FAQ’s

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Is dribbling of urine necessarily a sign of an enlarged prostate?

Dribbling after urinating is common both with and without an enlarged prostate. Its due to a natural pocket in the passage that tends to hold onto some urine. If the dribbling is all the time, then it could be a prostate problem.
Incontinence is complicated in men. This is usually a bit more extreme than just a small amount of dribbling after voiding.

Variations in stream deal with pressure and the exact anatomical shape of the last inch of the penis. Its like the nozzle on a garden hose. The bladder may fail to empty due to a variety of problems including prostate enlargement, muscular dysfunction, issues involving the nerves to the bladder, stones, scarring, etc. There is no easy way you can tell if all the urine is emptied, but your physician can measure it with a simple, painless ultrasound test, called a bladder scan. We routinely perform these when needed right in our office.
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A broken or bent penis is causing me pain when I ejaculate – what’s going on?

You probably have Peyronie’s disease. This can be difficult to manage. You should not attempt to handle this without a physician. We are trained in the most advanced therapies for the treatment of Peyronie’s disease, for more information visit the patient references page on this website. In this section we highlight the signs and symtpoms associate with Peyronie’s disease as well as outline the available therapies that could help resolve this condition. Or call our office and make an appointment with Dr Pinson to discuss your options.
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I have experienced  blood and clots in my urine after an erection

The erection process and erection bodies are not in continuity with the urinary system. They are in totally different areas even though they are both in the penis. Should a blood vessel break, leak or burst involving the erection process, there would be no normal way for it to reach the urinary system and create blood there. A cystoscopy (look into the passage with a telescope) to check on the lining of the urethra and bladder, would be reccomended in this situation.
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Masturbation, after which urine continues to drip after urinating. Please suggest me how to quit my habit of masturbation and suggest to me how could I control my sexual desire

Reducing or eliminating normal sexual desire is not something we are frequently asked to do. There are medications that can do this, but if you believe your sexual interests are abnormal, you should consult a mental health professional or your  family physician. We do offer clinical psychotherapy or sex therapy in our office for patients or couples with similar concerns, these service’s are offered in tandum with physical urologic care to monitor hormone levels and treat the physical needs that could be present as well. Call our office to make an appointment and discuss potential therapy options.

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Massive amount of bleeding with semen

This type of bleeding (Hematospermia) is very common and usually comes from the prostate gland. It is generally due to a tear in one of the fragile veins of the prostate gland or an inflammation of the prostate (prostatitis). Bleeding may occur during sexual excitation, ejaculation, from straining with bowel movements, or during urination. The prostate is the organ that produces the majority of the seminal fluid in response to sexual stimulation. When the prostate contracts at the time of ejaculation, a vein may tear and blood mixes with the semen (hematospermia). Red blood indicates new and dark (brownish) discoloration indicates previous or old  bleeding.
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For about a month I have had a swollen lump next to my left testicle. I am not experiencing pain. I have checked out a lot of stuff online and they have said information about cancer or a tumor and I have been scared to visit a doctor.

In evaluating lumps in the scrotum, is important to differentiate those that are extra-testicular, (originating from the contents of the scrotum but not actually from the testicle) from those that are originating from the testicle per se. The former are very common and almost always benign. Your description suggests that your problem falls into this category. Such examples would include hernia, varicocele, epididymal cyst, spermatocele, hydrocele, etc. After a vasectomy, a small, sensitive mass can develop at the site of surgery called a spermatic granuloma. There also exists a small embryonic remnant on the upper pole and the testicle and another on the head of the epididymis. These are called the appendix testis (also know as the hydatid of Morgagni) and the appendix epididymis respectively. None of the requires treatment and they are generally painless. The one exception is that occasionally the appendix can twist (torsion) and shut off its blood supply. This produces a painful nodule that gradually disappears in a week or so. Sometimes they are removed surgically if one cannot differentiate them from torsion of the testicle.

Testicular lesions can also be benign, the most common of these being a tunica albuginea cyst which characteristically is smooth, round, painless and rarely more than 5mm in size. All other masses of the testicle are to be considered tumor until proven otherwise. A urologist can usually differentiate between the various lesions on physical examination. An ultrasound of the scrotum will generally be done if the diagnosis is not obvious or there is concern about tumor.

Lumps in the scrotum or testicle should be evaluated by a doctor as soon as possible. To avoid potential long term affects from treatable conditions.

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Definitions