Erectile Dysfunction: 12 Things That Could be Causing It

There really is no reason to be embarrassed or apprehensive about erectile dysfunction. In places like New York, the science of male performance has gone through an incredible renaissance. Understanding the causes of erectile dysfunction helps to quell the stereotypical fears surrounding it and allows the medical community to treat it more effectively.

Here are twelve common contributing factors to erectile dysfunction. Chances are if you are experiencing "male" troubles, you will fall into one or several of these categories. Knowing the cause of your dysfunction is one of the most important parts of treating it.

1. Stress: Career, finances, and family issues trip hormonal defense mechanisms in male physiology. High stress will compromise sexual function.

2. Medication: The modern world is quick to prescribe medications for every symptom under the sun. A medication may be interfering with your normal sexual function, but this can be easily remedied by talking to the prescribing doctor that monitors your dosing.

3. Age: After 45 years of age, hormonal responses, especially those centered on testosterone, begin to diminish. This tendency can be countered with things like changes in nutrition and regular exercise.

4. Injury: How well has your body been treated over the years? Old injuries can come back to haunt the male physiology.

5. Alcohol: This is the most common drug used by modern man. Alcohol can have many undesired effects on the male hormonal system and quitting or limiting its consumption may revitalize you.

6. Compounded Self-Consciousness: One instance of poor performance can grow into a feeling of inadequacy, which is especially true for a man's role in the bedroom.

7. Illicit drugs: These might make you feel good, but they can radically affect the way your system functions in the present, and for years to come.

8. Disease: Many physical factors that are not in your control may be the cause of erectile dysfunction. These can range from prostatitis to ulcers, nerve issues, and many others that affect your wellbeing.

9. Stimulation: Perhaps you need a change in the way you go about your performance. Try experimenting with other forms of stimulation.

10. Chronic Sickness: If you are diagnosed with health issues, these can eventually take a toll on your most intimate functions. Cascading symptoms are common in human physiology.

11. Depression: This prompts the brain to constantly release hormones into your system that are contradictory to vital sexual function. Cortisol is the main culprit, and limits the serotonin that gives you the feeling of contentment.

12. Orientation: Perhaps you have arrived at a point in your life that requires a shift in your overall concept of sexual performance. Between medical treatment and counseling, you can regain your stamina and desire again.

Whatever the reason may be for your interruption of sexual enjoyment, the experts at University Urology can help. They have the knowledge, treatments and services to get you feeling like "you" again. Contact them today for the locations of clinics in NY for erectile dysfunction. 

Dr. Kaminetsky's Commitment to the Advancement of Urology

Dr. Jed Kaminetsky is a Clinical Associate Professor at New York University Medical Center and an Associate Medical Director of Gramercy Surgical Center. As a practicing Urologist with University Urology Associates, he was awarded the 2012 John Kingsley Lattimer Award by the Kidney and Urology Foundation of America for excellence in patient care, lifetime dedication and achievement in the field. Dr. Kaminetsky has expertise in erectile dysfunction, male infertility, prostate disorders, kidney stones, general Urology and prostatic hypertrophy. He received his medical degree at NYU in 1984, did his resident training Montefiore Medical Center, and his Urology residency training at NYU Medical Center. He has written several publications in his commitment to advancing the study and practice of urology and further proves his commitment with his participation in American Urology Association (AUA).

The AUA was established in 1902 and has grown to more than 18,000 members worldwide. The organization assists its members through the endorsement of the highest standards of urologic care, emphasizing the importance of education and research, and assisting in the preparation of healthcare policy. AUA's goal is to promote health, provide hope and the promise of a future free of urological disease. They support relationships that allow urology professionals to exchange ideas and learn from one another and the AUA consistently has meetings, training, and seminars. Dr. Kaminetsky's membership allows him to stay on top of the newest developments in Urology with access to member alerts.

In conclusion, Dr. Jed Kaminetsky of NYU continues to research new pharmacologic and procedural techniques for Urologic disorders. He is the Principal Investigator of a clinical study team that currently studies erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, male and female sexual dysfunction, BHP, prostate cancer and bladder cancer. His continued dedication to the field via his membership, studies, publications and award-winning excellence provides hope to many men and women.

