Male Reproductive Disorders

Urinary tract infections can occur in the upper or lower areas of the urinary system. The urinary system includes the bladder and kidneys. Upper urinary tract infections (UTIs) occur in the kidney and often have similar symptoms as lower UTIs that occur in the bladder. Similar symptoms are frequent urination of small volume that is painful and can progress into a fever. A key difference however, is that upper UTIs can result in severe and possibly life-threatening kidney infections and thus people may experience pain in the flank area along with vomiting and nausea (Huether & McCance, ).

Maintaining the theme of the urinary system, a male reproductive system disorder that is common is urethritis. “Urethritis is an inflammatory process that usually, not always caused by a sexually transmitted organism. Infectious urethritis caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae is often called gonococcal urethritis” (Huether & McCance, 2015, p. 855). Additionally, there are nonsexual origins for the disorder that can be caused by urologic procedures, anatomic abnormalities, trauma, or insertion of foreign bodies into urethra. Symptoms for the disorder include, “urethral tingling or itching or a burning sensation, and frequency and urgency with urination…may note a purulent or clear mucous like discharge from urethra” (Huether & McCance, 2015, p. 855). Urethritis appears to be similar to a UTI, except with added discharge and possibility of STD causation.

Other male reproductive system disorders affect the penis such as phimosis and paraphimosis. “Phimosis and paraphimosis are both disorders in which the foreskin is ‘too tight’ to move easily over the glans penis” (Huether & McCance, 2015, p. 855). It often happens in newborn males or if it is after infant stage, it can result from adhesions in between epithelial layers (inner prepuce and glans). Such a case is known as physiologic phimosis and typically resolves with age.

Key differences between phimosis and urethritis is that urethritis can occur because of a sexually transmitted disease. Furthermore, one affects the penis regarding the foreskin, the other affects the urethra. A key similarity however, is that both affect the penis. Both can only happen in males as well at least regarding anatomy. These two disorders show how specific actions or simple problems physiology can affect the penis.

Age is something that can affect the likelihood of development of these two disorders. Newborn males are more likely to have phimosis. However, young males, because they do not engage in sex, are less likely to develop urethritis. Although nonsexual urethritis is possible, often it is through sexual contact and STD that can result in development of urethritis. “A total of 16 male children were diagnosed with IU. The mean age was 11.6 (7–16) years” (Jayakumar, Pringle, & Ninan, 2014, p. 212). Therefore, age can significantly increase or decrease chances for respective disorders.

Urethritis affects the urethra and can have similar symptoms to a lower UTI. Males may acquire this through sexual contact although non-sexual urethritis can occur in boys as young as 7 years of age or possibly younger. Phimosis and paraphimosis is when the foreskin of the penis is too tight and unable to easily move over the glans penis. This often happens in newborn males or may happen in older male children due to adhesion issues. Both disorders affect the penis but in different areas, similar to upper and lower UTIs. Key differences are the areas affected, how the disorder is developed and the age range when the disorder may arise.