So much of a man's physical characteristics are affected by testosterone levels. And Dr. Landon Trost, a Mayo Clinic urologist, says a drop in testosterone level can cause a long list of side effects.

In this Mayo Clinic Minute, Dr. Trost explains what is considered a low testosterone value, how low testosterone can affect men's bodies, and why treating low testosterone does not always produce the results some men hope for.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg (0:59) is in the downloads at the end of the post.
Please "Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

Testosterone is the hormone most associated with masculinity.

"Everything from a deepening of voice, to muscles, to different characteristics on the jaw and so on, often are related to testosterone," says Dr. Trost.

He says, as men age, their testosterone levels tend to drop, causing a long list of possible symptoms, including decreased energy and sexual function, weight gain and muscle loss. But exactly what level is considered low testosterone, commonly referred to as "low T," depends on a lot of factors, including age. In general, Dr. Trost says a testosterone value of less than 300 nanograms per deciliter is considered below normal.

There are plenty of treatment options, from alternative agents to testosterone compounds, but all of them come with a risk of side effects, such as blood that is too thick. Dr. Trost says men who think they might have low testosterone should see their primary care provider to be tested, but it's important to remember there's only so much testosterone therapy can do.

"It won't improve all men," says Dr. Trost. "And it'll be a modest improvement in those that it does improve. So it's not a miracle cure or miracle drug."

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: Low testosterone levels can affect men appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Vasectomy reversal reconnects each tube (vas deferens) that carries sperm from a testicle into the semen. After a successful vasectomy reversal, sperm are again present in the semen, and you may be able to get your partner pregnant.Almost all vasectomies can be reversed. However, this doesn't guarantee success in conceiving a child. Pregnancy rates after vasectomy reversal will range from about 30 percent to over 90 percent, depending on the type of procedure.

Many factors affect whether a reversal is successful in achieving pregnancy, including time since a vasectomy, partner age, surgeon experience and training, and whether or not you had fertility issues before your vasectomy. The longer it has been since the vasectomy, the less likely it is that the reversal will work.

Vasectomy reversal rarely leads to serious complications but some risks include:

• Bleeding within the scrotum.
  This can lead to a collection of blood (hematoma) that causes painful swelling. You can reduce the risk of hematoma by following your health care provider's instructions to rest, use scrotal support and apply ice packs after surgery. Ask your health care provider if you need to avoid aspirin or other types of blood-thinning medication before and after surgery.
• Infection at the surgery site.
  Although very uncommon, infections are a risk with any surgery and may require treatment with antibiotics.
• Chronic pain.
  Persistent pain after vasectomy reversal is uncommon.

Dr. Landon Trost, a Mayo Clinic specialist in male infertility and andrology, provides a general overview on vasectomy reversal.

Learn more about vasectomy reversal services

Watch: Dr. Trost gives an overview of a vasectomy reversal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dStgbp3NzT0
Learn more about vasectomy reversal and men's health issues on Mayo Clinic Connect.

This article is written by Mayo Clinic staff. Find more health and medical information on mayoclinic.org.

The post There are a number of reasons for a vasectomy reversal appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers, as it typically spreads rapidly to nearby organs, and it is seldom detected in its early stages. The five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer is just above 8 percent, but new treatment options are improving those numbers.

On the next Mayo Clinic Radio program, Dr. Mark Truty, a general surgeon at Mayo Clinic, will discuss pancreatic cancer and explain the new treatment protocol that is offering hope. Also on the program, Dr. Matthew Callstrom, a radiologist at Mayo Clinic, will discuss how tumor ablation can be used to treat solid cancers. And Dr. Landon Trost, a urologist at Mayo Clinic, will share what you need to know about biopsies for prostate cancer.

Here's your Mayo Clinic Radio podcast.

The post Pancreatic cancer / tumor ablation / biopsies for prostate cancer: Mayo Clinic Radio appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers, as it typically spreads rapidly to nearby organs, and it is seldom detected in its early stages. The five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer is just above 8 percent, but new treatment options are improving those numbers.

On the next Mayo Clinic Radio program, Dr. Mark Truty, a general surgeon at Mayo Clinic, will discuss pancreatic cancer and explain the new treatment protocol that is offering hope. Also on the program, Dr. Matthew Callstrom, a radiologist at Mayo Clinic, will discuss how tumor ablation can be used to treat solid cancers. And Dr. Landon Trost, a urologist at Mayo Clinic, will share what you need to know about biopsies for prostate cancer.