NYC Urologists Weigh in on Contact Sports with One Kidney

At University Urology Associates, we understand that while the American Academy of Pediatrics supports youngsters with one kidney who wish to participate in extracurricular contact sports, many physicians and parents are reluctant to give children the green light to play. However, based on information from a new study released by the University of Utah, our dedicated NYC based urologists may be able to help ease parental concern over allowing children who have only one functional kidney to participate in contact sports.

The report compared sport-related kidney injury with sport-related injuries of other organs among high school varsity players participating in contact sports such as football, basketball and soccer. Data analyzed for the evaluation was obtained from the National Athletic Trainers’ Association High School Injury Surveillance Study, which reported the number of organ injuries in over 4.4 million occurrences of one athlete participating in one game or practice, termed "athlete-exposures."

Although 23,666 injuries were reported in the study, 6,921 of those were related to organ systems. Only 18 kidney injuries were cited, none of which were catastrophic or required surgery. When compared to 3,450 knee injuries, 2,069 injuries to the head, neck or spine, 1,219 impacts causing mild brain trauma, 148 injuries involving the eye, and 17 testicle injuries, the data concludes that those children suffering kidney injury while participating in contact sports is significantly low in contrast to other organ injury. The study goes on to comment that kidney injury not associated with sporting activities is far more common, citing motor vehicle crashes as an example.

Extracurricular sports provide important opportunities for both healthy exercise and a sports-related teamwork experiences to help improve fitness and social interaction skills. At University Urology Associates, we encourage parents to contact a urologist so that they can make an informed decision concerning this very important aspect of childhood development. Our renowned NYC urologists are dedicated to answering all questions about urology, including the pros and cons associated with contact sports when a child has only one functioning kidney, so be sure to contact us today!

What Are Urology Clinical Trials?

Urology clinical trials are clinical trials tailored toward the urological system. They test new medical treatments or medications that can help with disorders like an enlarged prostate, sexual dysfunction of the male and female systems, prostate cancer and prostatitis, urinary problems, and low testosterone in the male. Clinical trials can also help a urologist, a medical doctor who specializes in this body system, separate out the muscles or tracts that are implicated in certain diseases and conditions.

In order to conduct this urological clinical trial, researchers at our company make up a protocol, which is a series of questions and a study plan. This protocol determines who can participate in the clinical trial, what sort of treatments the participants will receive, and how long the trial will last. The researchers carefully follow the participants while they’re involved in the clinical trial and follow up after it’s completed.

Patients who participate in clinical trials often benefit from them because they utilize cutting-edge medications and medical treatments. Volunteers receive excellent care. There’s also the added benefit of the volunteer knowing that she or he can help other patients suffering from the same ailment by participating in this clinical trial. But before a person can volunteer for the study, they'll have to have their health evaluated and meet certain requirements of the protocol. This can include the volunteer’s age, sex, and the overall state of their health.

Clinical trials are not risk-free, as they are somewhat experimental in nature. The side effects of new medications can range from negligible, to uncomfortable, to life threatening. However, every volunteer who participates in a clinical trial is educated about the trial via informed consent. After they read and understood the facts of the clinical trial, the volunteer then signs an informed consent paper. The paper doesn’t require the volunteer to participate in the clinical trial until it’s over. He or she is free to leave at any time and for any or no reason. The people who conduct the urological clinical trial adhere to the highest ethical standards when it comes to the rights of the participants.

When to See a Urologist

There are some major symptoms that would be a sure sign that you need to see a Urologist at University Urology or even your local Urologist.

When there is a continued urge to urinate more than usual, this could be a sign of a bladder infection. When the bladder does become infected, spasms will occur, which make the person feel they have to urinate often when they really don’t. A urologist can do a test to see if you have a bladder infection or not.

With older men, a frequency of urination without much output at all may be a sign of an enlarged prostate. To find out, a urologist would perform a complete exam and then make a diagnosis.

Moreover, people often develop tiny stones made of calcium deposits in the urinary tract. If the stone happens to be too big, it may block the urethra. If this happens, urinary output can be stopped. Signs of this would include pain in the lower back and abdomen. 

Pain felt in the abdomen area can be a lot of different things, but if it’s painful along with having some burning sensations during urination, or if there is frequent urination or even the problem of not being able to urinate, a visit to the urologist could tell if there is an infection.

