Men's Health Specialist
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Brown Family Practice
Crystal Brown, M.D.
Family Medicine located in Fort Valley, GA
The average life expectancy for American men is almost five years less than women. Compared to women, men are more likely to drink, smoke, and make unhealthy choices. That’s why it’s so important for men to get regular checkups. At Brown Family Practice in Fort Valley, Georgia, Dr. Crystal Brown and her experienced staff make visiting the doctor easy and painless. To learn more or make an appointment, call the office or schedule an appointment online.
Men's Health Q & A
What are men’s health issues?
Men’s health issues include conditions that only affect men, such as prostate cancer or erectile dysfunction. They also include other significant health conditions that men face, such as colon cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory diseases.
Sometimes men’s health issues are related to each other. For example, erectile dysfunction is common in men who have diabetes or who have had their prostate removed.
Luckily, many of these health issues are preventable and treatable with early diagnosis.
What are some diseases of the male reproductive system?
The male reproductive system is made up of the external and internal organs that work together to produce sperm and the other components of semen.
Infection can occur in any of these organs. For example, orchitis is inflammation of the testes, usually due to a bacterial infection or the mumps virus. There are also disorders of these organs, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia, which is enlargement of the prostate gland that causes difficulty with urination.
Additionally, cancer can develop in any of the organs of the male reproductive system. Cancer of the prostate gland — the walnut-sized gland that makes seminal fluid — is the most common cancer among American men.
When should you be screened for prostate cancer?
The American Cancer Society recommends that men who aren’t experiencing symptoms and who have at least a 10-year life expectancy talk to their healthcare providers about screening for prostate cancer. If it’s detected early and the cancer is only in the prostate gland, there is a higher chance of successful treatment.
Prostate cancer sometimes doesn’t have any early signs or symptoms, but when the disease is further along, you might experience:
- Trouble urinating
- Less force in your urine stream
- Blood in semen
- Discomfort in the pelvic area
- Bone pain
- Erectile dysfunction
The exact cause of prostate cancer isn’t known, but there are several risk factors, including age, family history, and obesity. Race can also be a factor: Black men have a greater risk of getting prostate cancer than men of other races.
Regular physical exams can help prevent many of the men’s health issues prevalent today. Especially if you have risk factors, you should see Dr. Brown for proper diagnosis and treatment. To schedule an appointment today, call the office or book an appointment online.
