Fertility Preservation Options For Boys And Men
Men and boys with cancer have options to preserve their fertility. These procedures may be available at the hospital where you are receiving cancer treatment or at a fertility preservation clinic.
Talk with your doctor about the best option for you based on your age, the type of cancer you have, and the specific treatment you will be receiving. The success rate, financial cost, and availability of these procedures varies.
- Sperm banking is the most common and easy option for young men of reproductive age who would like to have children one day. Samples of semen are collected and checked under a microscope in the laboratory. The sperm are then frozen and stored for the future. Sperm can be frozen for an indefinite amount of time.
- Testicular shielding is a procedure in which a protective cover is placed on the outside of the body to shield the testicles from scatter radiation to the pelvis when other parts of the body are being treated with radiation.
- Testicular sperm extraction is a procedure for males who are not able to produce a semen sample. Sperm is collected through a medical procedure and frozen for future use.
- Testicular tissue freezing is still considered an experimental procedure at most hospitals. For boys who have not gone through puberty and are at high risk of infertility, this procedure may be an option.
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Symptoms Of Prostatitis Can Include:
- needing to pee urgently, often in the middle of the night
- pain when peeing or after you ejaculate
- blood in your urine
- a feeling of heaviness behind your scrotum
- a urinary blockage, which means you cant pee when you need to.
There are different types of prostatitis. Bacterial prostatitis is caused by a bacterial infection, and can be treated with antibiotics. Then theres chronic prostatitis, or chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Doctors dont know yet what causes this condition, but it can be trigged by things like an injury, nerve damage or stress.
Symptoms Of Benign Prostate Enlargement
The;prostate is a small gland, located in the pelvis, between the penis and bladder.
If the prostate becomes enlarged, it can place pressure on the bladder and the urethra, which is the tube that urine passes through.
This can;affect how you pee and may cause: ;
- difficulty starting to pee
- a frequent need to pee
- difficulty fully emptying your bladder
In some men, the symptoms are mild and do not need treatment. In others, they can be very troublesome.
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Male Infertility Linked To Higher Risk Of Prostate Cancer
Men who have had fertility treatment to assist conception in the past have a higher risk of developing prostate cancer, a Swedish cohort study has reported.
Researchers found that men with infertility were more likely diagnosed with prostate cancer in the years after fertility treatment, and were more prone to develop the disease at a young age, when compared with fathers who conceived naturally.
âThis large register-based study show men fathering children through assisted reproduction have a 30 to 60 percent increased risk of prostate cancer compared with men conceiving naturally,â said study first author Yahia Al-Jebari at Lund University in Malmö, Sweden.
She added: âSo the benefits of prostate cancer screening should be considered for this group.â
The study, published in the British Medical Journal, analysed data from all registered men who fathered a child between January 1994 and December 2014 in Sweden. Among almost 1.2 million births, about three;percent resulted from IVF or ICSI .
Overall, few of the men in the treatment-group developed prostate cancer , however the risk was increased compared with the non-treatment group . This translated to a 30 percent increased risk with IVF, and a 60 percent increased risk with ICSI of developing prostate cancer compared with men who did not undergo assisted reproduction.
The Std That Leads To Prostate Cancer
Are you one of the 3.7 million with this sneaky bug?
Heres a terrifying thought: Right now, you could have an STD in your system thats raising your risk for prostate cancer, and you don’t even know it.
The culprit? Trichomoniasis, an extremely common STD;caused by the parasite trichomonas vaginalis. It often goes unnoticed in the body due its lack of symptoms.;Previous research has found a correlation between having the STD and developing prostate cancer, and now new data in the journal PLoS Pathogens suggests a tangible explanation behind the connection.
Here’s what you need to know about this nasty STD.
Are there symptoms?
Sometimes. You might experience itching or irritation inside your penis, discharge from your urethra, or a burning sensation after you pee or ejaculate. But out of the 3.7 million Americans who currently have the STD, only about 30 percent develop any symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Should I be concerned?
If you get the STD, its not going to go away unless you seek treatment. And consider this: Aside from that prostate cancer risk, trichomoniasis also causes genital inflammation, making it easier for you to get infected with the HIV virus, says John Alderete, Ph.D., lead study author and professor at Washington State University’s School of Molecular Biosciences.
Is it treatable?
So where does my prostate come into play?
And just how can an STD put me at risk for cancer?
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How Does Bph Occur
The prostate goes through two main periods of growth. In early puberty, the prostate doubles in size. Then, around age 25, the prostate begins to grow again and continues to grow throughout most of a man’s life.
The continuing enlargement of the prostate does not usually cause problems until later in life. However, the second period of growth may, many years later, result in BPH. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases:
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BPH rarely causes symptoms before age 40.
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More than half of men in their 60s have some symptoms of BPH.
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As many as 90 percent of men in their 70s and 80s have some symptoms of BPH.
