Many writers use the terms sex and gender interchangeably. However, each word has a specific meaning. Sex refers to our biological femaleness or maleness. There are two aspects of biological sex: genetic sex, which is determined by our sex chromosomes, and anatomical sex, the obvious physical differences between males and females. Gen­der is a term […]

Through the ages people have held to the belief that we are born males or females and just naturally grow up doing what men or women do. The only explanation required has been a reference to "nature taking its course." This viewpoint has a simplicity that helps make the world seem like an orderly place. […]

Among U. S. males, cancer of the prostate is the second most frequently diagnosed can­cer (skin cancer is more common) and is currently the second leading cause of cancer death after lung cancer (R. Hoffman, 2011). An estimated 240,000 men in the United States are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, and about 34,000 die […]

As men grow older, the prostate gland tends to increase in size, a condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). About 50% of men over age 60 and 90% of men over age 85 experience this problem (Davidson & Chutka, 2008; Pisco, 2011). The enlarged gland tends to put pressure on the urethra, thus decreasing […]

As you will recall from our earlier discussion, the prostate gland is a walnut-sized structure at the base of the bladder that contributes secretions to the seminal fluid. The prostate is a focal point of some of the more common “male problems," which range from inflammation and enlargement to cancer. Prostatitis One of the most […]

Testicular cancer accounts for 1-2% of all cancers that occur in males, with an annual incidence of 4 per 100,000 men (Richie, 2011). It is the most common malignancy that occurs in young men ages 20 to 35 (NHS Choices, 2009). Risk factors for testicular cancer include smoking, family history, White race, and cryptorchidism (Shaw, […]

As stated earlier in this chapter, men can be afflicted with penile cancer, a rare malig­nancy that can be deadly if not diagnosed and treated in its earliest stages. Of the approximately 1,300 men in the United States who develop penile cancer in a given year, only half will be alive 5 years later. However, […]

Circumcision (ser-kum-SI-zhun), the surgical removal of the foreskin (I Figure 4.9), is widely practiced throughout the world for religious, ritual, or health reasons. About 80% of men in the United States are circumcised (Rabin, 2010). The prevalence of cir­cumcision in the United States, the only nation where nonreligious circumcisions occur in large numbers, has declined […]

Koro: The Genital Retraction Syndrome Genital retraction syndrome (GRS) is an unusual, culture-bound phenomenon that has attracted considerable attention in many areas of the world community, especially Asia and Africa (Schroer, 2008). GRS, known under a variety of local names or phrases that mean "shrinking penis," is most widely referred to as koro. A man […]

Men frequently voice a variety of concerns about sexual functioning. Several of these are addressed throughout this textbook. At this point we want to discuss two areas that receive considerable attention: the significance of penis size and the necessity and impact of circumcision. Claims are frequently made that one or both of these physical characteristics […]