinary disease.
This is fraught with unpleasant consequences.
Treatment of urological problems in men must meet a certain number of criteria:
- start treatment as early as possible (from the first manifestations of the disease),
- adequacy in relation to the cause of the disease,
- as prescribed by a doctor and under his supervision,
- based on laboratory diagnostic data,
- assessment of cure should be based on repeated laboratory tests.
Only strict adherence to the above conditions can make treatment successful.
And also save the patient from unnecessary time and money costs, protecting him from infertility and problems with potency in the future.
Urogenital infections: what tests to take
In order to determine what disease caused the illness, tests should be taken.
Doctors usually prescribe:
- General urine and blood tests
- Performing a urethral smear;
- Cultures of urine, semen, discharge;
- PSA analysis;
- PCR tests.
In addition to performing laboratory diagnostics, the urologist prescribes instrumental studies.
These are the following procedures:
- I. Ultrasound of the kidneys and bladder,
- II. Ultrasound of the prostate;
- III.Urography;
- IV.CT scan of the pelvis.
The results of a fully completed study allow us to correctly assess the patient’s condition and prescribe adequate therapy.
Diseases of the genitourinary system: cost of examination and treatment
Depending on the type of tests and clinic, prices may vary.
The average cost of a full examination of the genitourinary system can range from 5 to 20 thousand rubles.
In some private clinics, the price may be higher than indicated.
Tests and ultrasound can also be performed under the compulsory medical insurance policy.
To do this, you need to take a referral from a urologist at the place of attachment.
The main disadvantage of this method is the rather long research time.
Often government laboratories do not provide the full range of tests required to clarify the diagnosis and the cause remains unclear.
Diseases of the genitourinary system in men: where to go
In order to quickly undergo high-quality tests and treatment, contact a paid institution.
Tests for diseases of the genitourinary system can be done in Moscow; for this, please contact our clinic.
Fast and high-quality analysis, effective therapy, this is our strong point.
For any diseases of the genitourinary system in men, contact the author of this article, a urologist in Moscow with 15 years of experience.
Causes of male diseases
The main causes of male diseases are the following factors:
- infection;
- hypothermia;
- mental stress (stress);
- violation of hormonal status (testosterone);
- sedentary lifestyle;
- drinking alcohol, smoking;
- promiscuous sex life;
- lack of sex life (long-term business trips, sea voyages);
- maintaining an unhealthy lifestyle;
- unfavorable environmental factors, etc.
Possible complications
In the absence of timely diagnosis and treatment of male diseases, a number of very serious complications arise:
- impotence;
- infertility;
- transition of the disease to a chronic, intractable stage;
- acute urinary retention, when prostate adenoma completely blocks the canal and the act of urination becomes impossible;
- chronic cystitis and pyelonephritis, i.e. inflammatory changes in the bladder and kidneys;
- chronic renal failure;
- formation of stones in the bladder;
- bleeding from dilated veins of prostate adenoma, which requires urgent surgical treatment;
- sharp thinning of the muscle layer of the bladder, etc.
Any man, even in the absence of complaints from the genitourinary system, should be examined by a urologist at least once a year! This will allow you to identify possible problems in time and, with timely treatment, avoid adverse consequences.
Male genitourinary system
Roman Evstigneev: “It’s no secret that the diagnosis of cancer horrifies the vast majority of patients. However, it should be recognized that over the past 20 years such a colossal breakthrough has been made in the treatment of cancer that this diagnosis has ceased to be a death sentence. Of course, everything depends on the characteristics of the tumor itself, its aggressiveness, and growth rate. But for all types of malignant tumors, one rule is unshakable: the earlier the tumor is detected, the greater the chance of successful treatment.”
Personal Responsibility: Men Can Too
There are many discussions about why life expectancy in men is shorter than in women. Perhaps one of the factors is personal responsibility. If women for the most part visit a doctor with discipline and monitor basic health indicators, then it is typical for men, on the contrary, to flaunt the fact that they say, “I don’t go to these doctors of yours at all. Healthy as a bull." Representatives of the stronger sex react especially painfully to the possibility that “male” organs could become ill. By the way, this is largely why representatives of the stronger sex live longer in marriage than bachelors. The other half knows how to convince you of the need to go to the doctor even when the situation is fixable.
Meanwhile, responsibility for one’s own health is one of the priorities for every person. In this sense, it’s also time for men to change their attitudes. And thereby increase life expectancy!
Of course it’s scary (and who isn’t?). What if they find something, what if something is wrong? But the fact is that if you hide and hope that “maybe everything is fine,” then the real problem, if there is one, will not disappear just because the person refuses to see it. But early detection can really save lives.
Roman Evstigneev: “Most tumors are detected at an early stage during preventive examinations. Men can carry out some of these examinations on their own, without the participation of a specialist. We are talking about self-examination of the testicles. It would seem that this is a simple procedure that every man can perform, but nevertheless, a large number of testicular tumors are detected in stages 3-4, when longer and more complex treatment is required, although with stage 1 testicular cancer treatment is most often limited only operation.
Obviously, the leading factor on the part of patients that interferes with the early detection of tumors of the genitourinary system is fear. Fear that something will be found, fear of the diagnosis, fear of the upcoming treatment and its consequences. But no side effect of treatment, no complication is more painful than suffering from the disease in an advanced, incurable stage, when all that remains is pain relief and symptomatic therapy.”
Be afraid, but do it
What to do? No matter what, there is no need to be afraid. Constantly living in tension and fear is not the best option, including for health. It is better, despite your concerns, to schedule a visit to the doctor once a year. To paraphrase the writer and psychologist Niki Nabokova, we can say that there is only one way out: “Be afraid, but do it.” Once you make sure that everything is in order, you can truly live in peace. The next planned visit will not be so scary, because you are in control of the situation together with a specialist. It gives a feeling of calm.
Minimum list of studies to identify genitourinary tumors at an early stage
- General urine test (annually, for chronic diseases or abnormalities - more often, at the discretion of the doctor).
- Ultrasound of the kidneys and bladder (at least once a year in the absence of chronic pathology).
- Self-examination (feeling the testicles) - once a month.
- A blood test for prostate-specific antigen (PSA), starting from 45 years of age, at least once every 2 years (if the PSA level is less than 1.5 ng/ml) or once a year (if the PSA level is more than 1.5 ng/ml, but less than 4 ng/ml).
- Examination by a urologist for men aged 45 years and older at least once a year.