What Types Of Hormone Therapy Are Used For Prostate Cancer
Hormone therapy for prostate cancer;can block the production or;use of androgens . Currently available treatments can do so in several ways:
- reducing;androgen production by the testicles
- blocking the action of androgens throughout;the body
- block androgen production throughout the body
Treatments that reduce androgen production by the testicles are the most commonly used hormone therapies for prostate cancer;and the first type of hormone therapy that most men with prostate cancer receive. This form of hormone therapy includes:
Treatments that block the action of androgens in the body are typically used when ADT stops working. Such treatments include:
Treatments that block the production of androgens throughout the body include:
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Dangers Of An Enlarged Prostate
Did you know that as men age, your risk for developing an enlarged prostate increases quickly? By age 55, about 25% of all men will have developed benign prostatic hyperplasia , commonly referred to as an enlarged prostate. By age 60, this number rises to 50%, and by age 85, at least 90% of men have BPH.;
Although an enlarged prostate isnt the same as prostate cancer and doesnt increase your risk of developing prostate cancer, that doesnt mean BPH is danger-free. At Alate Health, were committed to providing the safest and most effective treatments for BPH to men in and around Houston, Texas.;;
Board-certified radiologist Andrew Doe, MD, understands the frustration the symptoms of an enlarged prostate cause and the risks untreated BPH brings. Our team has put together this informative article to help you better understand BPH and the dangers leaving it untreated may cause.;;;
Does Enlarged Prostate Cause Ed
Of the many symptoms caused by BPH, one of the most common complaints men have when visiting a urologist is Erectile Dysfunction or ED. This is defined as the inability of a man to attain or maintain an erection sufficient for vaginal penetration and satisfactory sexual performance.
BPH does not directly cause ED, but many men with BPH seek medical attention to relieve ED.;
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Causes Of Enlarged Prostate In Dogs
There are many different reasons for your dog to have an enlarged prostate. Larger breeds have higher risk factors for developing this problem than others.
- BPH is the most common form of prostate enlargement. Older intact male dogs are more prone to develop this disorder as part of the aging process and hormonal influence. But neutered dogs are not immune, contrary to what you may have heard from your veterinarian. BPH can cause benign cysts causing discomfort and symptoms.;
- A bacterial infection called prostatitis leads to inflammation and an enlarged prostate in your dog. Acute prostatitis can appear suddenly or it can be chronic prostatitis and develop over time. Prostatic infections can lead to abscesses or collections of pus in the prostate. Youll also see other symptoms such as fever or lethargy.
- A prostatic cyst can enlarge the prostate and impede the flow of urine.
- Neutering is a risk factor for prostatic neoplasia meaning tumors that form within the prostate. A 2020 review of two decades of studies confirms this effect of neutering on prostate disorders. Neutering also leads to tumors throughout the dogs body. Studies show a significantly increased risk for these conditions in castrated males and females compared to intact dogs.
Its still promoted as fact that neutering greatly decreases a male dogs risk for prostate disease, but thats not the case. In fact, neutering may increase the incidence and/or hasten the progression of prostatic tumors in male dogs.;
What Happens When The Prostate Enlarges
As the prostate enlarges, it presses against the urethra and interferes with urination. At the same time, the bladder wall becomes thicker and irritated, and begins to contract–even when it contains only small amounts of urine–which causes more frequent urination. And, as the bladder continues to weaken, it may not empty completely and leave some urine behind, leading to a frequent sensation of having to void, having a slow urinary flow, and waking up at night to urinate.
Blocking or narrowing of the urethra by the prostate and partial emptying of the bladder cause many of the problems associated with BPH.
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Risk Factors For Prostate Cancer
Some risk factors have been linked to prostate cancer. A risk factor is something that can raise your chance of developing a disease. Having one or more risk factors doesn’t mean that you will get prostate cancer. It just means that your risk of the disease is greater.
- Age. Men who are 50 or older have a higher risk of prostate cancer.
- Race. African-American men have the highest risk of prostate cancerâthe disease tends to start at younger ages and grows faster than in men of other races. After African-American men, prostate cancer is most common among white men, followed by Hispanic and Native American men. Asian-American men have the lowest rates of prostate cancer.
- Family history. Men whose fathers or brothers have had prostate cancer have a 2 to 3 times higher risk of prostate cancer than men who do not have a family history of the disease. A man who has 3 immediate family members with prostate cancer has about 10 times the risk of a man who does not have a family history of prostate cancer. The younger a man’s relatives are when they have prostate cancer, the greater his risk for developing the disease. Prostate cancer risk also appears to be slightly higher for men from families with a history of breast cancer.
- Diet. The risk of prostate cancer may be higher for men who eat high-fat diets.
