Men's health

It has been said that testicles and the prostate are to men what ovaries and breasts are to women. However, while most women are very well educated and conversant with examining their own breasts for lumps, and every month can glimpse a real time snapshot of their ovary function via their menses, the same cannot be said of men and their testicles. For men examining themselves at the best of times in the name of medical science seems to be a hard call. But in the interest of men’s health, they need to get used to inspecting the area as examination is very important for early detection.

The early detection of lumps on testicles is vital to men’s health. While most lumps are benign or a result of duct blockage, it always pays to get a doctor to check them out if found. No time for being squeamish about putting your private parts in the hands of another being – besides most doctors (males and females) wear gloves.

Self examination is quite a simple procedure – best done in the shower where the flow of warm water will help the testicles extend downwards giving fingers a greater area to examine, and make it more accessible to probe the tissue there. What should be felt are the two testicles and a slight stringy, cord-like tissue ascending from it. The testicles should feel like mini eggs and be oval in shape and not sore to touch. Lumps on the testicles, above it or in the cords need to be checked out by a doctor

The one organ that a man cannot examine himself adequately is his prostate. This is for the doctor to inspect. Men as early as their 30’s can have prostate trouble, but the average age for prostate issues is somewhere between 45 – 55. One of the first symptoms to appear is the need to get up in the night to urinate. It can start as once a night and over time can become several times a night.

The reason for this (as can be seen in the diagram to the left) is that the prostate lies immediately below the bladder. If the prostate swells as in Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy then it can decrease the urine carrying capacity of the bladder – hence the need to void in the night.

Other symptoms may include difficulty urinating, incomplete voiding leading to feeling like you have to urinate again straight away, pain on urinating, and weak flow, and dribbling.

A handy design feature of the male anatomy is that the prostate gland can be felt through the bowel wall, hence a doctor may need to insert a gloved single digit in a man’s anus to examine it.

Men, it is important to know this test and feel relaxed about it. As invasive as this seems, it only takes a few seconds and can help with the medical diagnosis.

There are also blood tests that can be done to check the health of the prostate.

From a naturopathic point of view there are two enzymes that can upset the balance of the prostate. 5 alpha reductase and aromataze. The first one is thought to be responsible for making the prostate swell by leading to an increased production of an undesirable type of testosterone called dihydro-teststorone (or DHT for short), and the second one diverts testosterone into oestrogen production. While a male produces a tiny amount of oestrogen, the more testosterone that can be produced naturally by the body the healthier the male will be.

Herbs such as Saw Palmetto and Nettle Root help block the formation of DHT, and along with zinc and nutritional substances such as chrysin and DIM, can help block aromatase, and thus keep testosterone levels up.

Chrysin and DIM are natural substances found in plants that research has shown to be beneficial to the male reproductive system.

The average male in New Zealand needs to look at decreasing their alcohol consumption and upping the consumption of fresh fruit and veggies. As the male ages, so does his internal tissue – so does his prostate and testicles. These need high nutrition to keep on functioning, so a diet high in fresh fruit and veggies is desirable, and a high quality vitamin and mineral boost may be considered necessary.