Urological & men’s health

Men’s & urinary health: medicines & conditions

This area covers the bladder, prostate and male reproductive health. Its medicines relax or shrink the prostate, calm an overactive bladder, and treat erectile dysfunction and related conditions.

Education and reference only. This hub explains which medicines relate to the men’s & urinary health and why — it deliberately contains no doses and is not a substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Always check the BNF and the product labelling for prescribing detail.

About the men’s & urinary health

Common treatments include alpha-blockers and 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors for an enlarged prostate, medicines that settle an overactive bladder, and PDE5 inhibitors for erectile dysfunction. Each has practical points: alpha-blockers can lower blood pressure on standing, bladder antimuscarinics add to "anticholinergic burden" in older people, and PDE5 inhibitors must never be combined with nitrate heart medicines. The themes that matter are matching treatment to the specific problem, being aware of these particular cautions, and reviewing whether a treatment is genuinely helping.

What this covers

  • Enlarged prostate (BPH)
  • Overactive bladder and urinary symptoms
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • The urinary tract

Conditions in this area

Men’s & urinary health conditions (11)

Each links to a dose-free guide showing which medicine classes are used and how treatment is approached.

Urology Balanitis Inflammation of the head of the penis, and often the foreskin — causing redness, soreness, itching, swelling and sometim… Urology Enlarged prostate (BPH) A common non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate that can squeeze the urethra and cause troublesome urinary symptoms —… Urology Epididymitis Inflammation, usually from infection, of the tube behind the testicle — causing a gradually painful, swollen scrotum and… Urology Erectile dysfunction Difficulty getting or keeping an erection firm enough for satisfactory sex — common, often treatable, and sometimes an e… Urology Kidney infection A urinary infection that has reached the kidney — causing fever, chills and back or side pain, and needing prompt antibi… Urology Kidney stones Hard deposits that form in the kidneys and can cause severe loin-to-groin pain as they move into the tube to the bladder… Urology Low testosterone (male hypogonadism) When the testicles produce too little testosterone, sometimes causing tiredness, low libido, erectile problems, low mood… Urology Premature ejaculation When ejaculation happens sooner than wanted during sex, consistently and in a way that causes distress — the commonest m… Urology Prostatitis Inflammation or infection of the prostate gland that causes pelvic or perineal pain and urinary symptoms — ranging from … Urology Urinary incontinence The involuntary leakage of urine — a common and treatable problem, not just a part of ageing — where first-line care is … Urology Urinary tract infection (UTI) A common infection of the bladder or wider urinary tract that typically causes burning when passing urine and a frequent…

Medicine classes

Medicines for the men’s & urinary health (4)

Each links to a full, dose-free guide — what it is, how it works, who can and cannot use it, side effects, interactions and FAQs.

5-alpha-reductase inhibitors Men's health Shrink an enlarged prostate over months — a different approach from alpha-blockers.… Alpha-blockers (prostate) Men's health Relax the prostate and bladder neck to ease urinary symptoms in men.… PDE5 inhibitors Urology / Men's health The first-line tablets for erectile dysfunction — effective and safe, but never combined with nitrates.… Testosterone replacement Men's health Replaces testosterone in men with confirmed deficiency — not a general tonic.…

By active ingredient

Common men’s & urinary health medicines by name

Individual, dose-free guides to specific active ingredients (and their brands) in this area:

AlfuzosinAn alpha-blocker that relaxes the prostate and bladder neck to ease the urinary symptoms o…AvanafilA fast-acting PDE5 inhibitor that helps a man get and keep an erection in response to sexu…DoxazosinAn alpha-blocker used to ease prostate symptoms in men, and sometimes as an add-on treatme…DutasterideA 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor that shrinks an enlarged prostate over time to improve urina…FinasterideA tablet that gradually shrinks an enlarged prostate over months; a lower-strength version…IndoraminAn alpha-blocker used for the urinary symptoms of an enlarged prostate and, less often, fo…MethyltestosteroneAn older oral androgen used for testosterone replacement and some conditions, now largely …PrazosinAn alpha-blocker used for high blood pressure and for an enlarged prostate.…SildenafilA short-acting PDE5 inhibitor that helps achieve an erection when a man is sexually arouse…SilodosinAn alpha-blocker that relaxes the prostate and bladder neck to ease the urinary symptoms o…TadalafilA long-acting PDE5 inhibitor for erectile dysfunction — often called the "weekend pill" — …TamsulosinAn alpha-blocker that relaxes the muscle around the prostate and bladder neck to ease urin…TerazosinAn alpha-blocker used for an enlarged prostate and for high blood pressure.…TestosteroneReplacement of the male sex hormone testosterone for men with proven low levels (hypogonad…VardenafilA PDE5 inhibitor taken before sex to help achieve an erection; it must never be combined w…YohimbineAn older treatment for erectile dysfunction, now little used and mostly sold as an unregul…

Clinical formulas & tools

Calculators used in this area

Risk scores and formulas that inform assessment and treatment decisions for the men’s & urinary health:

eGFR (CKD-EPI 2021)Estimated GFR, race-free creatinine equation.

Answers

Men’s & urinary health: frequently asked questions

What medicines are used for the men’s & urinary health?

This system includes 4 medicine classes — such as 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, alpha-blockers (prostate), pde5 inhibitors, testosterone replacement. Each links to a full, dose-free guide covering what it is, how it works, who can and cannot use it, side effects and interactions.

Which conditions affect the men’s & urinary health?

Common conditions in this area include Balanitis, Enlarged prostate (BPH), Epididymitis, Erectile dysfunction, Kidney infection and more. Each condition page shows the medicine classes used to treat it and why.

Do these pages give doses?

No. Every page on this site is dose-free. We explain which medicines are used and why, but doses depend on the individual and the exact product — always confirm with your prescriber, the BNF and the product labelling.

Is this a substitute for medical advice?

No — it is education and reference only. It helps you understand this body system and its treatments, but decisions about your own care should always be made with a qualified clinician.

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