CIRCUMCISION
Q. Let’s start at the earliest. Is circumcision really necessary?
A. Although doctors are still debating the pros and cons of circumcision, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has recently issued a position paper that summarizes the operation’s benefits and risks. The benefits are:
• Reduced risk of urinary tract infections during infancy
• In the US, uncircumcised men are about 3 xs more likely to develop cancer of the penis than are uncircumcised men. But cancer of the penis is rare, developing annually in fewer than ten of every one million men.
• Circumcision appears to reduce a man’s risk of HIV infection, though it is incomplete protection at best
The risks are operative though very rare and generally mild.
GENERAL CARE
Q. As a male, what are the daily things I can do to take care of my genitalia and all its functions?
A. Unless you are uncircumcised, daily care of genitalia is a shower. Lack of hygiene in uncircumcised men (e.g. failing to pull back the foreskin while cleaning it on a daily basis) is related to a higher incidence in penile cancer.
Q. When urinating in public restrooms, sometimes part of the existing liquid in the stall splashes back on you? Can this cause a disease or infection? If yes, what should I do to prevent an infection?
A. Urine is generally sterile – no bacteria or virus for a normally healthy person, so there should be no major concern. Just rinse the spot with water or use soap if there is a skin break. By the way, it is an old wife’s tale that urine can numb the pain of a jelly fish sting.
Q. Would drinking beer really help clean the urinary tract system?
A. The urinary tract is clean to begin with unless it is infected. So beer will just cause diurises. In fact, beer could irritate the bladder tissue and inflame an existing urinary tract infection (UTI).
Q. Cranberry juice is supposedly a good drink to keep the urinary tract system healthy for both men and women. Is this true?
A. Drinking cranberry juice has been talked about as good in preventing urinary tract infections. A 1994 Harvard study provided the clinical evidence to support the claim that regular consumption of cranberry juice cocktail could reduce the bacteria associated with urinary tract infections. At Rutgers University, researchers isolated the specific compounds, called condensed tannins or proanthocyanidins, responsible for cranberries' effect. These tannins were found to be capable of preventing E. coli bacteria from attaching to cells in the urinary tract. Most urinary tract infections are caused by E. coli bacteria.
It was estimated that the amount of condensed tannins in a 10-ounce glass of cranberry juice cocktail consumed on a daily basis would help prevent E. coli from attaching to the walls of the bladder and kidney and ward off urinary tract infections. They also found similar bioactivity from the proanthocyanidins in other members of the genus vaccinium, such as blueberries and lingonberries. I know what you’re thinking. Sorry folks, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries belong to different genera. Hello, blueberry pie!
Q. How long can one hold the urge to urinate without endangering your urinary tract system?
A. Up to an hour
Q. How many times should a boy or man check his genitalia for a lump?
A. For ages 20-40, men should try to feel for a lump once a month.
Self-exam is best accomplished in a relaxed setting, i.e. while lathered up in the shower. Anchor the testicle with one hand, and used the index finger of the other hand to run gently over the front and side surfaces of the testicle. Both hands are then used to check the back side of the testicle by gently squeezing the soft tubular structure. Normal testicles are smooth and slightly spongy. Sense for a firm, pea-sized lump. Any lumps, unusual firmness , unexpected tenderness or concern should be brought to the attention of your physician.
Q. Is there anything I can do on a regular or occasional basis to lower the risks of getting prostate or testicular cancer?
A. Low fat diet
SPORTS
Q. Some guys engage in athletic activities such as basketball, running or weightlifting without wearing any underwear, just shorts. I heard not wearing briefs or jock straps can cause groin hernia. Is this true?
A. Not wearing underwear or jock straps, when you are young, will not cause groin hernia. Groin hernia is caused by muscle weakness with advancing age, 40 plus. Hence the older you get, the more relevant to wear a jock strap especially if you lift heavy objects. Lifting can increase abdominal pressure and put stress on the groin tissues. A man has a 5 to 10 percent chance of developing groin hernia at some time in his life.
Q. Is it true that biking can cause testicular cancer just like what happened to Lance Armstrong, American cycling champion of the Tour de France?
A. Not true. Testicular cancer occurs most often between the ages of twenty and thirty-five. The disease is seven times more likely to develop in Caucasians (especially men of Scandinavian descent) than African-Americans. Despite intensive research, doctors do not know what causes testicular cancer. Olympian figure-skater Scott Hamilton, who is not an athletic biker, had testicular cancer.
