Men’s Health

In addition to regular GP services, we provide relevant advice and screening for various conditions specific to men.

 

Testicular health 

Many men experience testicular issues in their lifetime. This may include lumps, redness or discomfort. Most of these symptoms do not turn out to be cancer but it is important that you get these symptoms checked if they are persistent or bothering you.

You can make an appointment to be examined by the doctor and discuss any symptoms and they will advise on appropriate treatment and scans as needed.

You should seek URGENT medical advice for any sudden testicular pain.

 

Prostate Screening  

Many men experience symptoms related to their prostate particularly later in life.

This may include urinary symptoms such as peeing more or a change in the stream of urine. There may be a history of prostate problems in your family.

You can make an appointment with one of our doctors if you have any concerns - we can perform a prostate examination or arrange blood tests for you depending on your history and symptoms.

 

Hypertension (blood pressure checks) 

Hypertension can occur at any stage of life but is more common as we age. When our blood pressure goes up, it puts back pressure on your organs such as your heart, brain and kidneys and make you more susceptible to a heart attack or stroke. Many people experience symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, blurred vision and fatigue as a consequence of high blood pressure. It may be in your family. Factors such as smoking or increased BMI or life stress can also increase your risk of developing high blood pressure.

If you are concerned about this, we can check your blood pressure, arrange 24 hour blood pressure monitors or an ECG and can do blood tests as clinically indicated.

Please book an appointment with one of our doctors if you are concerned about your blood pressure.

 

Hypercholesterolaemia 

High cholesterol is a common finding in general practice. Many people are at risk of this if they have a family history of it or if they have a lot of fat in their diet. This can be a risk factor for heart attack and stroke. Prevention is the key in these circumstances as the earlier we diagnose and treat high cholesterol, the less likely it is to cause problems for you.

We can do blood tests for cholesterol. If you are concerned about your levels, it is best to book a doctor review and to come in fasting for bloods after this.

In our doctor review, we do a thorough history and exam looking for causes of high cholesterol or problems that may be related to high cholesterol and discuss management when your results are back.

 

Erectile dysfunction 

Erectile dysfunction means a man is unable to maintain an erect penis sufficient for satisfactory sexual intercourse. This can be due to a psychological or a physical problem and can be distressing for men. It can lead to loss of confidence as well as mood or relationship issues. It can occur in up to 40% of men at some stage in their life.

Depending on the cause, there are steps that we can take to help you. Our doctor can make an assessment and do an examination and bloods to assess you. They can then advise on potential treatment pathways.

Recognising the problem and talking about it with your doctor are the first essential steps.

 

Mental Health issues...

Psychological problems are very common in both men and women. We have a lot of experience in this area and can help you. Our mental health section provides in depth information regarding our services.

STI Screening 

We offer a full screening service for sexually transmitted infections. There are many such infections in circulation, many of which can be picked up easily by men or women. 

• Chlamydia 
• Gonorrhoea 

• Genital warts 
• Trichomonas 
• Hepatitis B 
• HIV 
• Syphilis 

• Herpes 

In many cases you may not even know you are infected and can pass on an infection to a partner without realising it. 

All our clinical staff have specific training in this area so can do all the necessary swabs and blood tests. Genital exams are offered but are not compulsory.  

Urine tests and/or a self-administered vaginal swab can be used if you do not want any physical examination.  

We provide the service with discretion and complete confidentiality and can send your samples anonymously so only your GP here can identify you, if required.  

You may find it easier to come for such testing in the privacy of a GP surgery rather than a busy public STI clinic in a hospital. 

A morning appointment is preferable, so samples reach the lab in time. 

  

If you have symptoms (discharge, pain, lumps, sores, burning on urination) please attend as soon as possible as we may be able to start you on treatment while we wait to order tests. When booking, we will ask if you are symptomatic as we must book you in with the GP if so.  

Non-symptomatic or peace of mind testing can be carried out by our Nurses.
 

If you DO NOT have symptoms and simply wish to be checked for peace of mind, please wait a minimum of 10 days and ideally for 14 days after the date of the contact that you are concerned about as any infection can be undetectable before this, making your trip to us a waste of your time and money. 

For men, please do not urinate for 1 hour before your appointment as this can affect the accuracy of any tests. 

 

Chlamydia 

Chlamydia is the most common STI in Ireland with almost half of all cases diagnosed in those aged 15-24 years. It is often asymptomatic in both sexes but particularly in females and the bacteria can travel into the womb and fallopian tubes causing chronic inflammation which may then lead to pelvic pain, infertility and an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy.  

HIV 

If you have a specific concern regarding HIV and are genuinely concerned that you could have been exposed to the virus via sexual contact with someone known to have or likely to have HIV, please do not wait.

Depending on the circumstances, you may be a candidate for a therapy called post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) if you present to hospital within 72 hours of the contact.
You will need to attend your local emergency department or hospital based STI clinic for this therapy. 

Do not book in here first as you are wasting valuable time by doing so. 

 

HPV Vaccination for men and boys 

Cervical cancer does not affect boys and men for obvious reasons but other cancers that can affect men – such as cancer of the anus, penis, head, and neck – are also linked to infection with HPV types 16 and 18.  

In addition, HPV types 6 and 11 are responsible for most genital wart infections.  

Vaccinating girls indirectly helps protect boys from these types of cancer and genital warts because vaccinated girls will not pass HPV on to them.  

Gardasil 9  

The latest version of the HPV vaccine available is Gardasil 9 which is the only vaccine that helps protect against certain cancers and diseases caused by 9 types of HPV (Types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58).  

These 9 types are responsible for most HPV-related cancers and diseases. 

Further information on Gardasil 9 is available at the manufacturer's website.   

Please click here 

 

Semen testing and Analysis 

Semen analysis is commonly referred to as a man’s ‘sperm count’ and is the most important test to determine male factor infertility. It analyses the number of sperm as well as their shape and motility and the presence of anti-sperm antibodies. A report is then generated which clearly indicates if deficiencies are present which may contribute to male subfertility.

We do not provide this service on-site but can refer you to an appropriate private clinic where testing can be done. In many clinics, this test can be arranged directly without seeing a fertility specialist in advance.

At present the public laboratory do not process semen samples as part of fertility investigations. They continue to process samples to check for the presence of sperm following vasectomy.

  

Well-Man Screening 

This requires an extended appointment and will be geared towards your age and specific complaints, considering your past medical history with a particular emphasis on diseases that affect males, eg. prostate cancer and testicular cancer screening. 

 

The medical will include: 

• Comprehensive history taking (including family history) 
• Full physical examination and urinalysis. 
• Blood tests may be done as appropriate (you should fast for 12 hours for cholesterol and diabetes screening so book an early morning appointment). 
• ECG will be done if aged over 50. 
• We also check your BMI (body mass index) and cardiac risk and advise accordingly.