For people diagnosed with prostate or bladder cancer, it’s important to see a urologist. There are specialists in urology (urologic oncology) that work specifically with patients that have prostate and bladder cancers. If the patient is a child, they should also see a pediatric urologist.

How Are Kidney Stones Treated?

Kidney stones are hard deposits of minerals and acid salts that form in the kidneys, and if untreated, they can become very painful. Most kidney stones are small enough to pass through the urinary tract, and all that may be needed is to drink a lot of water to flush the kidney stones out. There are medications such as Flomax which can expedite stone passage. However, for larger kidney stones that become trapped in the ureters, or tubes going from the kidneys to the bladder, there are several other effective treatments available.

Some tests that may be performed if kidney stones are suspected are:

• Blood tests – Blood tests may show too much uric acid or calcium in your blood stream, which can indicate the presence of kidney stones.

 • Urine tests – There is a 24-hour urine test which shows if you are secreting too many stone-producing minerals, or not enough stone-preventing substances.

 • Imaging tests – Simple x-rays of the abdomen, ultrasounds, or CT scans may help locate the problem.

For kidney stones that are too large to pass, there are a number of effective treatments, such as:

• Sound wave treatment – Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) uses sound waves to break up large stones into small pieces that can be flushed out in your urine. This usually takes 45 to 60 minutes and may cause moderate pain, so light anesthesia or pain medication may be used.

 • Surgery – If your kidney stones are very large, a procedure called percutaneous nephrolithotripsy may be performed. This procedure involves making a small incision in your back and inserting small telescopes and equipment to surgically remove the kidney stone. This is done under general anesthesia and recovery time may be one to two days in the hospital, depending on your health history and surgical tolerance.

 • Scope – When a stone is in the ureter a lighted scope (ureteroscope) may be used to locate the stone. Then, the stone is grabbed with special tools and removed. It can be fragmented with a laser. You may need local or general anesthesia.

Once your kidney stones are removed, you’ll want to check with your doctor to see if special diets will help prevent the reoccurrence of your kidney stones. There are also medications available that may prevent future kidney stones.

Are you experiencing trouble with possible kidney stones? If so, contact us today! We are happy to help you fix the problem and return to living pain-free.

Treating Bladder Cancer with Care and Compassion

Bladder cancer has several treatment options, but the extent of the cancer and the stage of the cancer may help determine which treatment is best. Sometimes, several different treatments are used.

Surgery is the main source of treatment for bladder cancer. There are several different types of surgeries that can be done depending on the severity of the cancer. Part of the bladder, or sometimes even the entire bladder, can be removed with a partial cystectomy. While this surgical procedure is being performed, the lymph nodes in the pelvic area can be taken out as well to screen for cancer. There is also a surgical procedure called transurethral resection that is less invasive. During this procedure, a cystoscope is put inside the bladder via the urethra. The cancer is then cauterized with electricity, or end loops on the wire cuttings can be used to cut cancer out. Fortunateky the vast majority of bladder tumors are non invasive and can be treated via a scope.

Radiation therapy is another optional treatment for bladder cancer. This can be done through a local radiation or an external beam radiation. When using the external beam type of radiation, strong beams of radiation are aimed directly at the location of the cancer, but from the outside of the body. With the internal radiation, pellets of radioactive contents are put into the area that is cancerous. Radiation is also used after surgery has been performed. This is helpful in being sure to kill any cells remaining that could be cancerous. Reoccurrence and progression rates can be decreased with intravesical chemotherapy or immunotherapy such as BCG or Mitomyacin.

Chemotherapy is another treatment alternative for advanced bladder cancer. The drug can be taken orally or through an IV through the muscles, or directly placed into the bladder. If chemotherapy is done before surgery, the hope is that it will shrink any tumors. If it is used after surgery, it is used to alleviate the chance of reoccurrence or to kill any leftover cancerous cells. Often times, chemotherapy medications are combined.

At University Urology, we are committed to working with you during this difficult time to find the treatment options that will work best. No matter what method you end up using to treat your bladder cancer, we pride ourselves on the compassionate care we offer, and we look forward to giving you the help you deserve.