Movember

Friday, November 29, 2019

Movember is an annual event involving the growing of mustaches during November to raise awareness of men’s health issues, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health. At a time when male fertility is on the downswing, reproductive health cannot be ignored any longer.

Men’s health concerns include: 

• Testicular cancer (the most common cancer in men ages 15-35). 
• Prostate cancer and enlargement, and erectile dysfunction. 
• Engage in high-risk behavior, such as using alcohol and tobacco use. 
• Don’t see the doctor regularly, which can decrease the likelihood of early detection of disease. 
• It’s not just about physical health; men are also 3.5 times more likely to commit suicide, Depression in men often looks different than it does in women – anger and aggression as opposed to sadness.
• Reproductive health, the common causes of male infertility are: 

1. Testicular problems: Because testicles are where sperm are made and housed, issues with them can impact a sperm’s ability to fertilize eggs. If one testicle hasn’t descended from the abdomen into the scrotum, it can result in decreased fertility, since that testicle has a higher body temperature and that means lower quality and count of sperm. If the undescended testicle isn’t…descended, it can lead to a condition called azoospermia, which means there’s no sperm inside the semen, so ejaculation proves unfruitful 
2. Varicocele: the enlargement of one of the veins in the scrotum, is one of the most common causes of male fertility problems. The increased pressure created by the vein can impact the quality and the count of sperm, and can also cause the testicles to shrink. Surgery can often address varicocele. 
3. Hormone levels: Low testosterone levels, is a condition known as hypogonadism, can affect men’s fertility. Testosterone aids in the production of sperm, as well as the enlargement of the penis, testicles, prostate, and more. Hypogonadism is brought on by stress, as well as aging and medical conditions like pituitary problems and treatments like chemotherapy. Men who have it might experience erectile dysfunction and low sex drive, as well as fatigue and sleep problems. 
4. Ejaculation issues: The most common cause of sexual dysfunction in men are ejaculatory disorders, like premature ejaculation. It might seem obvious that problems with ejaculation would be a cause of male infertility, but it’s more complicated than it sounds. Erectile dysfunction (ED) occurs when a man isn’t able to achieve and maintain an erection, and the reasons for it are numerous. It could be due to stress, depression, neurological damage, obesity, heart disease, a side effect of medication, smoking, and age. 
5. Retrograde Ejaculation: is a condition in which semen is ejaculated into the bladder instead of the penis. It happens when the neck of the bladder – the same muscle that holds urine – doesn’t tighten, and the sperm can enter the bladder during ejaculation. Retrograde ejaculation can be caused by the side effects of medication for depression and high blood pressure, as well as surgery for testicular cancer, and nerve damage from diabetes and Parkinson’s. It doesn’t usually reveal itself unless a couple is trying to get pregnant.