NBCNews.com: Men's health

Study: Penis size 'does affect attractiveness'

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 21:40:47 GMT

Past research has indicated that women, as a group, are drawn to larger male members. But those results have been disputed as sexist, or scientifically flawed, or both. New research aims to settle the question of whether size matters.

Meningitis outbreak among gay men worries officials

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 08:48:40 GMT

A deadly bacterial meningitis outbreak striking gay men in New York City is unlikely to abate any time soon, New York City health officials warn. The disease has sickened 22 and killed seven NYC men over the last two years.

Testosterone doesn't boost functioning in older men

Thu, 4 Apr 2013 20:48:24 GMT

Older men who use testosterone gel may see small improvements in their muscle-to-fat ratio but are unlikely to glean any benefits in flexibility, endurance and general ability to get around, new research suggests.

Sauna visits may lower sperm count

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 22:24:01 GMT

Frequent visits to the sauna may lower men's sperm count, although the effect appears to be temporary, a new study finds.

Guys get this disease, too -- but they may not know it

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 11:35:44 GMT

When a 77-year-old tennis player fell during a match and fractured his hip while on vacation in Key Largo, Fla., he became part of a little known, serious and growing problem among older men. Male osteoporosis has been a silent problem for decades but is becoming more prevalent as Baby Boomers age, doctors say

New test may help guide prostate cancer treatment

Thu, 9 May 2013 22:05:30 GMT

A new genetic test to gauge the aggressiveness of prostate cancer may help tens of thousands of men each year decide whether they need to treat their cancer right away or can safely monitor it.

Scans may show brain changes in Gulf War illness

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 21:17:08 GMT

Robert Ward can't work full time and his constant fatigue makes running a distant memory. The Desert Storm veteran hopes a brain imaging study he took part in will start to shed light on why he and thousands of other Gulf War vets suffer such strange symptoms.

Over 40? Go easy on the extreme workouts, dude

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:35:52 GMT

CrossFit. Warrior dashes. Insanity challenges. Extreme workouts are definitely the hot new trend in fitness these days. But those pulse-pounding pursuits might be too much for men of a certain age.

Sperm is healthiest in winter, early spring

Fri, 8 Mar 2013 22:58:49 GMT

Autumn is the time of year most associated with bumper crops of new babies, and that may be because human sperm are generally at their healthiest in winter and early spring, according to a new study from Israel.

Allure of the ‘cat fight’: Sex, sex ... and maybe more

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 14:53:13 GMT

There are a few primal sounds known to cause the heads of men to whirl and their eyes to alight with interest: the crack of bat on ball, the hiss of meat on flame and the simple, clarion shout of “Girl fight!”

Why straight women and gay men are often so close

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 14:45:34 GMT

Will and Grace knew it. Ditto for Stanford and Carrie. Now a new psychology study has provided evidence that gay men and straight women are the perfect friends with benefits – as long as the benefits have to do with trustworthy relationship advice.

Stress, anxiety linked to sperm quality

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 21:24:13 GMT

A man's ability to produce sperm may depend on his ability to handle stress, according to a new study from Italy.

When your feelings hurt your health

Sun, 10 Feb 2013 16:21:12 GMT

While your emotions may be invisible to the world's most advanced medical technology, they still impact your health just as much as your flesh-and-blood organs do.

Erectile dysfunction may increase a man's heart woes

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 00:43:32 GMT

The more severe a man's erectile dysfunction is, the greater his risk of being hospitalized for heart problems, a new Australian study finds.

Hey, cig moochers -- smoking makes a hangover worse

Wed, 6 Feb 2013 17:57:23 GMT

If you only smoke when you're buzzed, you might want to reconsider: Those occasional late-night puffs could intensify your hangover in the morning, according to a new study in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.

Caffeine linked to leaky bladder in men

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 00:04:02 GMT

The amount of caffeine that's typically found in two cups of coffee may contribute to a man's incontinence, according to a new study.

Shorter penis alarms some after prostate treatment

Mon, 7 Jan 2013 14:46:14 GMT

A portion of men who underwent treatment for prostate cancer complained that their penises were smaller when they awoke, according to a new study by researchers from Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center in Boston.

