F.A.Q.
In this section you will find answers to the most common questions on topics of andrology and men’s health.
Click on each question to view the answer.
The information provided will help you clarify doubts and better understand the issues addressed by Prof. Mondaini.
The presence of blood in the urine is called hematuria and must always be evaluated with great attention, particularly when the patient sees red or pink urine with their own eyes (macrohematuria).
Conversely, the urine may have a normal color, but a urine test can identify traces of blood (microhematuria).
You should always consult a doctor in the presence of hematuria. The most frequent causes include urinary tract stones, infections, but also tumors.
Typically, a patient reporting hematuria is evaluated with laboratory tests, urinary cytology, ultrasound of the urinary tract, or flexible cystoscopy.
It is always necessary to exclude the presence of a tumor in the urinary tract, and to do this, laboratory tests, ultrasound of the urinary tract, urinary cytology, and/or cystoscopy are required.
PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) is the main marker for prostate cancer. It is now considered that every man starting from the age of 50 (from 40 years old if there are already cases of prostate cancer in the family) should perform the PSA test once a year. Normal levels are typically considered below 2.5 ng/ml.
The PSA can rise above this limit due to inflammation of the prostate (prostatitis), benign enlargement (benign prostatic hyperplasia or prostatic adenoma), or a tumor.
If there is even a small suspicion of prostate cancer, it is necessary to perform a prostate biopsy, an examination that today is completely painless and is carried out on an outpatient basis. Such decisions must be made by a urologist.
A prostate biopsy involves performing a series of micro-samples of tissue from the prostate itself to exclude the presence of a tumor. It is always performed under transrectal ultrasound guidance and with the use of local anesthesia to make the procedure painless.
It is important to perform at least 12 prostate samples to ensure a complete “mapping” of the prostate.
The number of samples also depends on prostate volume: the larger the prostate, the more samples are taken. In my personal experience, patients undergo between 18 and 24 samples, depending on the cases.
It is important to perform antibiotic prophylaxis, which is continued for about a week. The procedure is almost always performed on an outpatient basis, except for patients using anticoagulant therapy and those who need to undergo biopsy under anesthesia.
PCA3 is a urine test that is performed immediately after the urologist specialist has conducted a prostate massage during a rectal examination. The test searches for a specific gene associated with prostate cancer. Prostate biopsy remains to this day the gold standard in the diagnosis of prostate cancer.
No. If no particular complications occur, these types of surgeries do not directly interfere with sexual function. The only very common complication is retrograde ejaculation.
The answer is complex: today we know that after a nerve-sparing prostatectomy, there is about a 50% chance of having a valid erection with the help of certain medications (Cialis, Levitra, Viagra). In the remaining 50%, prostaglandins can be used via injection directly into the cavernous bodies of the penis with a success rate of around 90%. Patients who do not respond to medical therapies can resolve the problem by having a penile prosthesis implanted.
Absolutely not, their interaction with those who use nitrates is the only absolute contraindication.
Yes, the penis can break and it is an event that requires immediate intervention. In case of penile rupture, go immediately to the emergency room.
Yes, the penis can break and it is an event that requires immediate intervention. In case of penile rupture, go immediately to the emergency room.
a) No symptoms: This is the most common situation; varicocele is discovered by chance during a visit performed for another reason;
b) Testicular pain: The testicle feels heavy and painful, especially when standing for many hours or during physical exertion;
c) Infertility: Often, infertility is the initial symptom; the couple begins infertility investigations and a varicocele is discovered.
