Men's Health Archive

Guidelines recommend against routine prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing in men ages 70 and older. Still, two 2023 studies found that men in this age group are having too many PSA tests.

Consumers should be wary about direct-to-consumer men's health clinics, as many offer costly treatments not supported by evidence and lack medical oversight, according to a 2023 investigative study.

In general, prostate cancer that occurs after age 60 does not increase the risk of getting a second, different cancer. However, lifestyle habits that contribute to prostate cancer, like poor diet, lack of exercise, and obesity, can raise the risk for other cancers.

Prostate cancer is generally viewed as a disease of older men, yet about 10% of new diagnoses occur in men age 55 or younger. Biological differences partially explain the discrepancy, but socioeconomic factors also play an important role.

Advertisements and celebrity endorsements claim that by raising testosterone levels with testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), men can boost their sex drive and feel more robust. While TRT can help improve some physical, sexual, and mental health symptoms associated with low testosterone levels, it may not work for everyone, and despite the miracle claims, TRT cannot make older men feel 30 years younger.

Otherwise healthy men treated with prescription drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction had a lower risk of heart attacks, strokes, or death from heart-related causes.

Many men are hesitant to talk with their doctor about erectile dysfunction (ED) or other sexual problems because they view these as purely a sex-related. But in many cases, ED is related to another issue like cardiovascular health, high blood pressure, mental health, or low testosterone. Once men understand that talking about their ED involves exploring other aspects of their health and is part of regular maintenance health care, it's easier for them to open up.

Men who are diagnosed with certain types of prostate cancer often choose active surveillance, which allows them to delay the need for aggressive treatment. The results of a long-term study affirm that this approach is a valid option for managing the disease.

The increasing size and visibility of the transgender population has implications for public health. Hormone treatment given to transgender women lowers the overall risk of prostate cancer, but the risk of a trans woman developing the disease is not zero.

Peyronie's disease, a condition marked by extreme curvature of the penis, affects about 3% to 10% of men, usually between the ages of 45 and 60, but also can occur in men older than 60. There is no cure for Peyronie's, and the condition often does not improve on its own, but in mild cases men can maintain a regular sex life. If the curvature is severe, making erections or intercourse painful, treatment may help. Options include traction therapy, drug injections, and surgery.