Time for a checkup? Cleveland Clinic provides the routine care men need.

It’s no secret: Statistically, men are much less likely than women to seek medical care. However, health issues can develop and it’s important for men to consult with their physician if they suspect something is not quite right.

“It’s important for men to seek medical care and deal with issues associated with the prostate, and other urologic concerns, sooner than later. Symptoms may disappear over time, but the underlying cause of the issues may still be there,” explains Ramesh Krishnamurthi, MD, urologist and men’s health specialist at Cleveland Clinic Medina Medical Office Building & Strongsville Family Health & Surgery Center.

Dr. Krishnamurthi says some of the most common health problems men face relate to sexual function and urination. These issues may be early warning signs of something more serious — trouble getting or keeping an erection can be a sign of heart disease and waking up at night to urinate can be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea.

When to see a doctor

Men’s health conditions often share the same signs and symptoms. Although there may be a simple explanation and an easy fix, there’s a chance that you could need treatment before something gets worse.

Dr. Krishnamurthi recommends seeing a doctor whenever you have:
  • Blood in your urine or semen.
  • Urination problems, including pain or burning, a need to go all the time, difficulty getting started, or a weak flow.
  • New or worsening erectile dysfunction.
  • Painful ejaculation.
  • Changes or pain in your testicles or penis, including swelling, hardness, a lump or a feeling of heaviness.
  • Ongoing pain or stiffness in your lower back, hips or legs.
  • Low energy or sex drive (libido).
  • Penile curvature.

20-0667-EndometriosisEastAdvertisingLP-Side-Image-01.jpg

Listen to your body. It may be giving you advance warning of something more serious.


Your body’s maintenance schedule

“Your body is just like a car or home heating system — it needs routine maintenance. Routine checkups are necessary to ensure that your body is working as it should be,” says Brandon Mooney, PA-C, a urology and men’s health provider at Wooster Milltown Specialty & Surgery Center and Strongsville Family Health & Surgery Center.

If you’re a man 40 or older, seeing a urologist regularly is most likely the last thing on your mind when you have a million other things to take care of. But as you go through your 40s, quality-of-life issues become more important. A men’s health expert can help guide you on what to expect, useful lifestyle changes, when to simply observe and when to treat a problem.

For men, routine health maintenance includes:

  • Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing. A PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test is a blood test that helps healthcare providers diagnose and manage prostate cancer. If you have elevated PSA levels, you may need additional testing.
  • Self-exam of testicles. Men ages 15-35 should do self-exams once a month. Do it in the shower or in bed when your scrotum skin is warm and relaxed. Roll each testicle between your thumb and fingers, feeling for any hard lumps that feel like rocks.
  • Vaccinations. Protect yourself from the flu, meningitis, pneumonia, shingles, sexually transmitted diseases and more. Your doctor can advise you on the vaccinations you need.
  • Annual physical exam. Make sure to tell your doctor how you are feeling, what is bothering you and what symptoms you are having.


Don’t ignore the symptoms

Even minor symptoms that you only notice once can be the sign of something serious. If a simple visit to the bathroom has you seeing red, don’t ignore it.

“Blood in the urine — whether it’s slightly pink, brown or bright red — is a signal that something is wrong,” says Fabrice Henry, MD, a urologist and kidney stone specialist at Medina Medical Office Building. "While it doesn’t always mean something serious, several serious things can cause it. And that means you should contact your doctor right away.”

Though blood in the urine most often comes from a benign condition like kidney stones, enlarged prostate or a urinary tract infection, it also can signal bladder or kidney cancer.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and is silent in its early stages. For most, the cancer grows very slowly. Symptoms — such as trouble urinating or feeling like you always need to urinate, particularly at night — start later.

While not as common, testicular cancer also is one of the top cancers in men. The earlier you get care, the better. Testicular cancer is curable in 95% of cases — 98% if treated early.

“It’s important to note,” says Dr. Henry, “that while blood in your urine may be a symptom of cancer, it’s most often a sign of a noncancerous condition, like those mentioned above. Should it be bladder cancer or another serious condition, any delay in treatment greatly compromises treatment and cure rate.” 
Learn More from our Experts
Make an Appointment
Learn More about Virtual Visits

Ohio’s top urology experts care for you, so you can care for it all.

To schedule an appointment, call 216.444.5600


You're Invited! 

Join free online health talks with urology experts from Cleveland Clinic. From urologic cancers and survivorship after treatment to erectile dysfunction and BPH, our experts are here to help.

Sign up to receive invitations to upcoming online health talks!

SIGN UP