Bedwetting

In most cases, a child’s bedwetting before age 7 is not a big concern. At this age, he/she may still be developing nighttime bladder control. However, if a child is still wetting the bed at 8 years old or older, it may be a sign of an underlying condition such as ADHD, an infection, diabetes, constipation, sleep apnea or a problem with the urinary tract. If there is no medical problem that needs to be addressed, moisture alarms, medication and limiting fluids in the evening can help.

Erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction, or ED, is a man’s inability to achieve or sustain an erection for sexual intercourse. There are many factors that can cause ED, such as medications, chronic illness, poor blood flow to the penis, cigarette smoking, drinking too much alcohol or simply being too tired. Simple lifestyle changes can help ED, including losing weight, drinking less alcohol, quitting smoking, medication, regular exercise and eating certain foods. Testosterone replacement therapy, penile implants and surgery are other options.

Kidney stones

Kidney stones are hard deposits made of minerals and salts that form inside your kidneys. Many things can cause them and they can affect any part of the urinary tract, from the kidneys to the bladder. Often, stones form when urine becomes concentrated, allowing minerals to crystallize and stick together. Passing kidney stones can be quite painful, but they usually cause no permanent damage if they're recognized early. If stones become lodged in the urinary tract, are associated with a urinary infection or cause complications, surgery may be needed.

Prostate cancer screening

The two main screening tests for prostate cancer are the PSA test (a blood test which measures prostate-specific antigen in the prostate gland) and a digital rectal exam (less effective than the PSA test but sometimes successful in detecting cancer in men with normal PSA levels). Prostate cancer screening is an important topic to discuss with your physician. Annual prostate cancer screening can sometimes miss or misdiagnose cancer, has not been shown to help men live longer, and causes some men to undergo cancer treatment which can have serious side effects. For these reasons, prostate screening is a decision that each man should make after having all the information available.

Urinary incontinence

Urinary incontinence (loss of bladder control) can range from leaking urine when a person coughs or sneezes to having an urge to urinate that’s so sudden and strong that they often can’t get to a toilet in time. Factors that increase the risk of developing urinary incontinence include being female, age, being overweight and diseases such as diabetes. For most people, simple lifestyle changes and/or medical treatment can decrease (or even stop) the discomfort of incontinence without having to resort to surgery, but for others, surgery is the best option.

Urinary tract infections

A urinary tract infection (UTI), more common in women than in men, develops when bacteria get pushed into the urethra or when bacteria that is already in the bladder multiply. Although some women are more prone to UTIs, most women can avoid them by drinking plenty of fluids, emptying the bladder after sex, wearing breathable underwear, changing out of sweaty workout clothes and bathing suits immediately, and eating probiotics. To get rid of a UTI, antibiotics are needed, particularly if a person has 3 or more of them a year.

Vasectomy

Nearly 100% effective in preventing pregnancy, vasectomy is a form of male birth control that stops the supply of sperm to the semen. Performed by cutting and sealing the tubes that carry sperm, vasectomy has a low risk of problems and can usually be performed in an outpatient setting under local anesthesia. Although reversals are possible, vasectomy should be considered a permanent form of male birth control and used as an option for men who do not want to father children.