We present Self-Assessment designed to easily detect some of the most common conditions in men.

Autoexploración testicular

Check Yourself. Once a Month.

Testicular cancer is one of the most beatable cancers when detected early. Nearly 99%. Here’s what to look for, and what to do if you feel something suspicious. The shower is the best place to perform a self-exam, since the steam relaxes your scrotum and makes it easier to feel around.

Review the testicles that you can perform yourself.

How the test is performed

The testicles (also called testes) are the male reproductive organs that produce semen and the hormone testosterone and are located in the scrotum below the penis.

You can do this test during or after taking a shower. In this way, the skin of the scrotum is warm and relaxed. It is best to perform the test while standing:

  • Feel the scrotal sac gently to locate a testicle.
  • Use one hand to stabilize the testicle. Use the fingers and thumb of your other hand to feel it firmly but gently. Feel the entire surface.
  • Check the other testicle in the same way
autoexploración testicular

Reasons for the test

Testicular self-examination is performed to check for testicular cancer.

The testicles contain blood vessels and other structures that can make the test confusing. If you notice any lumps or changes in a testicle, you should contact your doctor immediately.

Your doctor may recommend testicular self-examination each month if you have any of the following risk factors:

  • Family history of testicular cancer
  • Anterior testicular tumor
  • Cryptorchidism

However, if a man has no risks or symptoms, experts do not know if performing this self-examination decreases the chances of dying from this type of cancer.

autoexploración testicular

Test de disfunción eréctil

What is an erectile dysfunction test?

If your doctor or GUM nurse thinks that you may have erectile dysfunction due to underlying health conditions, they might carry out further tests.

These tests can include:

  • Complete blood count test: this can test for a number of things, including anaemia. Anaemia can cause fatigue (extreme tiredness), which can contribute to erection problems.
  • Blood glucose: this tests the level of sugar in your blood and can show if you have diabetes which can contribute to erectile dysfunction.
  • Lipid test: lipids are fats, and if you have higher levels it may mean that you have high cholesterol which may mean that you have a condition which hardens the arteries (atherosclerosis). Hardening of the arteries can have an effect on blood flow to the penis, causing erection problems.
  • Liver and kidney function tests.
  • Blood hormone tests: these measure levels of the male sex hormone testosterone in the blood. If the level is too low, your doctor may recommend further tests to rule out hormonal conditions that can be a factor in ED.
  • Urine tests: testing your urine for sugar, protein and testosterone levels can help to identify further underlying health conditions that may contribute to. erectile problems.

If necessary, your doctor or GUM nurse may refer you to a urologist, a specialist who will carry out other diagnostic tests to help them to diagnose the problem and devise the best treatment plan for you. If they think that the problem may be down to psychological causes they may refer you for psychological assessment and treatment such as sexual counselling.

Further erectile dysfunction tests may include:

  • An intracavernous injection test: this involves injecting a synthetic hormone into your penis which increases blood flow and helps to determine if you have problems with the blood flow to your penis. This is followed by an ultrasound scan which images the tissues and blood vessels in the penis to see if they are narrowed or ‘leaky’.
  • The nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) test: this shows if you are experiencing erections during sleep. One method is to place elastic bands around the tip and base of the penis. If they snap during the night, erections are occurring. If not, a physical problem or a side effect of medication that restricts blood flow to the penis or blocks the nerve messengers that trigger erections may be to blame.
  • Arteriography and dynamic infusion cavernosometry or cavernosography: a special dye is injected into the blood vessels of the penis. The dye shows up on a scanner and lets the doctor see how the blood vessels are working.
sintomas de disfunción eréctil

Sintomas de Andropausia

The Facts

Testosterone is the hormone responsible for deep voices, muscle mass, and facial and body hair patterns found in males. As men get older, the level of testosterone in the body and production of sperm gradually becomes lower, and they experience physical and psychological symptoms as a result of these low levels. This is part of the natural aging process and it is estimated that testosterone decreases about 10% every decade after men reach the age of 30.

Andropause is a condition that is associated with the decrease in the male hormone testosterone. It is unlike menopause in that the decrease in testosterone and the development of symptoms is more gradual than what occurs in women. Approximately 30% of men in their 50s will experience symptoms of andropause caused by low testosterone levels. A person experiencing andropause may have a number of symptoms related to the condition and could be at risk of other serious health conditions such as osteoporosis without proper treatment.

Causes

The decrease in testosterone is an important factor in men suspected of having andropause. However, as men age, not only does the body start making less testosterone, but also the levels of another hormone called sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), which pulls usable testosterone from the blood, begins to increase. SHBG binds some of the available testosterone circulating in the blood. The testosterone that is not bound to the SHBG hormone is called bioavailable testosterone, meaning it is available for use by the body.

Men who experience symptoms associated with andropause have lowered amounts of bioavailable testosterone in their blood. Therefore, tissues in the body that are stimulated by testosterone receive a lower amount of it, which may cause various physical and possibly mental changes in a person such as mood swings or fatigue.

sintomas de Andropausia
Although symptoms may vary from person to person, common symptoms of men going through andropause include:
  • low sex drive.
  • difficulties getting erections or erections that are not as strong as usual.
  • lack of energy.
  • depression.
  • irritability and mood swings.
  • loss of strength or muscle mass.
  • increased body fat.
  • hot flashes.