In this episode we discuss Optilume, a novel treatment for the urinary symptoms experienced by men due to an enlarged or obstructing prostate (BPH). In previous episodes, we have covered a variety of other BPH treatments ranging from the historical gold standard (TURP) to minimally invasive surgical therapies (MIST) such as Rezum, Urolift, and iTind to more specialized treatments such as HoLEP and robotic simple prostatectomy. So how does Optilume fit into this spectrum of BPH tre...

In this episode, we discuss Aquablation, a new treatment for the urinary symptoms experienced by men due to an enlarged or obstructing prostate(BPH). In previous episodes, we have covered a variety of other BPH treatments ranging from the historical gold standard (TURP) to minimally invasive surgical therapies (MIST) such as Rezum, Urolift, and iTind to more specialized treatments such as HoLEP and robotic simple prostatectomy. So how does Aquablation fit into this spectrum of BPH treatments?...

In this episode we discuss penile injections for erectile dysfunction, For most guys, treating erectile dysfunction means taking a pill. But what do they do if the pills do not work or if they are not able to take the pills because of certain medical conditions or other medications they are taking? For many such guys, a reasonable next step has been to try penile injections. But how do these injections work? What exactly is involved with administering them? Do th...

In this episode we discuss focal therapy for the treatment of prostate cancer. Historically, men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer have had to choose between two treatment options: surgery and radiation therapy. Both options involve treating the entire prostate gland, regardless of the size, location, or number of cancerous tumors. Recently, however, more localized treatment options have become available for prostate cancer that involve focally treating only the tumor...

In this episode we discuss delayed or absent orgasm. Most guys are familiar with premature ejaculation, a condition in which men achieve an orgasm and ejaculate too soon. But what about guys who take too long to achieve an orgasm or cannot achieve one at all? How long is too long when it comes to reaching an orgasm? What causes delayed or absent orgasms? What are the treatment options and how well do they work? To answer these questions and many more, we turned to a true ex...

In this episode we discuss Peyronies disease, a condition faced by about 10% of men. Peyronies disease can cause pain, erectile dysfunction and, for some men, a complete inability to have sex. But what exactly is Peyronies disease and what causes the condition? How do you know if you have it? Does Peyronies disease always require treatment? What are the treatment options and how well do they work? To answer these questions and many more, we turned to a true expert.&nbs...

In this episode we discuss varicoceles, a condition found in 15% of men that can cause both pain and infertility. In fact, varicoceles are found in 35% of men with infertility. But what exactly is a varicocele and what causes the condition? How do you know if you have a varicocele? Do all varicoceles need treatment? How are they treated and what are the outcomes? To answer these questions and many more, we turned to a true expert. Dr. Mary Samplaski is an a...

In this episode we discuss kidney stones, a very painful condition that affects 1 out of 11 people at some point in their lives. But what causes kidney stones? Can we do anything to prevent getting them? How do we know if we have them? And when we do get them, what do we do? To answer these questions and many more we turned to a true expert. Dr. Margaret Knoedler is an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. She received her medical...

In this episode we discuss headaches, a problem that most if not all of us have had at some point in our lives. For most people, a headache is a minor inconvenience relieved with an over the counter medication. But what happens when the headache does not go away or keeps recurring? What do we do then? What can we do to avoid headaches? What home remedies and alternative therapies may be worth trying? And when is it time to see a doctor and what are the long term ...

In this episode we discuss Greenlight, a laser treatment for the urinary symptoms experienced by men due to an enlarged or obstructing prostate(BPH). In previous episodes we have covered a variety of other BPH treatment ranging from the historical gold standard (TURP) to minimally invasive surgical therapies (MIST) such as Rezum, Urolift, and iTind to more specialized treatments such as HoLEP and robotic simple prostatectomy. So how does Greenlight fit in to this spectrum of BPH t...

In this episode we discuss genomic testing for prostate cancer. Historically, decision making for the treatment of prostate cancer has been guided by factors such as abnormalities felt by a physician during a prostate examination, the level of the PSA blood test, and the microscopic appearance of cells obtained from a prostate biopsy. More recently however, DNA testing has started to play a larger and larger role. Genetic material obtained from the blood, urine and prostate itself is being an...

In this episode we discuss premature ejaculation, a problem faced by 30-40% of men at some point in their lives. But what defines premature ejaculation and, for that matter, what is considered a normal time to ejaculation? 10 minutes? 5 minutes? 1 minute? What causes premature ejaculation in men? Do all men experience premature ejaculation for the same reasons? And what, if anything, can be done to help men increase the time to ejaculation? To answer these questions an...

In this episode we discuss the Urolift procedure for the treatment of the urinary symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate (BPH). It is considered one of the so called MIST procedures -minimally invasive surgical therapies for BPH. So where does Urolift fit in amongst the various procedures we have discussed for the treatment of BPH. How does it compare to other minimally invasive procedures like Rezum and iTind? How does it stack up against more traditional surgical therapie...

In this episode we discuss testicular cancer. Being diagnosed with testicular cancer can be devastating for the nearly 10000 men found to have the disease yearly in the United States. And unlike many other cancers, testicular cancer actually affects younger rather than older men, making the diagnosis all the more traumatizing. But, in reality, testicular cancer is often considered a cancer “success story,” often resulting in a good outcome for men diagnosed early and treated...

In this episode we discuss obesity. The US is currently experiencing an epidemic of obesity, with over 40% of Americans grappling with this problem. But what is driving this obesity epidemic? Is it our Western Diet? Our sedentary lifestyles? Can obesity even be prevented or is it simply a matter of genetics? Can we overcome obesity? What has actually been shown to work? Diet? Exercise? Medications? And to what extent is obesity an expected outco...

In this episode we discuss robotic radical prostatectomy as a treatment option for prostate cancer. Over the last 20 years, robotic radical prostatectomy has become the gold standard for surgical management of prostate cancer. While the concept of robotic surgery is exciting, it also leads to a lot of questions amongst men faced with a decision as to how to treat their prostate cancer. How does the procedure actually work? Is the surgery performed by a surgeon or by a robot?...

In this episode we discuss erectile dysfunction in young men. Did you know that 1 in 4 men under the age of 40 experience erectile dysfunction. Are the erectile problems faced by these men different from the typical erectile dysfunction experienced by middle aged and older men? Is erectile dysfunction in young men caused by different underlying problems? Do these men need a different evaluation? Should they be offered different treatment options? In order to answer these que...

In this episode we discuss the Rezum procedure for the treatment of the urinary symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate (BPH). Rezum is considered one of the so called MIST procedures -minimally invasive surgical therapies for BPH. Other such procedures include UroLift and Itind. So how does Rezum compare to these other procedures as well as to more traditional surgical therapies such as TURP or laser procedures? What are the risks and benefits? How durable is th...

In this episode we discuss penile enlargement. A recent study revealed that 45% of men wish that their penises were larger. That desire is further confirmed by the multitudes of creams, medications, and procedures promising to increase the length and/or the girth of the penis. But is it actually possible to increase the size of the penis? Do any of these treatments actually work? And, if so, to what extent? What are the risks of these penile enhancement treatments?&nbs...

In this episode, we discuss prostate artery embolization for the treatment of urinary symptoms for men with an enlarged prostate, otherwise known as BPH. In recent episodes, we've discussed several procedures used to treat BPH. Now, what all these procedures have in common is that they all involve actually carving away part of the prostate that is obstructing the urinary stream. But what if I told you that a procedure exists to treat BPH that does not actually involve touching the prostate at...