Diseases of the Male Reproductive System
Unlike the female reproductive system, most of the male reproductive system is located outside of the body.
The male reproductive system includes:
- The penis,
- Scrotum,
- Testes,
- Epididymis,
- Vas deferens,
- Prostate, and
- Seminal vesicles.
The penis and the urethra are part of both the urinary and reproductive systems. The male reproductive system is specially designed to produce, maintain, and transport genetic material. It's also an integral system to enhance quality of life.
The reproductive system in males develops in close relation with the urinary tract, and the two are usually thought of as the urogenital system. For example, the testes develop from the gonadal ridge, while the prostate develops from epithelial invaginations in the distal urethra. Therefore, diseases of the genital system may also be associated with disorders of the urinary tract.
The purpose of the organs of the male reproductive system is to perform the following functions:
- To produce, maintain, and transport sperm (the male reproductive cells) and protective fluid (semen)
- To discharge sperm within the female reproductive tract during sex
- To produce and secrete male sex hormones responsible for maintaining the male reproductive system
A variety of diseases and disorders may result in urinary or sexual dysfunction. These could be structural and functional anomalies, including malformations; some problems may develop after some types of cancer treatment. Sometimes they happen as a late effect of treatments for cancer during childhood.
The penis is a frequent site of inflammatory diseases, including sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and some benign and malignant tumors.
STDs and related infections, such as papilloma virus and candidiasis, have recently received considerable attention because of their rising incidence.
Common diseases of the male reproductive organs may include:
- Prostate cancer: When an abnormal, malignant growth of cells forms in the prostate, it is called prostate cancer. This cancer can spread to other areas. Read More
- Testicular cancer: Testicular cancer occurs in the testicles (testes), which are located inside a loose bag of skin underneath the penis. The testicles produce male sex hormones and sperm for reproduction. Read More
- Enlarged prostate or BPH: BPH is a benign (noncancerous) enlargement of the prostate that blocks the flow of urine through the urethra. Read More
- Prostatitis: Prostatitis is the swelling and inflammation of the prostate gland, a walnut-sized gland situated directly below the bladder in men. Read More
- Erectile dysfunction: Erectile dysfunction (impotence) is the inability to get and keep an erection firm enough for sex. Read More
- Male infertility: This refers to men who arenot able to conceive a child, even though they have had frequent, unprotected sexual intercourse for a year or longer. Read More
- Testosterone deficiency: Testosterone Deficiency Syndrome, or Hypogonadism, is a condition in which a man's body does not produce sufficient testosterone, the primary male hormone. Read More
- Undescended testicle: An undescended testicle (cryptorchidism) is a testicle that hasn't moved into its proper position in the bag of skin hanging below the penis (scrotum) before birth. Usually just one testicle is affected, but about 10 percent of the time both testicles are undescended. Read More
- Varicocele or dilated veins around testicle: An enlargement of the veins within the loose bag of skin that holds your testicles (scrotum). A varicocele is similar to a varicose vein you might see in your leg. Read More
- Hydrocele or fluid around testicle: A type of swelling in the scrotum that occurs when fluid collects in the thin sheath surrounding a testicle. Hydrocele is common in newborns and usually disappears without treatment by age 1. Read More
