Male reproductive health--what is the GP's role?

BACKGROUND

Male reproductive health issues cause considerable morbidity, as well as mortality, in our community. Although 'women's health' has been a separate and important subject of medical interest for many years, it is only recently that the study of male health, andrology, has gained impetus as an area of research and clinical importance.

OBJECTIVE

This article outlines the current issues and recent advances in men's reproductive health.

DISCUSSION

Despite publicity in the popular press about erectile dysfunction it remains an under treated, treatable condition, with close association with increased cardiovascular risk. The advent of intracytoplasmic sperm injection has significantly improved the management of male infertility. Testicular cancer now has an excellent prognosis and, while screening for prostate cancer remains a controversial area, prostate cancer mortality appears to be declining. As general practitioners we need to keep abreast of developments in male reproductive health, know how to sensitively question our male patients about their concerns and to deal effectively with the answers we receive.