Do Elevated PSA Levels Mean Prostate Cancer? Not So Fast
One of the frontline screening tools for prostate cancer is PSA testing, which delivers important, but certainly not definitive, information. Here’s a look at what your PSA levels might mean
4 Common Penile Conditions
Just like any other organ, your penis can succumb to specific conditions, diseases, or injuries that require specialized care.
That care can be found at the practice of Dr. Robert Cornell, a board-certified urologist who focuses on the many problems that face a man’s health. From erectile dysfunction to Peyronie’s disease, here’s a look at the four most common penis disorders or diseases and how we treat them.
1. Erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common problem with a prevalence rate of about 52% among men in the United States. In the simplest of terms, ED is a condition in which you have trouble achieving and/or maintaining an erection.
What isn’t as simple are the many drivers of this problem, which can include:
- Your cardiovascular health
- Your age
- Your emotional health
- Your hormonal health
- Obesity
- Injury
- Certain medications
To treat ED, we first identify the source of the problem and figure out whether spot medications or lifestyle changes can help restore normal sexual function. If not, we offer effective and long-lasting solutions with penile implants.
2. Peyronie’s disease
This disease is a condition in which scar tissue called plaque builds up underneath the skin of your penis. In most cases (70%), the adhesions develop on the top side of your penis, which can cause it to curve upward.
Plaque can also develop on the underside or all the way around, which pulls your penis in the direction where there’s plaque buildup. As the disease progresses, it may alter the shape of your penis and become painful when you have an erection.
Depending upon the degree of your Peyronie’s disease, there are several ways we can go about treating the problem. In the earlier stages, we can try medications and injections, but if the plaque begins to calcify, we can go in surgically to remove the tissue. As well, penile implants can play a role in Peyronie's disease by re-establishing the shape of your penis.
3. Priapism
This condition, which is marked by a painful erection that lasts for four hours or more, is divided into two categories:
- Low flow (ischemic), which occurs when blood is trapped inside your penis
- High-flow (nonischemic), which develops when blood vessels in your penis are damaged
Low-flow priapism is a medical emergency and you should seek help right away to have the blood drained from your penis.
With high-flow priapism, we can treat the problem by blocking the main artery to your penis. In many cases, you may not opt for treatment since the problem doesn’t pose many risks.
4. Balanitis
At the head of your penis is your glans, which includes your foreskin. If this tissue becomes inflamed or infected, it’s called balanitis. This inflammation typically occurs in boys or men who are not circumcised, as they have additional skin around the head of their penises that traps debris and germs.
To treat balanitis, we typically turn to antibiotics and topical creams. Moving forward, it’s imperative that you clean the head of your penis properly and regularly to avoid a recurrence.
If you’re suffering from one of the penile conditions above or another problem, the first step is to contact our office in Houston, Texas, to set up an appointment. You can call us or use the online booking tool here on the website.
You Might Also Enjoy...
4 Things You Should Always Talk to Your Men’s Health Specialist About
Just like women, men have some health concerns that are unique to their sex — and many aren’t minor concerns. Also just like women, men can avail themselves of specialized care, which we offer here.
Am I a Good Candidate for Testosterone Replacement Therapy?
Low libido, lack of energy, loss of muscle — you’re feeling the effects of low testosterone, and you’d like to explore whether testosterone replacement therapy is right for you. Here are some points to consider.
How an Erectile Dysfunction (ED) Diagnosis Might Benefit Your Heart
While struggling with erectile dysfunction might not exactly be your idea of good news, the condition might be warning you about larger cardiovascular health issues — in time to make a difference.
5 Encouraging Facts About an Enlarged Prostate
When it comes to an enlarged prostate — or its more serious-sounding name, benign prostatic hyperplasia — the news isn’t all bad. Here, we present some encouraging information about this prostate issue.
What Are My Treatment Options for Kidney Stones?
Kidney stones can be incredibly uncomfortable, so you want to explore your treatment options with an eye toward speedy resolution. Here, we review next steps when you have problematic kidney stones.