Common Diseases That Affect Men's Reproductive Health

24 March 2025 2 min read

Has been reviewed and approved by our doctor

Just like women, men usually have reproductive organs when they are born into the world. However, reproductive ability only begins when men have entered puberty, namely 9-15 years. In men, this reproductive organ functions as a producer of sperm and semen.

Reporting from Alodokter, the male reproductive organs consist of two parts, namely external organs (penis, scrotum, testicles) and internal organs (epididymis, prostate gland, Cowper's glands, bulbourethral glands, seminal vesicles, urethra and vas deferens). In order to produce good sperm, this reproductive organ needs to be kept healthy.

Otherwise, it can not only cause impotence or erectile dysfunction, but also result in the emergence of various diseases that can cause fertility problems. What are the diseases? Check directly below, OK!

Hypospadias

Hypospadias is a congenital birth defect that causes the position of the urethra to be abnormal. Where, the normal urethra is usually right at the tip of the penis, but in hypospadias sufferers the urethra is usually located under the penis. This condition must be treated immediately by a doctor because it can influence sexual intercourse and can have difficulty urinating.

The exact cause of this condition is not yet known, but several conditions can increase a person's risk of experiencing hypospadias (which originates from the mother), including:

Gestational age is 35 years and over
Exposure to pesticides and cigarette smoke during pregnancy
Undergo therapy to stimulate pregnancy
Suffering from diabetes and obesity during pregnancy

There are several symptoms caused by this condition, including the shape of the penis curving downwards, the foreskin only covering the top of the head of the penis, and abnormal urine splashing when urinating.

Cryptotorcism

Cryptotorcism (undescended testis) is a medical condition in which one or both testicles are not visible in the scrotal sac. This condition generally occurs because the process of descent of the testicles from the stomach to the scrotum or scrotum stops. As with hypospadias, the cause of cryptorchidism is not yet known.

However, several conditions are thought to trigger cryptorchidism, including:

Have a history of cryptorchidism in the family
Born with low body weight or what is usually called premature
When pregnant, the mother is exposed to chemicals such as pesticides and plastic making materials

This condition does not have typical symptoms and the condition does not even cause pain or problems when urinating. However, if left untreated, the condition can cause fertility problems in men.

Prostate Cancer

The prostate is a small gland that is part of the reproductive system and is usually located at the bottom of the bladder. The function of this gland is to produce semen which is released along with sperm during ejaculation. This reproductive organ can be attacked by cancer or in the medical world it is often called prostate cancer.

The exact cause of this cancer in men is not yet known, but there are several conditions that can increase the risk of prostate cancer, namely:

Obesity
Increasing age
Exposure to chemicals
Unhealthy eating patterns
Lack of antioxidant intake, for example lycopene

Not much different from cryptorchidism, prostate cancer also does not cause symptoms. However, if the cancer gets bigger and causes inflammation, the sufferer can experience various disorders. For example, urinating less smoothly, having difficulty urinating, and so on.

Apart from the conditions above, male reproduction is also susceptible to attack by other diseases, such as:

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
Varicocele
Premature ejaculation
Prostatitis
Benign Prostate Hyperplasia

Well, that's a disease that can attack the male reproductive organs. In order not to experience this condition, it is necessary to take care male reproductive health. If you need medical treatment, you can immediately consult a doctor at Premier Jatinegara Hospital who has experience treating various conditions that arise in the reproductive organs.