Men’s Health

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Men’s Health at High Street Medical Clinic, Prahran

The doctors practising at HSMC offer comprehensive men’s health services, accommodating men of all ages and stages in life. With a focus on preventative health, they will work with you every step of the way to make sure your health is taken care of.

They offer sensitive medical care for issues specific to men including prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, and mental health. Read more about common men’s health issues in our FAQs section further down the page, and contact us any time to make an appointment.

Men running on treadmill in a gym looking after their health and fitness

Men's Health Services

Men's Health FAQs

What Causes Prostate Cancer?

The exact causes of prostate cancer are unknown. However, the chances of getting prostate cancer increase as you get older. If you have a father or brother who developed prostate cancer. The risk increases if they were diagnosed at an early age.

How common is the prostate cancer?

Although enlargement of the prostate is common in men over 45, it rarely causes trouble before 50. By the age of 55 at least 50% of men will have trouble. This increases to 80% of men over 80. Serious urinary trouble affects 2 in 10 elderly men.

What are the symptoms?

Early prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms. When symptoms do occur they may include:

  • Frequency of urination
  • An urge to urinate without much warning and waking at night with this urge
  • Difficulty starting urination and sluggish stream, especially first thing in the morning
  • A tendency to dribble after urinating
  • A need to urinate more frequently; and feeling that you are unable to empty your bladder

Diagnosing Prostate Cancer

  • PSA testing: the prostate makes an antigen; if this is detected in large numbers, it may indicate prostate cancer or other prostate problems
  • DRE: digital rectal exam, the doctor feels for enlargement and irregularities of the prostate
  • Biopsy: Tissue samples are taken from the prostate and tested for the presence of cancer.

You should talk through options and concerns with your doctor before making a choice, as treatment options may range depending on factors such as:

  • Age
  • Physical condition
  • Stage of prostate cancer
  • And personal preference

It’s Time for a Check-Up!

We focus on reducing the barriers men experience in accessing healthcare services, tackling widespread reticence amongst men to seek treatment, improving male-friendly health services, and raising awareness of preventable health issues that affect men.

  • It is important to have a regular check-up and to visit your doctor when you are feeling well, not only when you are feeling sick.
  • It is important to identify any early signs of disease as most illnesses are more easily and effectively treated if detected at an early stage.
  • It is important to identify any ‘risk factors’ which may provide advanced warning of disease risk especially heart disease.

Men’s Health Check may include the following:

  • Whole body examination – Height & Weight Check
  • Cholesterol check
  • Prostate check
  • Blood & Urine tests
  • Skin check

Many GPs practising at HSMC provide comprehensive Men’s Health Checks

What is Erectile Dysfunction?

Erectile Dysfunction (ED), also known as impotence, is the medical term for erection difficulties. Erectile Dysfunction is the inability to achieve and/or maintain an erection of sufficient quality for sexual activity or intercourse.

Erectile Dysfunction or impotence is a common sexual health issue and there is no need to be embarrassed about it. It is important to consult your doctor when experiencing erectile dysfunction for a medical check-up, because it can also be an early indicator of other health concerns. Your Doctor can give you advice on the various treatments available for erectile dysfunction.

What is Stress?

Some stress may help your body to prepare for certain challenges, so it’s probably impossible to live without any stress. But too much stress, especially if it’s day in, day out, can cause physical and emotional problems.

So that your body can respond almost instantly to challenges, many of its control mechanisms happen without you having to think about them. This involuntary control of things, such as how fast your heart beats, is achieved by a network of nerves called the autonomic nervous system. This is an essential part of the “fight or flight” response.

As well as triggering responses in muscles, such as your heart, your autonomic nervous system sends signals to your hormonal system, triggering the release of chemical messengers such as adrenaline.

These are released into your bloodstream and travel all around your body contributing to the “fight or flight” response by, for example, making you more alert, boosting your blood pressure and releasing sugars into your bloodstream. This results in a heightened – or stressed – state that prepares your body for optimum performance in dealing with the situation.