To hear the program, find an affiliate in your area.

Use the hashtag #MayoClinicRadio, and tweet your questions.

Mayo Clinic Radio is on iHeartRadio.

Access archived shows or subscribe to the podcast.

Mayo Clinic Radio produces a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic.

The post Mayo Clinic Radio: Improving pancreatic cancer treatments appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers, as it typically spreads rapidly to nearby organs, and it is seldom detected in its early stages. The five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer is just above 8 percent, but new treatment options are improving those numbers.

On the next Mayo Clinic Radio program, Dr. Mark Truty, a general surgeon at Mayo Clinic, will discuss pancreatic cancer and explain the new treatment protocol that is offering hope. Also on the program, Dr. Matthew Callstrom, a radiologist at Mayo Clinic, will discuss how tumor ablation can be used to treat solid cancers. And Dr. Landon Trost, a urologist at Mayo Clinic, will share what you need to know about biopsies for prostate cancer.

To hear the program, find an affiliate in your area.

Miss the show?  Here's your Mayo Clinic Radio podcast.

Use the hashtag #MayoClinicRadio, and tweet your questions.

Mayo Clinic Radio is on iHeartRadio.

Access archived shows or subscribe to the podcast.

Mayo Clinic Radio produces a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic.

The post Mayo Clinic Radio: Pancreatic cancer / tumor ablation / biopsies for prostate cancer appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

So much of a man's physical characteristics are affected by testosterone levels. And Dr. Landon Trost, a Mayo Clinic urologist, says a drop in testosterone level can cause a long list of side effects.

In this Mayo Clinic Minute, Dr. Trost explains what is considered a low testosterone value, how low testosterone can affect men's bodies, and why treating low testosterone does not always produce the results some men hope for. Ian Roth reports.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg (0:59) is in the downloads. Read the script.

Testosterone is the hormone most associated with masculinity.

"Everything from a deepening of voice, to muscles, to different characteristics on the jaw and so on, often are related to testosterone," says Dr. Trost.

He says, as men age, their testosterone levels tend to drop, causing a long list of possible symptoms, including decreased energy and sexual function, weight gain and muscle loss. But exactly what level is considered low testosterone, commonly referred to as "low T," depends on a lot of factors, including age. In general, Dr. Trost says a testosterone value of less than 300 nanograms per deciliter is considered below normal.

There are plenty of treatment options, from alternative agents to testosterone compounds, but all of them come with a risk of side effects, such as blood that is too thick. Dr. Trost says men who think they might have low testosterone should see their primary care provider to be tested, but it's important to remember there's only so much testosterone therapy can do.

"It won't improve all men," says Dr. Trost. "And it'll be a modest improvement in those that it does improve. So it's not a miracle cure or miracle drug."

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: Men and testosterone appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

On this week's Mayo Clinic Radio program, Dr. Landon Trost, a urologist at Mayo Clinic, will discuss two common men’s health topics: prostate cancer screening and what can be done about low testosterone. Also on the program, Dr. Bobbit Pritt, a parasitologist at Mayo Clinic, will cover common tick-borne diseases and how to prevent them. And Dan Gaz, an exercise specialist with the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program, will explain how knowing your numbers can help you get the whole picture on your health.

To hear the program, find an affiliate in your area.

Use the hashtag #MayoClinicRadio, and tweet your questions.

Mayo Clinic Radio is on iHeartRadio.

Access archived shows or subscribe to the podcast.

Mayo Clinic Radio produces a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic.

The post Mayo Clinic Radio: Men’s Health Month appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

On this week's Mayo Clinic Radio program, Dr. Landon Trost, a urologist at Mayo Clinic, will discuss two common men’s health topics: prostate cancer screening and what can be done about low testosterone. Also on the program, Dr. Bobbit Pritt, a parasitologist at Mayo Clinic, will cover common tick-borne diseases and how to prevent them. And Dan Gaz, an exercise specialist with the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program, will explain how knowing your numbers can help you get the whole picture on your health.

To hear the program, find an affiliate in your area.

Miss the show?  Here's your Mayo Clinic Radio podcast.

Use the hashtag #MayoClinicRadio, and tweet your questions.