Saturated fats tied to falling sperm counts

Mon, 7 Jan 2013 15:04:37 GMT

Saturated fats, like those found in rich cheeses and meats, may do more than weigh men down after a meal - a Danish study also links them to dwindling sperm counts.

Why do some men get grouchier as they age?

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 12:56:20 GMT

Some call it “grumpy old man complex.” Other experts label it: “irritable male syndrome,” a spike in the outward crankiness of guys of a certain age. As more baby boomers hit 60 be ready for more grouchy outbursts, like a Donald Trump rant set to explode.

Pricey prostate treatment no safer than radiation

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 16:50:47 GMT

An expensive prostate cancer radiation treatment known as proton beam therapy has just as many side effects as a more common and cheaper radiation method, according to a new study.

You can literally throw your negative thoughts away

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 13:11:36 GMT

Take the trash out: According to new research in Psychological Science, writing down your negative thoughts and tossing them in the garbage can erase your bad mood.

And the healthiest cities for men are ...

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 17:12:31 GMT

U.S. men looking for the best place to find happiness, health and a good quality of life might consider heading to Boise, Idaho, or San Jose and San Francisco in northern California.

Be skeptical of these 6 healthy-sounding phrases

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 18:34:00 GMT

With help from Ilyse Schapiro, M.S., a registered dietitian in private practice in the New York City area, we got the scoop on six suspect phrases you've seen in the supermarket.

New method allows better prostate cancer tests

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 22:54:06 GMT

Researchers are reporting a new method that could put an end to painful prostate biopsies that miss the tumor. They’ve combined magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, with ultrasound in a way that can guide a skilled doctor right to a prostate tumor.

Urban jogging may be making you dumber

Sun, 9 Dec 2012 17:34:10 GMT

New research in Belgium shows that people who live in a city and exercise outdoors have higher levels of inflammation and lower scores on cognitive tests than those who exercise outside in the suburbs.

Uncircumcised boys face more urinary infections

Fri, 7 Dec 2012 22:55:04 GMT

Infections of the kidney, bladder and urethra happen in uncircumcised baby boys at ten times the rate of circumcised boys, and over a lifetime uncircumcised men are four times more likely to experience one, according to a new analysis of past research.

French men not producing as much sperm

Wed, 5 Dec 2012 00:32:56 GMT

Researchers found that between 1989 and 2005, the number of sperm in one milliliter of the average 35-year-old Frenchman's semen fell about 32 percent, from about 74 million to about 50 million.

Contact sports leave pattern of brain injuries

Tue, 4 Dec 2012 00:25:26 GMT

Years of hits to the head in football or other contact sports lead to a distinct pattern of brain damage that begins with an athlete having trouble focusing and can eventually progress to aggression and dementia, a study released on Monday says.

Treating gum disease may fix erection troubles

Mon, 3 Dec 2012 23:39:02 GMT

Better-smelling breath may not be the only way that treating gum disease benefits your sex life. New research says improving the gums may also improve erectile dysfunction.

Too tough to get sick: Why men won't see the doc

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 13:20:28 GMT

Many American men, such as 28-year-old James Chisum, simply refuse to go to the doctor, ever, either out of male pride, out of white-coat fear or simply out of lifestyle habit. That mindset could be genetic, experts suggest.

Oxytocin keeps attached men away from hot women

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 23:09:06 GMT

The "love hormone" oxytocin may help maintain romantic relationships by prompting men to keep their distance from attractive women, a new study from Germany suggests.

Forget the gray hair. Presidents don't really age faster

Sun, 11 Nov 2012 18:46:10 GMT

President Barack Obama went gray during his first term in office. But, internally at least, presidents don’t age any faster than other Americans – and, in fact, historically surpass average U.S. lifespans, according to a study into whether commander in chief is, literally, is a killer job.

Upside to castration? Eunuchs lived longer, study finds

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 18:19:07 GMT

A study of eunuchs in Korea's royal court has found men without testicles live longer. Researchers looking at the court of the Chosun Dynasty found eunuchs lived to 70 on average, or 14 to 19 years longer than "intact" men of similar socio-economic status.

