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Prostate brachytherapy Brachytherapy  is a type of  radiotherapy , or radiation treatment, offered to certain cancer patients. There are two types of brachytherapy – high dose-rate (HDR) and low dose-rate (LDR). LDR brachytherapy is the type that is most commonly used to treat  prostate cancer ; it may sometimes be referred to as 'seed implantation' or it may also be called 'pinhole surgery Prostate brachytherapy is a type of internal radiotherapy for prostate cancer in which radioactive seeds are placed into the prostate gland. It’s a treatment best suited to men with cancer that has not spread outside the prostate, and that is considered low risk. This page discusses permanent brachytherapy (also known as low dose-rate brachytherapy) which is the most common brachytherapy approach used in New Zealand. As these names imply, the radioactive seeds remain inside the man’s prostate permanently, initially delivering a targeted low radiation dose and then gradually ...

Hydrocoele - hydrocele A  hydrocele  (HI-droe-seel) is a type of swelling in the scrotum that occurs when fluid collects in the thin sheath surrounding a testicle.  Hydrocele  is common in newborns and usually disappears without treatment by age 1.  A hydrocoele (pronounced hi-dro-seel)) is the collection of fluid in the membranes surrounding the testicles, causing swelling in the scrotum. Hydrocoeles can be present at birth or affect infants and children; they may also occur in adolescents or adults as a result of infection, inflammation, or injury to the testicles. Hydrocoeles are a common cause of scrotal swelling and do not cause any damage to the testicles.  Treatment can involve draining the fluid using a needle or minor surgery but often hydrocoeles will resolve themselves without treatment. Signs and symptoms A hydrocoele can occur on one side or on both sides of the scrotum but most commonly occur on the right ...

Undescended testes (cryptorchidism)   Cryptorchidism  is the absence of one or both testes from the scrotum. When a baby boy is developing inside his mother’s womb his testicles normally move from their original position in the abdomen into the scrotum during the eighth month of pregnancy.  Undescended testes (known medically as cryptorchidism) occur when one or both of the testicles do not reach the scrotum and remain inside the abdomen or groin (inguinal canal). In New Zealand the condition occurs in approximately 4% of newborn boys and occurs more commonly in premature babies. The exact cause of the condition is unknown.  In the majority of cases a testicle that is undescended at birth will naturally correct itself by the age of three months. If a testicle is still undescended after three months of age it is unlikely that it will descend naturally and surgery to move it to its correct position in the scrotum may be required.  Testes need to be in an ...

Varicocoele  A varicocoele is an abnormal enlargement of veins leading away from the testicles caused by the backflow of blood. This is essentially the same process that leads to varicose veins in the legs. A varicocoele (pronounced var-uh-ko-seel and sometimes spelled varicocele) is usually harmless, sometimes with few or no symptoms.  However, they can be associated with male infertility - it is estimated that around 15% of men will have a varicocoele but in men with fertility problems this increases to 40%.  Signs and symptoms Each testicle is supplied by a spermatic cord. As well as containing veins, each spermatic cord contains arteries, lymphatic vessels, nerves and one of the vas deferens (the tubes that carry sperm).   The veins carry blood away from the testicles towards the heart - small valves within the veins prevent blood flowing in the other direction.  However, if these valves do not work properly, blood ca...

Vasectomy Vasectomy is a common, simple and safe surgical procedure used to make a man sterile (unable to get a woman pregnant).  General information   Sperm are made in the testicles and are stored in a structure called the epididymis.  During ejaculation sperm flow from the epididymis through two muscular tubes called the vas deferens to the prostate gland. Here the sperm mix with fluid produced by the prostate gland and the seminal vesicles to form semen. A vasectomy is a surgical sterilization procedure in which the vas deferens are cut and sealed. Following vasectomy, sperm continue to be produced in the testicles, but are no longer contained in the semen. As the sperm produced in the testicles die, they are reabsorbed by the body. Vasectomy is regarded as a simple, safe and effective form of male sterilization and is intended to be permanent (although a vasectomy reversal procedure is available).  It is estimated that vasectomy is between 99% and ...

Enlarged prostate - benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) It is normal for a man’s prostate gland to enlarge from age 40 years; this is known as benign prostatic hyperplasia or benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH).  This enlargement can cause a range of symptoms related to urination.  More serious bladder and kidney problems may also develop.  Various effective treatment options exist to address enlarged prostate, including medical and surgical options.  The most common prostate surgery is transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Causes The prostate is a walnut-shaped gland located below the outlet of the bladder. Its main function is to produce a fluid which protects and enriches sperm. As men age, it is normal for the prostate gland to gradually enlarge. This usually begins about the age of 40 years and is thought to be caused by hormonal changes. This enlargement can cause difficulties with urinating and can lead to problems with th...