Men’s health

We counsel and treat men of any age. To us, men’s health entails prevention, early detection and targeted investigation and treatment of symptoms affecting the male urogenital organs, as well as other factors.

Prevention

Young men are more prepared to take risks, have a less healthy lifestyle, are more likely to smoke and eat less healthily. As they get older, men are less concerned about risk factors such as stress, lack of exercise and being overweight. They ignore warning signals from the body, and wait longer than women to see a doctor if symptoms occur. Men eat more than women, and also eat less healthy foods, while at the same time being less aware of nutrients and calorie content. Men are less likely to use sun cream, and if they do they use one with a lower sun protection factor than women. In general, men are less informed about health issues. Men are less likely to pay attention to simple prevention measures such as exercise, diet and dealing with stress. Men are less likely to undergo screening tests than women.

Read the brochure published by the German Urology Society about preventing urological conditions

“Stay healthy! Advice on preventing urological conditions” (in german language)

Prostate, testicle, bladder and kidney screening

The aim of screening is to detect suspicious changes in an organ as early as possible in order to pick up on a possible disease at a stage when the chances of curing it are highest.

Prostate cancer is the most common malignant tumour in men, and so an annual prostate check is recommended from the age of 45. Screening from the age of 40 may be beneficial for men with a higher risk based on family history (father developing prostate cancer before the age of 60, brother with the disease).  Men who want to undergo prostate screening should have a prostate palpation and a blood test to determine their PSA level.

To detect testicular cancer at an early stage, experts advise that all boys and men aged between 14 and 45 examine their own testicles once a month. This is best done while standing under a warm shower or after a warm bath, because then the skin of the scrotum is relaxed and the testicles can be felt properly. With a little practice, examining your own testicles quickly becomes a habit and does not take long. You should look out for painless enlargement or hardening of the testicle on one side, or a small, hard, painless lump on the testicle. A feeling of heaviness or tugging in the region of the testicles can also be a warning sign. If you notice any changes in your testicles, you should see a urologist without delay. Palpation and ultrasound examination along with a blood test can  confirm a suspicion of testicular cancer, or rule it out.

The risk of developing kidney cancer increases from the age of 50. Nowadays the tumour is often found by chance during an ultrasound examination, as symptoms such as pain in the side or blood in the urine do not appear until a late stage. Smoking and passive smoking, high blood pressure, overweight, a high-fat diet and alcohol consumption are risk factors. People with one or more risk factors should have a kidney ultrasound once every two years.

Urination difficulties

Bladder function disorders with a weak urine stream, frequent urge to urinate and incomplete voiding point to an enlarged prostate. From the age of 50, one in two men are sooner or later affected by the impact of benign prostate enlargement on bladder function. But nervous system disorders can also lead to incontinence or difficulty voiding the bladder.

Symptoms associated with testosterone deficiency

Lack of energy, fatigue, poor memory and concentration, along with depressive mood, can point to testosterone deficiency. If testosterone levels in the body are low, this can be compensated for by applying a gel to the body or giving a depot injection, after consultation with a specialist.

Erectile disorders

Men who find it difficult or impossible to achieve erection (stiffening of the penis) should undergo appropriate examination. An erectile disorder is regarded as the inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for intercourse in two out of three attempts for more than six months. Erectile disorders can be an early sign of cardiovascular disease. Common causes include diabetes, testosterone deficiency or other hormonal disorders, nervous system conditions, pelvic surgery, medication for high blood pressure, smoking and alcohol consumption.

Impaired fertility

If a woman who wishes to have a child fails to conceive after several months, her partner’s fertility should also be examined. If his seminal fluid is found to contain no sperm, or insufficient sperm, testicular tissue can be taken to try to obtain intact sperm for assisted conception.

Blood in urine

Blood in urine can be a sign of a disease of the ureter, urethra, bladder, prostate or kidneys. Red colouration of urine can be due to a number of harmless causes (certain foods, blood-thinning medication), but can also be associated with serious urological conditions, such as cystitis, inflammation of the prostate or kidneys, descending bladder or kidney stones or bladder cancer. Blood in urine is regarded as the most important warning sign for bladder cancer, the second most common urological tumour. Smoking is the most important risk factor, but handling chemicals can also trigger bladder cancer.