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Men! It’s Time to Open Up

Men don’t typically like to talk about their health, and are often reluctant to come forward and discuss their concerns with their doctor.

Things like prostate health, prostate cancer, sexual problems and obesity can all be a cause for concern. But because men aren’t talking about them, they aren’t doing anything about them.

By opening up, asking questions, and seeing your doctor regularly for screenings and checkups, you can make sure any problems are detected early while they are easier to manage and treat.

Male Cancers

Cancers that affect men, such as prostate cancer and testicular cancer are a top concern. Yet most men aren’t aware of the signs and symptoms of these types of cancers or what they can do to prevent them.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men in the Middle East, but it is often misunderstood. The incidence of prostate cancer is increasing and regionally, many men are diagnosed at a late stage due to a lack of screening.

The good news is that there are things you can do to prevent male cancers, such as leading a healthy lifestyle and quitting smoking. And by attending regular screening, talking to your doctor about your family history, and making yourself aware of the symptoms of prostate cancer, it is more likely to be caught early when it is in the treatable or curable stages.

For men diagnosed with prostate cancer, advanced, minimally invasive and robotic-assisted procedures are now available. These procedures are more precise and less invasive, meaning fewer side effects, faster recovery and better outcomes for patients.

Sexual Health Concerns

Erectile dysfunction is a common sexual problem in men. As many as 1 in 2 men over the age of 50 will have some degree of erectile dysfunction. If you are affected by erectile dysfunction, speak up. A urologist can offer many different treatments that can fix or improve it, support your circulatory health and help improve the quality of your life.

A penile implant or penile prosthesis is a surgical option for men with erectile dysfunction, when lifestyle changes and medication haven’t worked. Penile implants, which can be semi-rigid implants or inflatables implants, don’t affect sensation and have a very high success and satisfaction rate. Learn more about penile implants here.

Low Testosterone

Testosterone plays a key role in men’s health, influencing libido, muscle mass, bone density and overall energy levels.

Low testosterone, called hypogonadism, is common in men over 40. Low testosterone symptoms include fatigue, erectile dysfunction, low libido, and more. Low testosterone can be treated with testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). Given via injections, TRT can effectively improve symptoms.

Obesity

Male obesity is a growing concern. Associated with comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, it is also linked to low testosterone levels, erectile dysfunction and reduced fertility.

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi offers a comprehensive Obesity Management Program that includes lifestyle interventions, overseen by nutritionists and psychologists with the aim of achieving sustainable weight loss by modifying eating behaviors and increasing physical activity. For those who don’t respond to lifestyle changes, weight loss medications, such as GLP-1 receptor agonists (semaglutide) can reduce appetite and promote weight loss while improving metabolic parameters.

For patients with a BMI over 40, or a BMI over 35 who are living with comorbidities, bariatric surgery may be offered. Bariatric surgeries, such as sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, can offer significant, long-term weight loss and improve obesity-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors.

Men, it’s time to talk

Men are statistically less likely than women to seek medical care. Whether its male cancer, sexual health concerns, prostate problems or obesity, our experts encourage all men to seek medical attention early.

Open up about your health concerns and talk to your doctor today.