Does An Enlarged Prostate Affect A Man Sexually
The quick and easy answer is that an enlarged prostate can definitely impact men and their sexual health. If that’s all you were looking for, you can go on with your day, but the ways in which an enlarged prostate can affect a man’s sexual health is quite interesting and worth a read.;
The prostate is a uniquely male structure in the human body that works in a unique way. Because the urethra is dual purpose and is the common pathway for semen and urine, the prostate acts as the traffic controller, ensuring that both are routed correctly and do not occur simultaneously. Additionally, the prostate is a crucial component in the creation of seminal fluid.;
To fully answer the question as to how an enlarged prostate can impact a man sexually, it is important to compare the different dimensions surrounding sexual health and how an enlarged prostate affects these components of sexual functioning. Below is a deeper look into an enlarged prostate and its effect on male sexual health.;
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What Other Problems Might An Enlarged Prostate Cause
A small number of men may find it difficult to empty their bladder properly this is called urine retention. If youve been diagnosed with an enlarged prostate, your doctor will look at your test results to see if youre at risk of urine retention. You may be more likely to get urine retention if:
- youre aged 70 or over
- your prostate is very large
- you have a raised;prostate specific antigen ;level
- you have severe urinary symptoms and a very slow flow.
Chronic urine retention
This is where you cant empty your bladder fully, but can still urinate a little. It usually develops slowly over time. Chronic means long-lasting. The first signs often include a weak flow when you urinate, or leaking urine at night. You may feel that your abdomen is swollen, or that youre not emptying your bladder fully.
Chronic urine retention is usually painless. But the pressure of the urine can slowly stretch your bladder muscle and make it weaker. This can cause urine to be left behind in the bladder when you urinate. If you dont empty your bladder fully, you might get a urine infection, need to urinate more often, leak urine at night, or get painful bladder stones. You might also see some blood in your urine. Chronic urine retention can damage your bladder and kidneys if it isnt treated.
There are treatments for chronic urine retention, including:
- passing a thin, flexible tube called a catheter to drain urine from your bladder
- surgery to widen the urethra.
Acute urine retention
Important Information About The Prostate
The prostate is a golf-ball sized reproductive organ in males that surrounds the urethra. Its main purpose is making seminal fluid to assist in the fertilization of female eggs. As we mentioned, the prostate continues to grow throughout your entire life and can suffer from problems like benign prostatic hyperplasia or prostate cancer. Luckily, when prostate cancer is caught early, it has close to a 99% cure rate. However, this usually means that you will need to have either some or all of your prostate removed. Prostate cancer is extremely common and hundreds of thousands of prostate surgeries are performed every year.
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How Are Prostate Cancer And Erectile Dysfunction Related
If you have issues with your prostate, a general workup can include urine tests, bloodwork, and a physical exam. This exam usually consists of a digital rectal exam , where a doctor will feel your prostate from inside your anal cavity. If the prostate feels smooth and round, thats generally a sign that you probably only have BPH. Otherwise, you may need to undergo further testing, and cancer may be a concern. Men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer worry about many areas of their health. I have heard many of these questions over the years: How bad is it?, What options do I have?, and What are possible complications of treatment?
Currently, the mainstays of treatment for prostate cancer are anti-testosterone therapy, surgery, and radiation therapy. Each of these has pros and cons related to treatment success and long-term effects on the body. However, one of the most common complications for all three of these options is erectile dysfunction. We talked about how anti-testosterone therapy can affect erections when we discussed BPH treatments above. Lets now look at prostate surgery and radiation therapy.
Different Symptoms Of Bph Vs Prostate Cancer
Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers for American men. One in nine men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime, according to data from the;American Cancer Society.
Just because prostate cancer is so common, that doesnt mean the symptoms youve been experiencing are, in fact, cancer. Many symptoms of prostate cancer are the same for other conditions like infections or abnormal cell growth, also known as BPH. The symptoms of BPH vs prostate cancer can be similar. This is what you need to know and when to see a doctor.
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What Is The Enlarged Prostate Cancer Risk
Enlarged prostate cancer risk is merely a myth. Prostate enlargement does not lead to an increased risk of developing cancer.;
If you have been diagnosed with BPH, your risks of prostate cancer remain unaffected. Both the conditions are managed differently and not interrelated in the terms of risks.;
However, factors such as obesity are common in both and may affect the health of your prostate.;
How To Prevent Prostate Cancer Naturally
Follow these prostate cancer prevention tips:
#1. Follow a Healthy Lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle ideally protects you from various diseases, including prostate cancer.;
Hence, smoking and drinking should be avoided as much as one can do!
In fact, smoking is one of the major causes responsible for the widespread menace of cancer.;
Hence its ideal to stay away from smoking.;
And that is, obviously, independent of the fact whether celibacy can cause prostate cancer or not.
#2. Following a Proper Meal Plan
A healthy diet rich in fruits and veggies and low in refined foods is ideal for a healthy prostate.
It protects as well as promotes the healthy functioning of your gland.
According to experts, you can have a diet plan containing whole grains, fruits, veggies, tomatoes, and yogurt.
#3. Do Not Use Supplements
People usually prefer going for nutrient supplements or for supplements that boost performance.
But such supplements may have a negative impact on your glands increasing the risk of prostate cancer.
Hence, try taking foods rich in specific nutrients instead of supplements.
#4. Using Medicines Right
People often skip the medications or overdo them the wrong way.;
Apart from this, it has also been seen that people take medicines without proper consultation.
For example, long usage of aspirin.
Such practices harm your glands.
#5. Have More Sex and Masturbate Less
Ejaculatory frequency has a controversial link with reducing the risk of prostate cancer.
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