Male reproductive system: Reproductive system disorders

The male reproductive system consists of external sex organs, which include the penis and the scrotum, and internal sex organs, which include the testicles, the epididymis, and the vas deferens. Internal sex organs also include the male accessory sex glands: the seminal vesicles and the prostate gland.

Now, the most common disorders of the male reproductive system include infertility, erectile dysfunction, and cancers.

Let’s start with infertility, which in biological males, is defined as the inability to cause a pregnancy in a biological female after 12 months of trying.

Some common causes of male infertility include abnormal sperm production and sexually transmitted infections, such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, or HIV.

Now, let’s switch our focus to erectile dysfunction, also known as impotence. In erectile dysfunction, an individual is unable to develop or maintain an erection during sex. This condition becomes more common with age and it could be temporary or permanent.

The most common causes of erectile dysfunction include: cardiovascular disorders that decrease blood flow to the penis; hormonal disorders associated with low levels of testosterone; emotional disturbances, like excessive stress; and certain medications that can cause erectile dysfunction as a side effect.

Switching gears and moving on to cancers of the male reproductive system, such as testicular, prostate, and penile cancer. Testicular cancers are malignant growths in one or both testicles.

Typically, testicular cancer affects young and middle-aged individuals. They often present as small lumps in the testicle that can be easily felt during testicular self-examination or a physical.

If detected early, they have a good outcome, but in advanced stages, testicular cancers easily spread to other organs in the body.

Next up is prostate cancer, which is a cancer that originates in the prostate gland. Prostate cancer usually affects individuals older than 50 years of age.