Men’s Health

Introduction to Men's Health

man holding groin region When discussing men’s health we are focusing on the issues surrounding and pertaining to the male reproductive system.

Whether hormonal imbalances, stress-related health conditions, erectile issues, prostate health, enhancement of one’s overall health, and physical endurance, it is important to keep each individual’s needs in mind. A survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control demonstrated that 27% of men (as compared to 14% of women) had no visits to a doctor or other health professional in the past 12 months.

Typically men do not find it easy to see a doctor and discuss their health concerns and share their emotions openly. Often they are aware of symptoms but do not reach out to see a health professional until they have become more serious. An aspect of this is due to male bravado and having to be strong and not show weakness. It is especially difficult for men to discuss issues related to sexual dysfunction, bowel-related problems and emotional concerns.

Understanding Men’s Health

male sperm levels low The purpose of the organs of the male reproductive system is to perform the following functions:

To produce, maintain, and transport sperm (the male reproductive cells) and protective fluid (semen)
To discharge sperm within the female reproductive tract during sex
To produce and secrete male sex hormones responsible for maintaining the male reproductive system

The prostate gland is a walnut-sized structure that is located below the urinary bladder in front of the rectum. The prostate gland contributes additional fluid to the ejaculate. Prostate fluids also help to nourish the sperm. The urethra, which carries the ejaculate to be expelled during orgasm, runs through the centre of the prostate gland.

The entire male reproductive system is dependent on hormones, which are chemicals that regulate the activity of many different types of cells or organs. The primary hormones involved in the male reproductive system are follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone.

Follicle-stimulating hormone is necessary for sperm production (spermatogenesis), and luteinizing hormone stimulates the production of testosterone, which is also needed to make sperm. Testosterone is responsible for the development of male characteristics, including muscle mass and strength, fat distribution, bone mass, facial hair growth, voice change, and sex drive.

When these hormones become out of balance due to a wide range of reasons including physical, mental and spiritual reasons illness can ensue.

Signs and Symptoms of Poor Men’s Health

If you feel that your male reproductive system is under stress who may be experience one or more of the following symptoms below:

Blood in Urine
Weak erection
Difficulty/Straining urinating
Pain while urinating
Frequent urination
Urgent urination
Semen leakage
Low sperm count
Lump in one testis
Build-up of fluid in the scrotum

Also, here are some common pathologies related to the male reproductive system:

Benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH)
Enlarged Prostate
Epididymitis
Erectile Dysfunction (ED)
Male Infertility
Penis Problems
Prostate Cancer
Testicular Cancer

Prostate – PSA Levels and Healthy Function

blue ribbon prostate health Enlargement of the prostate is a common concern as men age. This condition is called benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). While this is not a dangerous condition, it can be very uncomfortable and disruptive for men. Taking a holistic approach helps to relieve these symptoms by addressing the root cause.

Often it is hormone imbalances that cause prostate enlargement. Prostate tissue responds to high levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) circulating in the body. Prostate-Specific-Antigen (PSA) is a protein produced by normal cells in the prostate and also by prostate cancer cells. It’s normal to have a small amount of PSA in your blood, and the amount rises slightly as you get older and your prostate gets bigger. A raised PSA level may suggest you have a problem with your prostate, but not necessarily cancer.

Getting a PSA test through your GP, which is a blood test that measures the amount of Prostate-Specific-Antigen (PSA) in your blood, is an important part of the diagnosis process.

Mental and Spiritual Aspects to Men’s Health

Often when we see issues with Men’s health there is an imbalance between the male and feminine qualities within a man. Culturally, men were raised to be tough and endure the roughest of circumstances. As a result during childhood, you may not have been allowed to cry, complain or express feelings as this would have been seen as weakness. This often leads to suppressed emotions within the body and as they continue to build over the years they start to manifest into the body initially as symptoms but progressing into a more serious condition.

Often with prostate issues, there can be themes of being held back in some form of creativity and spirituality. You may feel suppressed by a dominant partner who resembles a dominant parent. Your masculinity and what you stand for may have been challenged by certain circumstances which result in a great deal of anger, rage or resentment.

All these aspects need to be explored openly in order to get to the emotional root cause. Techniques such as the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) and Matrix Reimprinting are very powerful tools in helping work with these emotions or traumatic memories by clearing the energy behind them. Once the energy has been cleared health returns to the body.

Transforming your Men’s Health Concerns

man experiencing happiness There are many factors involved when looking at men’s health and why the body may not be functioning optimally. These require investigating holistically and the individual needs to be assessed as a whole to truly determine the root cause(s).

Adjusting your nutritional intake and lifestyle habits, supporting mental well-being as well as assessing your spiritual wellbeing will play a crucial role in getting your symptoms back into balance.

Everyone is individual and therefore there is no one size fits all approach when it comes to health. It is important to get a health plan tailored to your needs, symptoms and life circumstances.

At Higher Healing, being qualified in Naturopathy, Nutrition, Emotional Freedom and Matrix Reimprinting we have a truly holistic offering to provide the right support to transform your health. We also are able to offer private functional testing to assess in detail imbalances within the body to give you a clear picture of your health.

Our wish is for you to reach a higher level of healing, so you are able to transform your health. It is possible and you can do it. Start by taking the first step, get in touch to see how Higher Healing can help.