Diseases of male reproduction
The medical field that covers the male reproductive tract (as well as diseases of the bladder and some diseases of the kidney) is known as urology. The commonest diseases of the male reproductive tract are sexually transmitted infections. These include chlamydial urethritis, gonorrhoea and syphilis. These diseases can all be treated with antibiotics, but the inflammation they cause can lead to narrowing, or stricture, of the urethra (the tube that conducts urine from the bladder and through the penis) or of one of the many other tubes in the male reproductive tract. Strictures can seriously affect urinary and sexual function, and can be very difficult to treat.

For most of their lives, men are unaware of their prostate gland. However, in older age the prostate becomes the seat of two important diseases. Prostatic hyperplasia refers to the gradual enlargement of the prostate gland with age. The prostate can increase in size from about the size of a walnut to that of an apple in extreme cases. Because the prostate gland encircles the urethra, enlargement tends to put pressure on the urethra, leading to difficulty in passing urine and predisposing to urinary tract infections.

The other important disease of the prostate gland is cancer. Cancer of the prostate is one of the commoner types of malignant tumours. Though many prostate cancers can be controlled by drug and hormonal therapy, others continue to spread and are ultimately fatal.

The unique anatomical location of testes means that they are susceptible to an unusual condition known as torsion. This occurs when testes twist round within the scrotum, in turn twisting the blood vessels in the spermatic cord which suspend them. This cuts off blood supply to the testes and without urgent surgical intervention they will die. Torsion is indicated by a slightly raised testis which is swollen and very painful.


< previous page | next page >