Male Reproduction

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering male reproductive assessments, erectile dysfunction, BPH, prostate cancer, testicular abnormalities, and sterilization.

DRE Screening Recommendations

An annual exam beginning at age 50, but age 45 for African American men or those with a first-degree relative with prostate cancer.

Testicular Exam

A monthly self-assessment best performed after a warm shower or bath requiring the individual to roll each testicle gently between the fingers and thumbs.

Retrograde Ejaculation

A condition where semen flows backward into the bladder resulting in a dry orgasm and cloudy urine afterward.

Medications That May Cause ED

• Beta blockers: Metoprolol, carvedilol, and propranolol.

• Antidepressants (SSRIs can help with premature ejaculation)

• Antipsychotics

Sildenafil (Viagra)

A medication that enhances penile blood flow; taken $30$–$60$ minutes before sex, lasts about $4$ hours, and is contraindicated with nitrates due to severe hypotension risk.

Uprima (Apomorphine)

A sublingual dopamine receptor agonist that is less potent than Viagra but safer for cardiac patients due to less effect on blood pressure.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

Noncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland that compresses the urethra, causing symptoms like nocturia and frequency without increasing cancer risk.

Tamsulosin (Flomax)

A medication used to improve urine flow in BPH patients; it can cause orthostatic hypotension as a side effect.

Finasteride

A medication used in the management of BPH to shrink the prostate over time.

TURP (Transurethral Resection of the Prostate)

A surgical procedure involving the removal of small pieces of the prostate; requires continuous bladder irrigation post-operatively.

TURP Postop

Small blood clots or blood in urine is normal after TURP

Postobstructive Diuresis

A sudden large urine output that occurs after a urinary obstruction is relieved.

Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer

Being an African American man and having a first-degree relative increases risk 2–3x

Manifestations of Prostate Cancer

• Early-stage often presents with no symptoms

• Advanced symptoms: Urinary obstruction, blood in the urine or semen, and painful ejaculation.

Gleason Score

Grades prostate cancer aggressiveness based on cell abnormality and the likelihood of spreading.

Cryptorchidism

One or both testes fail to descend into the scrotum, increasing risks for infertility and testicular cancer.

Hydrocele

Painless fluid-filled sac around the testicle; common in newborns

Varicocele

Enlarged scrotal veins, often on the left side, described as a "bag of worms" and potentially leading to infertility.

Testicular Torsion

A surgical emergency where the testicle rotates and twists the spermatic cord, often caused by the "bell-clapper" deformity.

Symptoms of Testicular Torsion

Sudden, sharp, and severe scrotal pain. Affected testicle may sit higher and in a horizontal position.

Cremasteric Reflex

A diagnostic indicator for testicular torsion; the reflex is absent if stroking the inner thigh does NOT elevate the affected testicle.

Orchiopexy

A surgical treatment for testicular torsion that untwists the spermatic cord and secures both testes to the scrotal wall.

Symptoms of Penile Cancer

• Painless lump

• Ulcer

• Wart-like lesions on penis (lesion may become infected)

Risk Factors of Penile Cancer

• Uncircumcised status

• Phimosis: Inability to retract foreskin

• HPV infection

Penile Cancer Medications

Fluorouracil cream and 4-6 weeks of oral antibiotics.

Vasectomy

A permanent male sterilization procedure that is not immediately effective; requires about $20$ ejaculations or $8$–$12\text{ weeks}$ to confirm absence of sperm.