Men's Health Package

Over 200,000 words organized under five main topic areas. The selection of materials compiled by the editors of Harvard Health Publications focuses on the health and lifestyle concerns specific to men including: exercise and nutrition, mental health, urological concerns, and common health concerns.

EXERCISE AND NUTRITION
MENTAL HEALTH
UROLOGICAL CONCERNS
JUST FOR MEN: COMMON HEALTH CONCERNS
PREVENTION AND SCREENING

UROLOGICAL CONCERNS

Prostate Disorders/Prostate Cancer

Prostate Disease:
Finding the cause and cure

Benign Prostate Disorders

Botox and the Prostate: A New Wrinkle
Botulinum toxin (Botox) is deadly when found in contaminated food. But in miniscule doses, it's useful in treating a variety of medical problems, including skin conditions and, possibly, benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: A New Look at an Old Operation
Comparing new and older treatment options for benign prostatic hyperplasia, a condition that affects millions of older men.

New Drugs for the Prostate
An examination of new drugs used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer. Includes a medication comparison chart.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Can Herbs Help?
Discussion of various herbal and alternative treatments for enlarged prostate or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Acute Urinary Retention: An Age-old Problem
An overview of the causes, prevention and treatment for severe urinary obstruction. Contains a symptom evaluation chart.

On Call: A New Medicine for BPH
A description of Uroxatral (alfuzosin), recently approved for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Medical Memo: Does Sexual Activity Keep the Prostate Healthy?
Discusses research on sexual activity and prostate health.

Prostatitis, PSA and Prostate Cancer
Describes the condition of prostatitis, its treatment, and how it can complicate PSA testing for cancer.

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PROSTATE CANCER

Vitamin E and Prostate Cancer: Where do We Stand?
Do vitamin E and other antioxidants help prevent prostate cancer? The evidence for vitamin E is no longer convincing, but other supplements may still provide a benefit.

Ejaculation Frequency and Prostate Cancer
Research into the connections between sexual activity and prostate cancer.

Screening for Cancer: Testicular and Prostate Cancer
The ins and outs of screening for testicular and prostate cancers, including an in-depth discussion of the benefits and drawbacks of the leading prostate cancer test, the prostate specific antigen test.

New Drugs for the Prostate
An examination of new drugs used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer. Includes a medication comparison chart.

Prostate Cancer Surgery: Is Nerve-Sparing Safe?
A discussion of the benefits and risks of nerve-sparing prostate cancer surgery.

Prostate Cancer: New Studies of Combination Therapy
An overview of progress made in prostate cancer therapies, with a particular emphasis on androgen-deprivation therapy used in combination with other forms of treatment.

Picturing the Prostate: Imaging Techniques of Today and Tomorrow
Details the various imaging tests (including ultrasound, CT, MRI and more) and how useful they are for detecting prostate cancer.

Prostate Cancer Risk Factors
Covers different risk factors for developing prostate cancer, including age, family history, nationality, race, hormones, diet, exercise, body size, smoking, drinking and sexual activity.

Preventing Prostate Cancer with Finasteride: A Mixed Blessing
Discusses how finasteride affects the prostate and the results of Prostate Cancer Prevention trial, which showed that finasteride may lower the rate of prostate cancer but also seems associated with more aggressive forms of the disease.

The Prostate Biopsy
Discusses when a prostate biopsy might be done and the procedures used. Also covers complications, follow-up care, and considerations for normal and abnormal results.

All in the Family: Heredity and Prostate Cancer
Researchers are uncovering the specific genetic defects that predispose men to prostate cancer. These discoveries may help warn certain men of an increased risk.

On Call: Diet, Testicular Cancer and Prostate Cancer
Researchers may know more about connections between diet and prostate cancer, but increased risk of testicular cancer has been linked to diet as well.

Medical Memo: An Update on Calcium and Prostate Cancer
New research decreases the concern that moderate calcium intake is bad for prostate health.

ASK-THE-EXPERT

• I have heard that taking large doses of calcium can be unwise for a man, because it could increase the risk of prostate cancer. Is this true?
• Is a transrectal ultrasound of the prostate a good tool for diagnosing prostate cancer?
• My urologist says Proscar lowers PSA levels. I'm not taking Proscar, but I am taking the much lower dose Propecia. Is there any data on what effect Propecia has on PSA?
• I recently read that saw palmetto can affect the accuracy of a PSA test. Is this true?

INTERACTIVE TOOLS

• PSA Quiz
• Smoking Quiz

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BLADDER PROBLEMS

Acute Urinary Retention: An Age-old Problem
An overview of the causes, prevention, and treatment for severe urinary obstruction. Contains a symptom evaluation chart.

Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer is the fourth most common internal cancer in American men, and its incidence is rising with each passing year. This article discusses the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of bladder cancer.

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SEXUALITY AND REPRODUCTION

What to Do About Erectile Dysfunction (Special Health Report)

Disorders of Ejaculation
Common disorders of male ejaculation, including a discussion of available medication and treatment.

What to do if Viagra Won’t do
For those who cannot take or do not respond to Viagra, Levitra, or Cialis, a number of other, often effective treatment options are available.

Erectile Dysfunction: The Viagra Revolution
Discusses the biological mechanisms involved in a normal erection, the causes of impotence, diagnosis of erectile dysfunction, and the efficacy and safety of different drugs used to treat it.

Pills for Erectile Dysfunction: Viagra, Cialis and Levitra
This article covers how Viagra, Levitra, and Cialis work, how safe they are and the differences between them.

Erectile Dysfunction: Can it be Prevented?
Ways to reduce the risk of erectile dysfunction.

Viagra and Erections: Do the Benefits Persist?
Viagra has been available in the United States since 1998. Does its effectiveness change with long-term use?

Medical Memo: Depression and Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction can be caused or exacerbated by a combination of physical and emotional factors.

On Call: Viagra and Vision
Reports of a rare eye condition developing in men after use of Viagra are a reminder that erectile dysfunction medications should be used with the same caution given to other prescription drugs.

HARVARD COMMENTARIES ON HEALTH

• Erectile Dysfunction: The Bad News and the Bad News
• Erectile dysfunction is often an early warning sign of atherosclerosis, which increases one’s risk of a heart attack or stroke.

ASK-THE-EXPERT

• I recently was told that I have a "spermatocele." Will having sex cause this condition to worsen?
• I have retrograde ejaculation as a result of a TURP procedure. I am able to have an orgasm, but it is dry. I was told this is because of scar tissue blocking the opening from the seminal ducts into the urethra. Is there a drug or procedure I can use that might lead to semen being expelled?
• Can a testicular hydrocele cause erection problems?

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PROBLEMS OF THE PENIS, TESTICLES AND SCROTUM

Cancer of the Penis
A guide to the warning signs and treatment for a cancer relatively uncommon in the United States because of early detection and prevention measures.

On Call: Penis Promises Untrue
Doctor debunks myth that a penis can be lengthened.

Screening for Cancer: Testicular and Prostate Cancer
The ins and outs of screening for testicular and prostate cancers, including an in-depth discussion of the benefits and drawbacks of the leading prostate cancer test, the prostate specific antigen test.

The Swollen or Painful Scrotum
One of the most vulnerable parts of the male anatomy, this article covers the diagnosis and treatment of various scrotal afflictions including testicular torsion, testicular cancer, and epididymitis.