Andrology: diseases — симптомы, диагностика и лечение

Cryptorchidism is a condition in which one or both testicles do not descend into the scrotum. This is the most common genital anomaly in boys. The main thing parents need to know is that timing is critical. The testicle, which remains outside the scrotum, is in conditions of elevated temperature, and by the first year of life, irreversible changes begin in it, affecting future fertility and increasing the risk of tumors.

Spermatocele is a benign cyst of the epididymis filled with fluid mixed with sperm. This is a very common finding that usually does not cause any symptoms and is discovered either by the man himself during self-examination or by chance on an ultrasound. In the vast majority of cases, the cyst does not require treatment - but requires correct diagnosis so as not to confuse it with a testicular tumor.

Testicular torsion is a condition in which the spermatic cord twists around its axis and completely cuts off the blood supply to the organ. This is one of the few situations in urology where time is measured literally in hours: without restoration of blood flow, the testicle dies. Most often, torsion occurs in adolescents, often at night or after physical activity, and the main mistake is trying to “endure it until the morning.”

Priapism is an erection that lasts more than four hours and is not associated with sexual arousal. Despite the apparent awkwardness of handling, this is an emergency condition: in the most common ischemic form, blood stagnates in the cavernous bodies, the tissue experiences oxygen starvation and is gradually replaced by scar. The result of delay is irreversible erectile dysfunction, so you need to contact it in the first hours.

A short frenulum of the penis is a congenital feature in which the fold of skin connecting the glans to the foreskin is too short and does not allow it to move freely. During an erection, tension occurs, the head deviates downwards, pain appears, and during sexual intercourse the frenulum can tear with fairly heavy bleeding. The problem can be solved with a simple operation, but many men endure discomfort for years without knowing that it is being corrected.

Hypospadias is a congenital malformation in which the external opening of the urethra is located not at the top of the head of the penis, but below: on its lower surface, on the shaft, in the scrotum or perineum. This is one of the most common defects in boys. Modern surgery can achieve good functional and cosmetic results, but the result largely depends on the experience of the surgeon and on whether the first operation was performed correctly.

Penile cancer is a rare malignant tumor that almost always begins with a subtle change on the glans or foreskin: a non-healing ulcer, red plaque, lump or growth. It is precisely because the first manifestations are painless and do not look “serious” that men apply late - sometimes after a year or more. Meanwhile, at an early stage, the disease is successfully treated with preservation of the organ.

Retrograde ejaculation is a condition in which during orgasm the seminal fluid does not come out, but is thrown back into the bladder. The sensations of orgasm remain, but there is no ejaculate or very little of it, and the urine after intercourse becomes cloudy. This is not dangerous to health and does not affect potency, but it makes natural conception difficult - and that is why it most often becomes a reason for treatment.

Delayed ejaculation is the opposite of premature ejaculation: ejaculation occurs only after a very long stimulation or does not occur at all. A disorder is said to occur when it occurs regularly and causes distress in a man or couple. The topic is discussed much less frequently than premature ejaculation, although it occurs quite often, and the reasons often turn out to be simple and removable - from the medications taken to the characteristics of habitual stimulation.

Decreased libido is a decrease or disappearance of sexual desire that worries the man himself or his partner. This is not a separate disease, but a symptom that can be behind anything: from banal lack of sleep and chronic stress to testosterone deficiency, depression, taking certain medications or thyroid diseases. Therefore, treatment begins not with a “pill for desire”, but with a search for the cause.