Middle-aged men have higher suicide risk

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 19:11:48 GMT

Middle-aged men from disadvantaged backgrounds are 10 times more likely to commit suicide, often because they have lost a sense of identity and masculine pride, researchers said on Thursday.

Smoking marijuana linked to testicular cancer

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 12:28:10 GMT

Some blunt advice for the young, male fans of marijuana: You may want to kill that joint and clutch your crotch -- self-check style, that is.

Testosterone marketing frenzy cues skepticism

Sun, 9 Sep 2012 16:41:44 GMT

"Are you falling asleep after dinner?" "Do you have a decrease in libido?" "Have you noticed a recent deterioration in your ability to play sports?" "It could be Low-T." Welcome to the latest big marketing push by the nation's drug companies.

Hope for erectile dysfunction: spider venom?

Fri, 7 Sep 2012 19:46:32 GMT

A toxin synthesized from the venom of a spider may offer an alternative to today's erectile dysfunction drugs, a new study suggests.

Retired NFL players face higher Alzheimer's risk

Wed, 5 Sep 2012 17:15:57 GMT

Retired pro football players seem to have higher-than-average risks of dying from Alzheimer's or Lou Gehrig's disease, U.S. government researchers reported Wednesday.

FDA OKs new drug for advanced prostate cancer

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 21:48:01 GMT

The Food and Drug Administration said Friday it approved the pill Xtandi for men with advanced prostate cancer that has returned or spread despite major medical intervention.

Why men are less likely to eat veggies

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 17:21:36 GMT

Study finds that guys eat fewer veggies because they don't think they are a great health benefit and they don't find them easy to eat.

Who's your daddy? DNA clinic sparks concerns

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 18:56:13 GMT

A mobile DNA testing facility that looks more like a motor home than a medical clinic is raising questions about the ramifications of quick and easy tests to determine paternity and other biological connections.

Summer is peak season for kidney stones

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 18:52:54 GMT

The primary reason for the summertime kidney blues is dehydration. Without proper hydration, the body's fluids become more concentrated with dietary minerals, which can concentrate into stones.

Benefits of PSA testing may outweigh harms

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 21:18:58 GMT

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The possible benefits and harms of prostate cancer screening have been hotly debated in recent years, but for the first time a new study tries to put a number on the balance of pluses and minuses for the average man.

New pill helps prostate cancer patients live longer

Mon, 4 Mar 2013 23:22:16 GMT

An experimental pill called enzalutamide helped men with advanced prostate cancer live longer, even after other treatments had stopped working for them. But it costs $6,000 a month and doesn't appear to be a cure.

Dismissal of STD experiment lawsuit appealed

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 18:34:22 GMT

Guatemalans who had been subjected to sexually transmitted diseases by U.S. researchers in the 1940s have appealed a judge's dismissal of their lawsuit.

The way red meat is cooked can affect cancer risk

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 19:02:19 GMT

When it comes to eating meat, a guy's choice of what he eats and how it is cooked may affect his risk of having advanced prostate cancer, a new study says.

Hair-loss drug linked to severe depression in men

Tue, 7 Aug 2012 15:25:46 GMT

Men who take the hair-loss medication Propecia and develop sexual side effects may be at risk for severe depression and suicidal thoughts, a new study suggests.

New study fuels debate on prostate cancer tests

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 20:09:21 GMT

Screening for prostate cancer using the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is controversial, but stopping this screening could result in many more cases of advanced disease, a new study suggests.

Two HIV patients now virus-free. Is this a cure?

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 18:51:07 GMT

Two men unlucky enough to get both HIV and cancer have been seemingly cleared of the virus, raising hope that science may yet find a way to cure for the infection that causes AIDS, 30 years into the epidemic.

3 health concerns dudes should discuss with docs

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 17:09:25 GMT

We know it can be embarrassing. But it could save your sex life (or your life, period). Here are three below-the-belt concerns that every man must discuss with his doc.

