Men’s Health & Wellbeing

We encourage our male patients to book an appointment with their doctor for a preventative health check up.  This involves routine checks of your blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar levels, and discussion about risk factors such as family history and lifestyle choices.  This appointment could also be an opportunity to discuss any unusual symptoms or concerns you may have about your health.  If you can’t remember the last time you ‘checked in’ with your doctor, book an appointment with us now on 8370 9777.

At Stirling Central Health Clinic we offer:

Cardiovascular Health Checks:

There are three types of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD):  stroke, heart failure and coronary heart disease.  Making time for regular cardiovascular health checks from a young age is vital for your health.

CVD can occur at any age, so don’t assume that you are too young for a heart attack.  Men with a family history of heart attack before 55 may be at higher risk of the same fate.  Whatever your age, start doing what you can to manage your risk factors.

Men are less likely to report symptoms like chest pain, breathlessness and fatigue – even to the point of ignoring symptoms of heart attack.

A health check with your doctor will help you to manage your risk factors by discussing a healthy diet, exercise, weight control, smoking cessation, controlling high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Cancer Prevention

Finding cancer early improves your chances of successful treatment and long-term survival.

Look for:

• lumps, sores or ulcers that don’t heal
• unusual changes in your testicles – changes in shape, consistency or lumpiness
• moles that have changed shape, size or colour, or bleed, or an inflamed skin sore that hasn’t healed
• blood in a bowel motion
• urinary problems or changes.

These symptoms are often related to more common, less serious health problems. However, if you notice any unusual changes, or these symptoms persist, visit your doctor.

Prostate Check

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer affecting Australian men (after non-melanoma skin cancer).

What are the prostate cancer symptoms I need to look out for?

In its early stages, prostate cancer may not show any symptoms. Symptoms of early prostate cancer can include:

• difficulty passing urine
• a slow, interrupted flow of urine
• frequent passing of urine, including at night

Symptoms associated with advanced prostate cancer include:

• blood in urine
• pain during urination
• lower back or pelvic pain.

These symptoms are also found in men who may have benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a common, non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland.

If you experience these symptoms, visit your doctor.

Erectile Dysfunction

Trouble getting or maintaining an erection often has more to do with your heart than your mental state. Impotence is mainly caused by a problem with blood flow to the penis. Damaged blood vessels are an early sign of damage to blood vessels of the heart.

How to proceed: Don’t be embarrassed to see a doctor about a possible physical cause of erectile dysfunction. Your evaluation should include an assessment of your overall heart health.

Sexually Transmitted Disease/Infection Checks

An STD test checks whether you have a sexually transmitted infection (STD).

It is quick and painless. It’s really important to have an STD test even if you don’t have any symptoms.

Who should have an STD test?

• If you are having sex, then you should have regular STD tests.
• If you have any symptoms or are worried about your sexual health, then arrange a test straight away with your doctor or sexual health clinic.

It’s a good idea to have an STD test if:

• you think you might have an STD
• you have had unprotected sex, that is, sex without a condom or dam, including vaginal, oral or anal sex
• you have had a condom break or it has fallen off during sex (also see emergency contraception)
• your partner has another sexual partner or has had previous sexual partners
• you have shared injecting equipment
• you are starting a new sexual relationship.

Vasectomy and Vasectomy Reversal Advice

A vasectomy is a surgical procedure that sterilises a man. It prevents him fathering children. A vasectomy doesn’t change a man’s sexual desire or his ability to reach orgasm. It won’t stop the production of semen. A vasectomy can sometimes be reversed, but it is generally permanent.

A vasectomy is a highly effective form of contraception. The chances of pregnancy after the procedure is around 1 in 1,000. Talk to your doctor before arranging the procedure.

Can a vasectomy be reversed?

A vasectomy is generally permanent. Sometimes it is possible to re-join the vas tubes, but this does not guarantee the man will be able to produce another child. The chances of success decrease with time after the procedure.

More information is available from your doctor.

Bladder Outlet Obstruction

Bladder outlet obstruction in men is a blockage that slows or stops urine flow out of the bladder. Bladder outlet obstruction can cause urine to back up in your system, leading to difficulty urinating and other uncomfortable urinary symptoms.

Possible causes of bladder outlet obstruction might include:

• Enlarged prostate, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) — this is the most common cause of bladder outlet obstruction in men
• Scarring of the urinary channel (urethra) or bladder neck, as a result of injury or surgery
• Use of certain medications, including antihistamines, decongestants or drugs to treat overactive bladder
• Prostate cancer

Prompt diagnosis and treatment of bladder outlet obstruction is important to prevent serious problems caused by urine backing up into your system.

If you can’t pass urine, emergency treatment includes insertion of a tube (catheter) through the tip of your penis and into your bladder. This tube helps urine drain from your bladder. If your condition doesn’t require urgent care, your doctor might order tests to determine the underlying cause of your bladder outlet obstruction. Tests include imaging the bladder with sound waves (ultrasound) and viewing the bladder with a camera (cystoscopy). Treatment might include medications or surgery.

Incontinence

Is male incontinence common?

Urinary incontinence (UI) causes accidental leakage of urine. It isn’t a disease, but rather a symptom of another condition. This underlying medical issue causes a loss of bladder control.

Both men and women experience UI. The number of people who develop UI increases with age. This is especially true for men. Older men are more likely to experience UI than young men.

It’s estimated 11-34% of older men have some form of UI.

What are the symptoms?

Urinary incontinence is a symptom of another condition or issue. Certain types of UI can cause symptoms in addition to urine leakage.

These types of UI and symptoms include:

• Urgency incontinence: You feel a sudden, urgent need to urinate, followed by accidental leakage.
• Stress incontinence: Urine leakage is brought on by quick movements or pressure, such as from coughing.
• Overflow incontinence: Your bladder is so full that you have leakage.
• Functional incontinence: Physical disabilities, obstacles, or difficulty communicating your need to urinate prevents you from making it to the toilet on time.
• Transient incontinence: This temporary UI is the often the result of a short-term condition, such as a urinary tract infection. It may be a side effect of medication or other medical issue.
• Mixed Incontinence: Incontinence that falls into a two or more of the above categories.

Men and women experience very similar symptoms of UI. All symptoms point to an issue with bladder control and leakage.

What causes male incontinence?

Figuring out the underlying cause of UI symptoms can help you and your doctor begin treatment.

Conditions that commonly cause UI include:

• chronic cough

• constipation
• obesity
• bladder or urinary tract infections
• an obstruction in the urinary tract
• weak pelvic floor or bladder muscles
• loss of sphincter strength
• nerve damage
• enlarged prostate
• prostate cancer
• neurological disorders, which can interfere with bladder control signals

Other lifestyle factors that may lead to UI include:

• smoking
• drinking
• not being physical active

Aged Care

Australia’s aged populations is expected to increase by 3.5% per annum from 2011 to 2022 by which time there will be 6.4 million Australians aged 65 to 84 years by 2056. Male life expectancy is expected to be approximately 93 years old by 2056, so the challenge for services will be how to cater for a larger population of aged men as well as women.

There is a growing body of evidence around the needs of older men in various aged care settings and the focus is shifting towards strategies that help older men and women remain independent for as long as possible.  Make an appointment with your doctor to discuss you