The National Institute of Health, USA, defines erectile dysfunction or ED as ‘the persistent inability to achieve and/or maintain an erection sufficient for sexual activity.’

ED is a far more common problem than previously recognised or acknowledged. It has been brought into the open with the discovery of safe and effective treatment especially oral drugs such as phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors (PDE5 Inhibitors) with well-known names such as Viagra, Levitra and Cialis.

The male genitalia consist of the penis and structures in the scrotum.

Diseases of the penis include problems with the foreskin (prepuce) including phimosis and paraphimosis and other penile swelling.

The structures in the scrotum are the testes and structures related tot he testes such as the epididymis, the spermatic cord and the vas deferens. The most common diseases in the scrotum are swellings of the structures in the scrotum. Theses include hydrocele, spermatocele, epididymal cyst, varicocele, and inguinal hernia.

Infections of the male genitalia includes infection of the epididymis (epididymitis), infection of the testis (orchitis), infection of the prepuce or foreskin (posthitis), infection of the glans penis (balanitis), infection of the skin of the penis and infection of the urethra (urethritis).

Some of these infections are sexually transmitted while others are not.

Male aging deals with the physiological and biochemical changes that accompany passage of time in men. The most important change in man is the steady decline in the blood level of male hormone called testosterone. This has been dubbed ‘andropause’ in reference to the similar decline in female hormones with menopause. Our service in the area of Male Aging aims to ameliorate some of the physical, mental and social effects of these changes.