Top 5 Reproductive Health Problems Men Suffer From & Why

Impotence (Erectile Dysfunction)
When a man can no longer achieve or maintain an erection for intercourse or he experiences a decrease in sexual desire, he is likely experiencing impotence, or erectile dysfunction (ED). If this occurs every so often, it may not be cause for concern or enough to seek a professional medical opinion. However, if ED becomes an ongoing issue, it can affect a man's self-confidence and it can also negatively influence his relationship with his partner.

ED is often caused by an existing physical problem because sexual arousal involves that a person's brain, hormones, emotions, nerves, muscles, and blood vessels are all working well both together and separately. Possible causes of impotence include: heart disease, diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol and blood pressure, low testosterone, excessive use of alcohol, complications from surgery, cancer treatment, and more. It is important for men not to feel anxious or, even embarrassed while discussing this issue with their doctor if it becomes an ongoing problem, as this is a common issue and there are treatment options available.

Low Sperm Count
When a man ejaculates semen that contains less sperm than normal, he is considered to have a low sperm count. This condition is also referred to as oligospermia, where as if an individual has zero sperm, it is known as azoospermia. A low sperm count can be caused by a variety of factors, many of which are avoidable: smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, direct heat to the groin, and excessive intercourse are all known contributing elements to a low sperm count diagnosis.

Low Testosterone
Testosterone is a hormone that has a great deal of influence over a man's body. Testosterone affects a man's sex drive, as well as his muscle and bone strength in adulthood. Symptoms of low testosterone include: low libido, poor erectile function (weaker and fewer erections achieved), and an overall reduction of sexual activity. Similar to many other male reproductive issues, low testosterone is often linked to existing health issues, some of which include diabetes, obesity, infection, an additional hormone disorder, testicular cancer, and et cetera. Low-T, as it is commonly known, can be diagnosed via a blood test by your doctor.

Peyronie's Disease
When fibrous scar tissue forms inside the penis the condition is known as Peyronie's disease. The scar tissue that forms causes a man's erection to curve – this is a painful condition marked in that the curve and pain are often significant. The disease can be caused by an injury to the penis in which blood cells are trapped at the injury site while the body attempts to heal naturally and this leads the buildup of scar tissue. However, not all cases of Peyronie's disease are due to an injury, the disease and its symptoms can come on gradually for some men. There are both medical and surgical options available to treat this condition.

Testicular Cancer
Testicular cancer is cancer that develops in a man's testicles. Symptoms of testicular cancer include: a lump, or swelling in a testicle, pain/discomfort in a testicle or even in the scrotum, enlargement of a testicle, an aching sensation in the lower abdomen, back, and/or groin area, as well as a fluid collecting in the scrotum. It is important to note that these symptoms do not necessarily mean that an individual has testicular cancer; they can also be symptomatic of another condition. Roughly 8,000 men a year are diagnosed with testicular cancer in the United States, and exact causes of this type of cancer are not yet known. Risk factors are noted, as can include: a family history of testicular cancer, a personal history of the cancer, and those with undescended testicles are said to be at risk.