Male Genitourinary Disorders
What is "cryptorchidism"?
Cryptorchidism is a term that we use to describe a condition known as an undescended testicle. When boys are born, about one percent of the time, one or both testicles won't be descended down into the sac. Many times, during the first six to eight months of life, the testicles would descend by themselves spontaneously as the child grows. But in certain individuals, this won't happen. The testicle will remain either in the abdomen or it will remain in the inguinal canal, which is the area where men get hernias. If that's the case, then a minor surgery needs to be performed to free up the testicle and place it in the scrotum to preserve fertility.
How is cryptorchidism treated?
Cryptorchidism is treated through two means. Number one is through injections of a hormone called HCG, which can help testicles descend. Or number two, through surgery, where a minor surgical procedure is performed to locate the testicle, free it up, and bring it down into its appropriate position inside the scrotum.
What is "hypospadias"?
Hypospadias is a condition where the penile meatus or the pee hole is not located at the tip of the penis, it's actually located some where on the underside of the glands, in the shaft or at the junction of the penis and scrotum.
How is hypospadias treated?
Hypospadias is treated with surgery. There are a variety of different techniques that have been developed to advance the hole, elongate the urethra, such that the tip of the urethra known as the meatus or the pee hole is positioned at the tip of the glans. Some of these surgeries are actually quite complex and need to be performed by doctors who specialize in these techniques. Usually it is a pediatric urologist and recontructive surgeons who are best able to perform some of these advanced types of surgeries.
What is "orchitis"?
Orchitis is a condition where the testicle is inflamed, and that can be secondary to an infection or another inflammatory condition, but certainly infection is the most common reason for an infection of the testicle.
How is orchitis treated?
Orchitis is treated by, number one, making the correct diagnosis, making sure the testicle is not torsed or twisted. A urine sample is preformed to make sure that there are no bacteria growing. Usually orchitis is treated with antibiotics, with anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen, with bed rest, with elevation of the scrotum, and with ice.
What is "prostatitis"?
Prostatitis is a condition that describes inflammation of the prostate gland. The prostate gland, which is the gland that sits under the bladder in men, and actually encircles the urethra, can become infected with numerous types of bacteria or it can become inflamed, and when this happens, it can cause pain, discomfort when one urinates, burning on urination, difficulty urinating, low back pain, a feeling of pressure around the rectum and underneath the testicles, and this can happen in an acute or chronic form.
What are the symptoms of prostatitis?
The symptoms of acute prostatitis are fever, pain in the prostate, pain in the bladder, pain upon urination, pain in the testicle, pain in the low back, difficulties urinating.
How is prostatitis treated?
Prostatitis is treated usually by antibiotics and sometime with a technique known as prostate massage where the doctor pushes on the prostate gland to express fluid to drain the prostate.