The modern stresses we face in our everyday lives – such as deadlines at work or money troubles – don’t really trigger a fight or flight response. However, they do release the same stress hormones, and this natural reaction can damage health and reduce the ability to cope.

Everyone reacts to stress differently, but there are some common effects to look out for. In times of extreme stress, people may tremble, hyperventilate (breathe faster and deeper than normal) or even vomit. For people with asthma, stress can trigger an asthma attack.

People who are chronically stressed may have:

Periods of irritability or anger
Apathy or depression
Stress
Constant anxiety
Irrational behaviour
Loss of appetite
Comfort eating
Lack of concentration
Loss of sex drive
Increased smoking, drinking, or taking recreational drugs

How is Snoring Caused?

Snoring is caused by vibrations in the upper airways from the nose to the back of the throat. It is caused by partially obstructed breathing during sleep.

What makes snoring worse?

  • Obesity
  • Old Age
  • Sleeping on your back
  • Excess alcohol
  • Neck problems
  • Various drugs especially sedatives and sleeping pills
  • Hayfever and other causes of congestion
  • Problems in the upper airways such as polyps, enlarged tonsils, a foreign body

What are the risks?

Snoring is generally harmless unless it is associated with periods of no breathing (usually 10 seconds) then it is advisable to have it assessed.

Are you battling sleep apnoea?

Sleep Apnoea is a condition characterised by ‘stopping breathing’ for more than 10 seconds at a time while asleep.

There are two types of sleep apnoea’ obstructive sleep apnoea and the less common central sleep apnoea. Diagnosis is confirmed by a ‘sleep study’.

Typical symptoms of sleep apnoea:

  • Snoring
  • Restlessness, excessive movement/kicking while asleep
  • Mouth breathing
  • Dry mouth/throat on waking
  • Thirst overnight and or on waking
  • Waking unrefreshed, daytime tiredness, foggy thinking
  • Tendency to fall asleep in meetings and in front of the TV
  • Breathlessness during exercise.

If you think you may be suffering from Sleep Apnoea don’t hesitate to speak with a general practitioner at HSMC who will arrange a series of tests, including a sleep study.

What Causes Prostate Cancer?

The exact causes of prostate cancer are unknown. However, the chances of getting prostate cancer increase as you get older. If you have a father or brother who developed prostate cancer. The risk increases if they were diagnosed at an early age.

How common is the prostate cancer?

Although enlargement of the prostate is common in men over 45, it rarely causes trouble before 50. By the age of 55 at least 50% of men will have trouble. This increases to 80% of men over 80. Serious urinary trouble affects 2 in 10 elderly men.

What are the symptoms?

Early prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms. When symptoms do occur they may include:

  • Frequency of urination
  • An urge to urinate without much warning and waking at night with this urge
  • Difficulty starting urination and sluggish stream, especially first thing in the morning
  • A tendency to dribble after urinating
  • A need to urinate more frequently; and feeling that you are unable to empty your bladder

Diagnosing Prostate Cancer

  • PSA testing: the prostate makes an antigen; if this is detected in large numbers, it may indicate prostate cancer or other prostate problems
  • DRE: digital rectal exam, the doctor feels for enlargement and irregularities of the prostate
  • Biopsy: Tissue samples are taken from the prostate and tested for the presence of cancer.

You should talk through options and concerns with your doctor before making a choice, as treatment options may range depending on factors such as:

  • Age
  • Physical condition
  • Stage of prostate cancer
  • And personal preference

It’s time for a Check-Up!

We focus on reducing the barriers men experience in accessing healthcare services, tackling widespread reticence amongst men to seek treatment, improving male-friendly health services, and raising awareness of preventable health issues that affect men.

  • It is important to have a regular check-up and to visit your doctor when you are feeling well, not only when you are feeling sick.
  • It is important to identify any early signs of disease, as most illnesses are more easily and effectively treated if detected at an early stage.
  • It is important to identify any ‘risk factors’ which may provide advanced warning of disease risk, especially heart disease.