Q. Is it true that sexual abstinence is necessary days before a sports game or competition so as not to loose that extra strength? I have heard boxers avoid sex for fear of losing force in their punches. Is this true? If yes, how many days in advance should you abstain?
A. Not true. All you need is a good night sleep. Engaging in intercourse an hour or two before a game is a different matter.
FERTILITY
Q. Should I alternate between using briefs and boxers? Is it true that wearing tight briefs can lower sperm count and boxers are conducive for fertility?
A. There is no medical evidence that loose boxers promote sperm count or that tight briefs inhibit sperm production. However, the scrotum is located outside the rest of the body so that the testicles are about six degrees cooler than the body’s interior, the right temperature for sperm production. So it might help to wear loose underwear if you are trying to have a child.
Q. Will immersion in a Jacuzzi or sweat bathing in a sauna or steam room be detrimental to your genitalia?
A. Depending on your length of stay. The normal core body temperature of a healthy, resting adult human being is stated to be at 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.0 degrees Celsius. The ideal dry sauna temperature is between 140°F- 190°F (60°C- 90°C) and lower, 120°F or 49°C, for a steam sauna . The proper Jacuzzi temperature is 95°F or 35°C, though the maximum can be as high as 104°F or 40°C. In both saunas and Jacuzzis, the temperature fluctuates and can go higher than the norm.
Our bodies generate heat and if we are surrounded by air or a medium higher than normal, than this will increase scrotum temperature as well. So, make your own conclusion.
The lesson is keep your sessions in the saunas or Jacuzzis a series of short multiple sittings. Each sitting should last 6 – 10 minutes for beginners to a maximum of 15 minutes for veterans within the span of half-an-hour (for beginners) to an hour at most. The higher the bench in the sauna, the hotter the temperature will be. Drink between sittings to keep cool. Your stay should be determined by how your body feels. Please consult your physician before entering a sauna, especially if you have a heart condition. Also check sauna and Jacuzzi temperatures before going in.
Q. What is an acceptable frequency of masturbation to maintain desirable semen count?
A. Abstain from masturbation for three days to ensure a higher sperm count.
Q. What can I do to increase my fertility?
A.
• Stop smoking cigarettes - tobacco has been linked to low sperm counts and sluggish motility.
• Decrease liquor intake since alcohol can reduce the production of normally formed sperm needed for a successful pregnancy
• Watch your weight, both overweight and underweight men can have fertility problems. With too much weight, there can be hormonal disturbances, and when a man's too lean, he can have decreased sperm count and functionality.
• Exercise in moderation. Excessive exercise could lower your sperm count indirectly by lowering the amount of testosterone in your body. And as you might have guessed, stay off the steroids -- they can cause testicular shrinkage, resulting in infertility.
• Value your vitamins. Low levels of vitamin C and zinc can cause sperm to clump together, so keep your numbers up. Vitamin E can counteract excess free-oxygen radicals, which can also affect sperm quality.
• Turn your back on toxins. Landscapers, contractors, manufacturing workers, and men who have regular contact with environmental toxins or poisons (pesticides, insecticides, lead, radiation, or heavy metals) are all at risk of infertility.
OVERCOMING TABOO
Q. Should a father talk to his son about male genitalia? If yes, when and what should the topic be?
A. Yes, around puberty 12-13 years old, where there is less embarrassment and the boy is more open to discussion.
Q. Can we overcome the taboo among men in discussing ways to take care of one’s genitalia?
A. Being educated and knowing the effects of diseases such as diabetes and hypertension will help men realize it is for their benefit to discuss care of their genitalia.
Q. What are good sources or web sites to research for regarding male genitalia and men’s health?
A.
Go to your library and borrow The Harvard Medical School Guide To Men’s Health by Harvey B. Simon, M.D. Dr. Simon’s book, a major source of information for this article, is written in easy-to-understand language with very clear illustrations. Actually, it is a good bedside reading book.
For web sites, please surf the following:
• American Urology Association, www.auanet.org (see Patient Info navigator bar) which is linked to www.urologyhealth.org
• American Foundation for Urologic Disease, www.afud.org (with interesting Patient Stories in the home page)
E-mail Joseph at writetojosephlopez@yahoo.com
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