Diseases and Disorders of

the
Male Reproductive
System
Nursing Care of Male and Female Clients with General and Specific
Problems in Reproduction and Sexuality
Diseases and Disorders of the
Male Reproductive System
Diseases and Disorders of the
Male Reproductive System

• Diseases and disorders of the male reproductive

system include different diseases, infections and
dysfunction in various organs in the male reproductive
system. It can range from mild inflammation to
reduced fertility in men. Most of the disorders in the
male reproductive system are associated with the
fluctuation of the sex hormone testosterone. In
addition to this, however, other risk factors like age,
family history, lifestyle, and consumption of different
drugs are also associated with such disorders.
Penis

Infection of penis
• The inflammation of the glans and
prepuce is often related to poor
personal hygiene.
• In case of non-specific infection, also
called balanitis, there is a high chance
of the infection becoming chronic
which might lead to fibrosis of the skin
around the penis.
 Penis

Erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is a sexual disorder in a
mature, sexually active male to develop or
maintain an erection. It is found that this
disorder occurs in 40% of males, occasionally.
An erection in men is achieved when the
columns of spongy muscles in the penis become
engorged with blood so anything that hampers
the flow of blood to these muscles can be a
cause of this dysfunction.
Besides, different surgical procedures might
remove necessary structures required to develop
an erection like the blood supply or the nerves.
Erectile dysfunction

• Erectile dysfunction is often associated

with the treatment of prostate cancer,
even though the prostate gland is not
necessary for an erection.
• In many cases, the cause of erectile
dysfunction is lower self-esteem and
anxiety related to sex.
• Erectile dysfunction in men often results in
psychological trauma in the man and his
partners. Many cases of ED are not reported
due to embarrassment among men.
Urethra Infection

• Gonococcal urethritis is a common

specific infection of the urethra. Non-
specific infection from the bladder
(cystitis) and during surgery is also
possible.
• Both of these infections spread out to
other organs like epididymis,
prostate, seminal vesicles, and
testes.
• If the infection becomes chronic, it
causes fibrosis in the urethra, which
obstructs the urethra resulting in the
retention of urine.
Epididymis and Testes Infection

• Infections in the epididymis and the

testes occur through the spread of
infection from the urethra. The
microbes either pass through the vas
deferens or lymph.
• Specific epididymitis occurs through
the spread of gonorrhea from the
urethra.
• Orchitis or testicular infection occurs
due to the mumps virus originating
from the parotid gland. Oedema is seen
following the parotid swelling, and if
the infection becomes bilateral, it
might affect the seminiferous tubules
and lead to sterility.
Undescended testis (cryptorchidism)

• In the embryonic stage, the testes

are present in the abdominal
cavity, and they drop to the
scrotal sac by birth. However, if
this process fails to happen and
the condition is not corrected, it
leads to infertility and an
increased risk of testicular
cancer.
Hydrocele

• A hydrocele is a fluid-filled space in the

testes that leads to swelling. It is a
common type of scrotal swelling and
might be acute and painful or chronic.
• It causes discomfort and pain in the
scrotal region.
• It might arise in the testes or might be
secondary due to other infections or
disorders.
 Testicular tumors

• Testicular tumors mostly occur in children and

young men and are the most prevalent
malignancies in young men. Most of these are
malignant and might spread to other organs and
regions.
• Most of the tumors result due to cryptorchidism
where the testes do not descend to the scrotal sac
at the time of birth.
• Testicular tumors are characterized by the
formation of lumps in the testes, which are mostly
painless. These lumps result in a feeling of
heaviness in the scrotum and might spread to other
organs through lymph or blood.
Prostate gland Infection

• Acute prostatitis is a non-specific

infection that usually occurs when
the infection in other parts spreads to
the prostate gland after cystoscopy or
surgery where a part of the gland is
removed.
• In the case of chronic infection,
fibrosis of the gland occurs which
might lead to obstruction of the
urethra.
 Benign prostatic enlargement

• Nodules appear in the prostate which causes

swelling of the prostate gland. This swelling, in
turn, obstructs the passage of urine and causes
retention of urine in the bladder.
• This retention causes infection f the bladder, which
might spread to other regions and cause other
complications.
• Prostate enlargement is commonly associated with
older men and is seen in 70% of men aged above 70.
The specific cause is not known, but it is assumed to
be associated with the acceleration of the aging
process and decline in androgen secretion.
Malignant prostatic tumors

• Prostate cancer is one of the most

common cancers in men and is also
the second leading cause of cancer
deaths in men.
• Prostate cancer occurs when the
glandular cells mutate into tumor
cells. The cause is not yet known, but
the androgen-estrogen imbalance may
be significant, or viruses may be
involved.
Malignant prostatic tumors

• If undetected, these tumor cells might

affect the nearby organs like the
seminal vesicles, or they might
metastasize and travel in the
bloodstream to other parts of the
body.
• Most commonly, the metastases reach
the bones and lymph nodes among
other organs. Lumbar vertebrae are a
common site for metastases.
• Prostate tumors affect the flow of
urine in the urethra, leading to
frequent urination, painful urination,
and blood in the urine.