Men’s Health Check may include the following:

  • Whole body examination – Height & Weight Check
  • Cholesterol check
  • Prostate check
  • Blood & Urine tests
  • Skin check

Many GPs practising at HSMC provide comprehensive Men’s Health Checks

What is Erectile Dysfunction?

Erectile Dysfunction (ED), also known as impotence, is the medical term for erection difficulties. Erectile Dysfunction is the inability to achieve and/or maintain an erection of sufficient quality for sexual activity or intercourse.

Erectile Dysfunction or impotence is a common sexual health issue and there is no need to be embarrassed about it. It is important to consult your doctor when experiencing erectile dysfunction for a medical check-up, because it can also be an early indicator of other health concerns. Your Doctor can give you advice on the various treatments available for erectile dysfunction.

What is Stress?

Some stress may help your body to prepare for certain challenges, so it’s probably impossible to live without any stress. But too much stress, especially if it’s day in, day out, can cause physical and emotional problems.

So that your body can respond almost instantly to challenges, many of its control mechanisms happen without you having to think about them. This involuntary control of things such as how fast your heart beats, is achieved by a network of nerves called the autonomic nervous system. This is an essential part of the “fight or flight” response.
As well as triggering responses in muscles, such as your heart, your autonomic nervous system sends signals to your hormonal system, triggering the release of chemical messengers such as adrenaline.

These are released into your bloodstream and travel all around your body contributing to the “fight or flight” response by, for example, making you more alert, boosting your blood pressure and releasing sugars into your bloodstream. This results in a heightened – or stressed – state that prepares your body for optimum performance in dealing with the situation.

The modern stresses we face in our everyday lives – such as deadlines at work or money troubles – don’t really trigger a fight or flight response. However, they do release the same stress hormones, and this natural reaction can damage health and reduce the ability to cope.

Everyone reacts to stress differently, but there are some common effects to look out for. In times of extreme stress, people may tremble, hyperventilate (breathe faster and deeper than normal) or even vomit. For people with asthma, stress can trigger an asthma attack.

People who are chronically stressed may have:

Periods of irritability or anger
Apathy or depression
Stress
Constant anxiety
Irrational behaviour
Loss of appetite
Comfort eating
Lack of concentration
Loss of sex drive
Increased smoking, drinking, or taking recreational drugs

How is Snoring Caused?

Snoring is caused by vibrations in the upper airways from the nose to the back of the throat. It is caused by partially obstructed breathing during sleep.

What makes snoring worse?

  • Obesity
  • Old Age
  • Sleeping on your back
  • Excess alcohol
  • Neck problems
  • Various drugs, especially sedatives and sleeping pills
  • Hayfever and other causes of congestion
  • Problems in the upper airways such as polyps, enlarged tonsils, a foreign body

What are the risks?

Snoring is generally harmless unless it is associated with periods of no breathing (usually 10 seconds) then it is advisable to have it assessed.

Are you battling sleep apnoea?

Sleep Apnoea is a condition characterised by ‘stopping breathing’ for more than 10 seconds at a time while asleep.

There are two types of sleep apnoea’ obstructive sleep apnoea and the less common central sleep apnoea. Diagnosis is confirmed by a ‘sleep study’.

Typical symptoms of sleep apnoea:

  • Snoring
  • Restlessness, excessive movement/kicking while asleep
  • Mouth breathing
  • Dry mouth/throat on waking
  • Thirst overnight and or on waking
  • Waking unrefreshed, daytime tiredness, foggy thinking
  • Tendency to fall asleep in meetings and in front of the TV
  • Breathlessness during exercise.

If you think you may be suffering from Sleep Apnoea don’t hesitate to speak with a general practitioner at HSMC who will arrange a series of tests, including a sleep study.

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High Street Medical Centre acknowledges the Wurundjeri people, who are the traditional custodians of the land on which we work. We pay our respects to Wurundjeri Elders past, present and future, and extend that respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We value their ongoing contribution to the cultural heritage of this land.

 

 

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