Mayo Clinic Radio is on iHeartRadio.

Access archived shows or subscribe to the podcast.

Mayo Clinic Radio produces a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic.

The post Mayo Clinic Radio: Men’s Health Month / tick-borne diseases / know your numbers appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Are the advertised herbal supplements for erectile dysfunction, or ED, just as effective as the actual drug? Are they safer because they’re natural? Can there be side effects from these supplements?

ANSWER: Be cautious about using any herbal supplement. Those products aren’t held to the same standards as prescriptions or over-the-counter medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA. As a result, there’s no way to know which are effective or safe. Some dangerous side effects have been linked to herbal supplements that claim to be natural forms of the prescription drugs that treat ED.

Herbal products that claim to treat ED often are marketed as “herbal Viagra.” Viagra is one of the brand names for the medication sildenafil. Sildenafil belongs to a group of medicines called phosphodiesterase 5, or PDE5, inhibitors. These medicines block an enzyme known as phosphodiesterase type-5 from working too quickly in the body and breaking down an erection.

Before taking sildenafil or other medications to treat ED, it’s important to be evaluated by a health care provider to ensure an oral medication is an appropriate ED treatment for you. In some cases, ED can be a sign of another medical condition, or it might be a side effect from a medication. In those situations, treating the underlying condition or switching to a different medication may be all you need to relieve ED.

Also, ED pills don’t work for everyone. For example, some men who have had prostate surgery or those who have diabetes may not benefit from these drugs. In rare cases, ED medications can be dangerous. Because of the potential for serious side effects, usually they are not recommended for men who take nitrate drugs, such as nitroglycerin, isosorbide mononitrate and isosorbide dinitrate.

If you use a product that’s touted as an herbal ED treatment, you won’t have an opportunity to review your medical history with a health care provider, and weigh the risks and benefits of treatment. You also won’t know exactly what’s in the pill you’re taking.

The FDA regulates prescription and over-the-counter medications in the U.S., ensuring they meet strict safety standards before they can be sold to the public. The FDA does not, however, have a role in approving the safety or effectiveness of herbal supplements. Instead, if there are concerns about an herbal product, the FDA must prove it’s unsafe before it comes off the market — the opposite of the process that FDA-approved medications undergo.

Certain herbal supplements marketed to treat ED appear to contain substances similar to prescription ED medications. But there have been serious side effects linked to some of these products, including triggering dangerously low blood pressure in some men. Other herbal supplements have been pulled from the market because they contained additional prescription medications not identified on the packaging and unknown amounts of other unidentified ingredients.

Although herbal alternatives may be less expensive and more convenient to purchase than prescription ED medications, there is no guarantee these products are safe or effective. At this time, there are no FDA-approved ED medications available without a prescription. If you are concerned about erectile dysfunction, make an appointment to see your health care provider to have your condition evaluated and decide on a treatment plan that’s right for you. — Dr. Landon Trost, Urology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota

The post Mayo Clinic Q and A: Treating erectile dysfunction safely appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg (1:00) is in the downloads. Read the script.

Having children can sometimes be a crapshoot. Some couples achieve pregnancy on the first try, while other can try for years with no success.

Mayo Clinic urologist and fertility specialist Dr. Landon Trost says there are things men can do to improve their odds.

"In general, the lower the sperm count, typically, the harder time you'll have to achieve a pregnancy," Dr. Trost says.

He says you can now get over-the-counter sperm count tests. Ideally, you want more than 55 million sperm.

To improve your sperm count, he says lay off tobacco and alcohol. They can have a modest impact.

You should definitely avoid drugs like cocaine and marijuana, as they can significantly decrease your sperm count.

Some legal drugs can too.

"So, either prescription medicines, or even ones that you can now get over the counter for reflux diseases or heartburn-type conditions," Dr. Trost says. "Those often impair fertility as well."

The best thing you can do is improve your overall health.

"Getting yourself, of course, in the best fitness, in shape and losing weight, those probably have some impact, as well," Dr. Trost says.

He says men should also consider intriguing new research about the impact of a person's choices on their future children.

"So, you may still be able to achieve a pregnancy, but if you take high levels of alcohol, for example, or are morbidly obese or other things, you children often will face some of those same issues," Dr. Trost says.

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: What men need to know about planning a family appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.