Mens health
Do treatments for thinning hair and baldness really work?
If youre seeing more of your balding scalp every morning in the bathroom mirror -- and more of your hair on your hairbrush -- treatments can help. But they may not be as simple or foolproof as you want.
If your hair loss doesnt have a specific cause -- like illness -- you could try medicine. Over-the-counter Rogaine is applied to the scalp. Prescription Propecia is taken as a pill. In some men, they can thicken hair, prevent future hair loss, and cause new hair growth. But dont expect a miracle. They work slowly. In some men, they dont work at all. You also have to take them for the long haul. If you ever stop, your hairline will retreat to where it was.
While other supplements or herbal remedies may be advertised as baldness cures, theres no proof that any of them work.
The alternative is surgery ranging from transplants to more aggressive procedures. But these methods can be expensive and, like any operation, they do pose some risks.
I wake up in the night having to urinate -- is that a problem?
Having to urinate in the middle of the night is a common consequence of getting older -- you cant make it through the night anymore without a trip (or two or three) to the bathroom.
Every guy between the ages of 20 and 39 needs a physical every three years. Between 40 and 49, its two years. And after 50, its every year.
One likely culprit is something called BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia). This condition is very common, affecting half of all men between ages 50 and 60. As you get older, the prostate -- a walnut-sized gland around your urethra -- can grow larger. Eventually, it can squeeze down on the urethra, giving you an intense urge to urinate.
BPH usually only needs treatment -- with medicine or surgery -- if the symptoms are really bothering you. Many men just live with it.
However, you still must get changes to your urinary habits checked out. Increased frequency of urination can also be a sign of prostate infection or even prostate cancer.
My father had a heart attack when he was pretty young. Should I be worried about having one?
Heart disease can run in families. But just because your father had a heart attack doesnt mean that you are destined to as well. Genes play a role, but so do a lot of other things: diet, fitness level, stress level, and general health, to name a few.
That said, you should take a genetic risk of heart disease seriously. The good news is that theres a lot that you can do to reduce your risk. Some tips are obvious -- dont smoke, exercise regularly, eat a diet high in fibre and low in saturated fats and sweets, keep a healthy weight, and maintain normal blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Other tips are not so obvious -- for instance, did you know that heart disease is associated with poor dental health? Check in with your doctor to see what precautions you should take. And never ignore any warning signs, like chest pain during exercise.
My wife is having trouble getting pregnant. Could my sperm be the problem?
Although infertility is often seen as a womans problem, male fertility problems contribute to about 40% of infertility cases. Causes range from low sperm count to sperm that are deformed or just dont swim well.
So if you and your partner arent having luck getting pregnant, ask your doctor for a sperm test. You may feel sheepish about taking that cup into the doctors bathroom, but knowing one way or another will save you a lot of worry. (It could also spare your partner some much more uncomfortable tests.)
If you do have sperm troubles, theres a lot that can be done. Some underlying causes can be treated with medicine or surgery. If that wont help, fertility procedures -- like IVF (in vitro fertilization) and others -- can make it a lot easier for your sperm to do its work and fertilize an egg.
Once and for all, whats a normal penis size?
Its the question that just about every teenage boy asks himself -- and may keep asking himself throughout his life: How does my penis measure up?
Several recent studies say that the average size is about 5 inches when the penis is stretched. (Sounds painful, but it just means extending a flaccid penis out fully -- the size of a stretched penis is about the same as it is when erected.) Other surveys found an average closer to 6 inches. While its possible that there are racial differences in penis size, theres little evidence. Regardless, theres still a great deal of variation within racial groups anyway.
Still, a lot of guys are convinced that theyre smaller than everyone else. In one study, researchers interviewed 92 men who considered themselves poorly endowed. Not a single one actually had a small penis. While there are surgeries to enlarge the penis, they are not well studied -- and many men are unhappy with the results.
How often do married people have sex?
Well, the frequency of sex among married couples depends on how old they are. One survey looked at the sex lives of married people by age. They found that:
Between 18-29, married people had sex 112 times a year, or a little over twice a week
Between 30-39, they had sex 86 times a year, or about seven times a month
Between 50-59, they had sex 69 times a year, or a little under six times a month
Sex appears to declines further as couples get older.
Although frustrated married people can romanticize the sex lives of swinging singles, studies show that married people have more sex than single people. While married people 18-29 have sex over nine times a month, single people average a little under six a month. It makes sense -- married people have a potential sexual partner in bed with them every night. Singles often sleep alone.
My wife just found out that she has HPV. Does this mean Ill get genital warts?
Although it may not have the fame of herpes or the clap, HPV is actually the most common sexually transmitted disease. Fifty percent of all men will have it at some point in their lives.
In most cases, HPV causes no symptoms and doesnt lead to any health problems. But some strains do cause genital warts. The only way to prevent transmission of the virus is to avoid skin contact -- not easy in a marriage. Condoms may help reduce transmission, but thats not really clear. The virus has no cure.
If you do get genital warts, theyre most likely to appear on the head of your penis. They can also show up elsewhere, including your anus.
While they may fade on their own, they can also be treated with creams or surgery. HPV does raise the risk of getting cancers of the anus and penis -- however, those risks are still extremely low.
I havent exercised in years, but I need to get in better shape. Where do I start?
Most importantly, start slowly. Its easy to be too enthusiastic on the first day and push yourself too hard. The next day, you can barely walk, and your brave new exercise scheme is postponed for another year. Step up gradually to exercising on most days of the week for 30-60 minutes.
The choice of exercise doesnt matter. Start walking. Pick up a new sport or an old one that you liked back in high school. It might take a little experimentation before you find something that you really enjoy.
If willpower is a problem, get other people involved. Hire a trainer at the gym. Start golfing with a friend. Join a group of guys who meet for pick-up games in the park. Having an obligation to someone else might be just what you need to push yourself out of your easy chair and away from the soothing glow of your television.
Whats the deal with alcohol -- is it good for me or bad for me?
Good news: studies have shown that alcohol can lower the risk of heart disease. While for a time it seemed that only red wine had this power, experts now say that any alcohol -- wine, beer, or spirits -- has the same effect. Moderate drinking lowers the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular problems by 25% to 40%.
But heres the bummer: more isnt better. Experts say that men should limit themselves to two drinks a day at most. Any more than that and your risks go up again, since excessive alcohol intake can lead to liver damage, high blood pressure, and many kinds of cancer -- not to mention the risks of alcohol abuse.
If youve been a teetotaler all your life, dont start drinking for health reasons. The benefits are modest, and drinking increases other risks. If you dont drink and want to improve your health, just do an extra 15 minutes on the treadmill.
I hate going to the doctors, but my wife is always pushing me to go. Any advice?
Be honest: do you take better care of your car and your lawn than your own health? You might think theres no need if you feel OK. But unfortunately, many health conditions dont have any symptoms -- like high blood pressure -- and they can do serious damage if untreated.
Every guy between the ages of 20 and 39 needs a physical every three years. Between 40 and 49, its two years. And after 50, its every year. In addition to that, every man should get his blood pressure checked annually; other tests are necessary as you get older. At most, thats one visit a year, and surely you can find the time for that. Of course, any sudden change in your health or worrying symptom -- like chest pain, for instance -- needs to be checked out immediately.
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