Suspect in hepatitis C outbreak was fired in Ariz.

Wed, 6 Feb 2013 17:58:27 GMT

A dozen hospitals in seven states are scrambling to identify people who might have been infected with hepatitis C by a traveling medical technician who was charged a week ago with causing an outbreak in New Hampshire.

Teen to get genital reconstruction surgery

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 21:28:55 GMT

Teen who lost nearly all his genitalia in shotgun blast undergoing surgery.

Why married men are happier

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 17:50:34 GMT

Think bachelors have it made? It turns out married men are actually happier after marriage than they would be if they stayed single, according to researchers at Michigan State University.

Steroid mimics testosterone, boosts muscle

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 15:46:22 GMT

Greek high jumper Dimitris Chondrokoukis has tested positive for doping with an anabolic steroid which has featured in several Olympic positive dope tests in the past.

Bad knees may be more of a guy thing

Fri, 6 Jul 2012 18:17:44 GMT

Despite research suggesting women's knees are more prone to ligament injuries, a new Swedish study finds that men in that country have a greater number of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, and surgeries to fix them, than do Swedish women.

Weight loss may boost men's testosterone

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 17:20:52 GMT

A new study finds that for some men, losing weight may help increase testosterone levels.

Smoking, drinking may not be bad for sperm counts

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 23:55:43 GMT

Despite what men have been told, smoking, drinking and being overweight might not bring lower sperm counts, a new study from the UK suggests.

In one type of cancer, heavier men may live longer

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 20:12:10 GMT

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Extra pounds may not be good for your health in general, but heavy men appear more likely to survive a particular form of immune system cancer, a new study finds.

Double arm transplant patient feels new hands

Fri, 8 Jun 2012 12:44:12 GMT

A Mexican man whose arms were severely burned by electricity became the first patient in Latin America to receive a double arm transplant, doctors said Thursday.

5 cancers men should worry about

Sun, 10 Jun 2012 16:38:11 GMT

No man is invincible, especially when it comes to health. Learn to detect and defend against the cancers most likely to attack men, and you'll be able to take the disease head-on if it strikes--and increase your chances of beating it.

No routine PSA tests for men, panel rules

Mon, 21 May 2012 23:11:52 GMT

A top panel of U.S. medical experts has issued a final decision on a long-debated men’s health controversy, concluding that no man of any age should routinely be screened for prostate cancer using the popular PSA test.

Halting PSA testing the right thing to do, bioethicist says

Mon, 21 May 2012 22:27:00 GMT

The recommendation Monday by the prestigious United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) that the widely used PSA test for prostate cancer no longer be used for men of any age is likely to be met with howling.

American men closing the longevity gender gap

Mon, 21 May 2012 13:23:12 GMT

Here’s a fist bump, boys – or, if you prefer, a bro hug – for some hard-earned progress. In the ultimate competition, the race to stay alive, you’re gaining furiously on the fairer sex.

Stress turns guys into social butterflies

Mon, 21 May 2012 22:37:12 GMT

Kicking up the spice may help your heart

Sun, 20 May 2012 17:31:14 GMT

Hitting the gym is a great way to keep your heart healthy. But what about breaking a sweat during dinner?

Why guys think meat is macho, veggies wimpy

Fri, 18 May 2012 13:24:13 GMT

New research pinpoints why so many guys avoid vegetables yet lick their chops when they sniff marbled chunks of cow sizzling on the grill. In America and more than 20 Western nations, people see a metaphoric link between men and meat.

Men who take erection pills recreationally feel down

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 21:30:39 GMT

Young men who take erectile dysfunction drugs for fun may damage their sex lives, a new study suggests.

The dirtiest clean places — and how to clean them up

Tue, 15 May 2012 11:20:05 GMT

You expect some spots to be filthy—your kitchen floor, your garbage can, your toilet. But how germy are the things designed to keep you and your home clean?

Study: Men with breast cancer fare worse

Fri, 4 May 2012 21:46:08 GMT

Men rarely get breast cancer, but those who do often don't survive as long as women, largely because they don't even realize they can get it and are slow to recognize the warning signs, researchers say.