How can the male population be made aware of the importance of getting involved in their sexual health?
From the age of 40-50 there is a reduction in testosterone that causes symptoms known as Andropause in some men (apathy, mood swings, loss of strength and muscle, less sexual desire and worse erections, depression, osteoporosis, loss of memory and mental agility, etc.).
Men should know that most sexual problems are solvable. Some of them hide other health problems such as the risk of heart or vascular diseases, based on fat alterations, obesity, stress, smoking, etc., which must be treated. Many times early diagnosis has better results.
What kind of signs or symptoms should I see a doctor for a prostate check-up?
Any man who pees poorly, urinates blood or needs to get up to urinate regularly should consult his urologist, as these are the initial symptoms of a prostate problem, whether benign or malignant. In addition, men at risk, those over 50 years of age or with a family history of prostate cancer, should see their urologist even if there are no overt symptoms (they should not wait until they have them).
How often should check-ups be performed and why are they so important?
From the age of 50, or 45 if there is a family history of prostate cancer, if the man wants to know his risk of cancer, he should visit his urologist. Normally, from that age onwards, we do a check-up every year. These check-ups, which are very well tolerated, are usually performed:
– A complete blood test, with PSA (prostate cancer risk indicator).
– A urinary flow measurement to assess the strength of the urinary stream.
– An ultrasound to measure the size of the prostate, the state of the kidneys and to assess whether the bladder empties well when urinating.
– And occasionally, every few years, a digital rectal examination.
How should self-exploration be done to rule out more serious problems?
Self-examination is useful to assess testicular size, as well as to check for lumps in the scrotal region, in relation to testicular cancer. This is more frequent in males under 30 years of age. In the case of prostate it is not possible.
How does prostate problems affect sexual relations and the rest of the day-to-day activities?
The prostate, when it grows, hinders the passage of urine and causes symptoms of obstruction, itching when urinating and urinary urgency, with scanty urine flow. This forces to urinate more frequently, with the social problem that entails. Typical is the urgency to urinate in the elevator, when putting the key in the door or when hearing water running. Sometimes, it prevents them from attending activities such as shows, playing sports or going to gyms. They often get up from meals or meetings, causing a loss of intimacy and a need to explain or hide problems.
If it becomes inflamed, in addition to frequent urination, it can alter the erection due to pain.
What psychological problems can prostate problems present?
People who have prostate problems, depending on their intensity, are reluctant to go out because of the fear of urinating; they reduce their social life, avoid trips or long journeys, because of the difficulty of accessing an adequate bathroom. If they have incontinence, they avoid going out of the house and reduce their visits to the family. This causes them to have poor self-esteem.
In addition, men can be afraid of prostate cancer, both because of the fear of having cancer and because of the way it can affect their quality of life and sexuality if they have it, due to the possible complications that the treatments can produce.
That is why it is important to diagnose it as early as possible, because sometimes, if it is a low-risk cancer, it can only be monitored or undergo less aggressive treatments. In the case of a high-risk cancer, it should be treated as early as possible, depending on age.
Prostate cancer treated early and correctly has a high survival and cure rate.