Men’s Health

Trust the Men’s Health Clinic at the Urology Center for Expert Care

We understand that men have unique health concerns. As board-certified urologists, we are specially trained to manage these concerns, whether they be related to erectile dysfunction, low testosterone, Peyronie’s disease, infertility or additional aspects of sexual health. We know there may be other causes of your symptoms and we want to ensure that these are not overlooked, which can occur when free-standing clinics attempt to manage your care. Our goal is to provide a safe and physician-directed, cost-effective health care plan that takes into consideration all aspects of your health.

To make an appointment, please visit our patient portal                 Schedule Appointment  

About Testosterone and Replacement Therapy

The hormone testosterone is primarily produced in the testicles with levels that generally peak in male adolescence and early adulthood. As men reach age 30 to 40, their testosterone levels gradually decline at a rate of about 1% per year.

Signs and symptoms of low testosterone can include:

  • Decrease in sexual function, desire, spontaneous erection and fertility
  • Increased body fat
  • Reduced muscle bulk and strength
  • Decreased bone density
  • Swollen or tender breasts (gynecomastia)
  • Body hair loss
  • Decreased energy level
  • Emotional changes such as depression and decreased motivation or self-confidence
  • Cognitive changes such as loss of memory or concentration

If you’re experiencing symptoms of low testosterone and are interested in replacement therapy, it’s important to see a trusted, board-certified urologist for a diagnosis. That’s because symptoms can be caused by other factors, including medication side effects, obstructive sleep apnea, thyroid problems, diabetes or depression. For older men, it’s important to determine if a low testosterone level is due to normal aging or a disease like hypogonadism.

Testosterone replacement therapies offered at the Men’s Health Clinic:

Short-acting injections
(once every 1-2 weeks)

Long-acting injections
(once every 10 weeks)

Topical creams or gels
(used daily)

Pellet placement
(lasts 4-6 months)

About Erectile Dysfunction (ED) and Treatments

Also referred to as impotence, ED is the inability to get and keep an erection firm enough for intercourse. Occasional erection difficulty isn’t necessarily a cause for concern. However, if ED is an ongoing issue, it can cause stress, affect self-confidence and contribute to relationship problems.

Symptoms of ED are persistent and can include:

  • Trouble getting an erection
  • Trouble keeping an erection
  • Reduced sexual desire

These same symptoms can also be related to other underlying health conditions such as diabetes, vascular issues or heart disease. It’s important to consult a physician for a proper diagnosis of the problem(s) and course of treatment.

ED treatments offered at the Men’s Health Clinic:

About Penile Curvature (Peyronie’s Disease) and Treatments

Less significant curvature of the penis can be normal for some men and isn’t necessarily a reason for concern. Peyronie’s disease, however, causes a significant bend or painful erection that can inhibit erection or sexual function. This condition can improve with time or, conversely, can worsen and lead to increased curvature, pain and penile shortening.

Signs of Peyronie’s disease can appear suddenly or develop gradually. They include:

  • Scar tissue, which can be felt under the skin as flat lumps or a band of hard tissue
  • A significant upward, downward or sideways bend to the penis
  • Problems getting or maintaining an erection
  • Shortening of the penis
  • Pain, either with or without an erection
  • Deformity such as narrowing, indentations or development of an hourglass shape

If you are experiencing signs of Peyronie’s disease, please contact the Men’s Health Clinic at the Urology Center as soon as possible. Early treatment gives you the best chance to improve the condition or prevent it from worsening. It is also a good idea to make an appointment if you’ve had symptoms for awhile and they are becoming more uncomfortable or problematic.

Penile curvature and Peyronie’s disease treatments offered at the Men’s Health Clinic include:

About Male Infertility

Infertility is common and can be defined as the inability to conceive a child after frequent, unprotected sexual intercourse for a year or longer. Male infertility is a contributing factor in over a third of these cases and is often linked to sperm health, including count, shape, size, mobility and viscosity of the semen that sperm mixes with to form the ejaculate.

In some cases, infertility is related to underlying medical, anatomical, congenital, traumatic or surgical situations. Environmental and lifestyle factors also can have an impact on fertility.

Health, lifestyle and medical conditions that affect male fertility include:

  • Tobacco smoking
  • Alcohol use
  • Excess weight
  • Emotional stress, depression and psychological issues
  • Certain medications and drug use including anabolic steroids, chemotherapy, some antifungal treatments and ulcer drugs and use of marijuana, cocaine and other illicit drugs
  • Overexposure to certain environmental elements such as heat, toxins and chemicals
  • ED and premature or retrograde ejaculation
  • Trauma or prior surgeries affecting the abdominal or pelvic region
  • A history of undescended testicles
  • Varicocele, a swelling of the veins that drain the testicle
  • Hormone imbalances of the hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid or adrenal glands
  • Defects or blockages of the tubules that transport sperm
  • Infection that interferes with sperm production, sperm health or causes scarring
  • Antibodies that attack sperm
  • Celiac disease (sensitivity to gluten)
  • Nonmalignant or cancerous tumors
  • Anatomical abnormalities, chromosome defects or inherited disorders such as cystic fibrosis, Kallmanns syndrome and Kartageners syndrome

Diagnosing the source of male infertility can be complex – an exact cause of can’t always be identified. Even so, the board-certified urologists at the Men’s Health Clinic are able to recommend treatments or procedures that can result in conception. However, in rare cases, male fertility problems can’t be corrected, resulting in the inability to conceive a child. In such situations, using a sperm donor or adoption may be the best options for having a child.

Treatments for male infertility:

  • Surgery can correct a varicocele or obstruction, reverse a prior vasectomy or retrieve sperm directly from the testicles or epididymis
  • Antibiotics can treat infection (infertility isn’t always restored)
  • Medication or counseling can help improve fertility in conditions such as erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation
  • Hormone treatments and medications can be used in cases where infertility is caused by high or low levels of certain hormones or problems with the way the body uses hormones
  • Assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatments can be used to obtain sperm through normal ejaculation, surgical extraction or from donor individuals and then inserted into the female genital tract or used to perform in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection

To make an appointment, please visit our patient portal                 Schedule Appointment  

Men’s Health Issues

Read about other men’s health issues:

We hope this information will help you make an informed decision about your sexual health. For more information about men’s health care or to make an appointment, please call the Urology Center at 402.397.9800 or toll free at 800.882.4770.