Men’s Health

The evolving nature of gender health is an emerging and fertile area for urologists. In an era of diminished resources, there is great opportunity for urologists to broaden their scope and how they interact with both their peers and their patients. Given the ominous increase in both obesity and diabetes in the United States and the increasingly recognized association between metabolic dysfunction and urologic health, there is a great opportunity for urologists to acquaint themselves better with multiple health issues from cradle to grave. For example, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and sexual dysfunction are highly prevalent in men; these associations between LUTS and sexual dysfunction are independent of age and comorbidities, such as heart disease and diabetes. Evidence linking disorders of the prostate and bladder with LUTS and sexual dysfunction is irrefutable, but the contribution of metabolic, cardiovascular, and endocrine factors cannot be discounted. What is the underlying association? Moreover, in an era where the prevalence of metabolic syndrome is increasing particularly in the face of an epidemic of obesity, where do urologists fit in?

This issue of Urologic Clinics is dedicated to exploring how we can better hone both our diagnostic and our therapeutic skills in various disorders of adolescent and aging males. Moreover, how we interact with primary care physicians to enhance the care of men will be of great benefit to our specialty. Urologists and their leadership organizations are dedicated to the promotion of and awareness of both long-term health and disease prevention and to the education of men regarding preventive intervention, healthy lifestyles, and the benefits of entering the health care system in a timely manner. Ultimately, urologists want to be both advocates and facilitators for men’s health. This includes recognizing Urology as an important specialty and the need for our specialty to adapt to changing patients, medical practice, and health care environments. I congratulate all the authors for their superb contributions and hope this issue will be of great interest and information to our readers.

Only gold members can continue reading. Log In or Register to continue