Men’s health in the summer

In this article we focus on looking after men’s health in the summer. This time of the year brings changes to our daily habits; more hours of daylight and warmer temperatures mean that we have a more socially active life, and our diet, sexual and physical activity and sleeping habits are different. Therefore, it is important to keep an eye on your health and enjoy this time of year without suffering any adverse consequences.

There are certain aspects of health that men need to take care of:

• Maintaining a healthy urinary system. It is important to avoid dehydration in the summer. Drink plenty of water, more than 2 litres a day. Follow a diet that is rich in fruit and vegetables that will provide fluids and minerals, preventing the appearance of kidney stones and cystitis, which are more common at this time of year.

• Prostate health: the higher temperatures improve the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia. In the summer, patients with prostate problems may think that their condition has improved because they have to go to the toilet less, but this is only due to the rise in temperatures, so they should not stop taking their medication and should continue to follow the same healthy lifestyle habits.

• Looking after your sexual health. It is essential to look after this all year round, but especially at this time of year. Taking care of your sexual health will prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and improve your fertility, so it is important to avoid high temperatures in your testicles, which can damage sperm.

 Your sexual appetite increases in the summer due to a number of factors:

• UVB radiation increases vitamin D levels in the body and this in turn increases testosterone levels¹, which is one of the reasons why libido increases in the summer, and there is a positive association with improved semen quality, and therefore fertility. [2,3,4]

• Lowering stress levels. Being on holiday relaxes the body, the higher temperatures lead to the release of endorphins, all of which helps to increase your sexual appetite.

Tips on how to improve men’s health in the summer

1. Change wet swimming trunks and sweaty underwear to avoid infections.
2. Use protection and maintain good hygiene before and after sex to avoid STDs, including both venereal and contact diseases.
3. Stay hydrated, drinking regularly throughout the day to avoid problems with cystitis, kidney stones and prostate stones.
4. Drink alcohol sparingly and in moderation. Alcohol consumption tends to increase in the summer, which can have undesirable effects, such as increasing the risk of erectile dysfunction; this effect is worsened by regular or high quantities of alcohol. [5,6]
5. Follow a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, which contain powerful phytochemicals with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which may have health benefits and help to prevent male diseases [7]. Food supplements can also be added to your diet, for example:

• • Pomegranate extracts have been the subject of research over the last decade and studies have shown that they have anti-proliferative properties and inflammation-modulating effects. If taken in the long term, they prevent fibrosis in the erectile tissue, which is a cause of erectile dysfunction [7].  One supplement available on the market that consists entirely of pomegranate extract is Keriba Forte, which contains 220 mg of punicalagins.

• • Pollen. Pollen has been found to be rich in vitamins, minerals and phytosterols, which help to reduce inflammation and relieve pain [8].

• • Lycopene and selenium. Lycopene is found in summer foods, especially tomatoes and watermelons, and selenium is found in fish and eggs, among other things. They both have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties [8].

References:

[1] Pilz S, Frisch S, Koertke H, Kuhn J, Dreier J, Obermayer-Pietsch B, et al. Effect of vitamin D supplementation on testosterone levels in men. Horm Metab Res [Internet]. 2011 [cited 25 Jul 2022];43(3):223–5. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21154195/

[2] Homayouni-Meymandi M, Sotoodehnejadnematalahi F, Nasr-Esfahani MH. Relationship between Serum Vitamin D in Male, Sperm Function and Clinical Outcomes in Infertile Men Candidate for ICSI: A Cohort Study. Int J Fertil Steril [Internet]. 1 Apr 2022 [cited 25 Jul 2022];16(2):115–21. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35639649/

[3] Boisen IM, Bøllehuus Hansen L, Mortensen LJ, Lanske B, Juul A, Blomberg Jensen M. Possible influence of vitamin D on male reproduction. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol [Internet]. 1 Oct 2017 [cited 25 Jul 2022];173:215–22. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27693423/

[4] de Angelis C, Galdiero M, Pivonello C, Garifalos F, Menafra D, Cariati F, et al. The role of vitamin D in male fertility: A focus on the testis. Rev Endocr Metab Disord [Internet]. 1 Sep 2017 [cited 25 Jul 2022];18(3):285–305. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28667465/

[5] Li S, Song JM, Zhang K, Zhang C le. A Meta-Analysis of Erectile Dysfunction and Alcohol Consumption. Urol Int [Internet]. 1 Oct 2021 [cited 23 Aug 2022];105(11–12):969–85. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34521090/

[6] Wang XM, Bai YJ, Yang YB, Li JH, Tang Y, Han P. Alcohol intake and risk of erectile dysfunction: a dose-response meta-analysis of observational studies. Int J Impot Res [Internet]. 1 Nov 2018 [cited 23 Aug 2022];30(6):342–51. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30232467/

[7] Kroeger N, Belldegrun AS, Pantuck AJ. Pomegranate Extracts in the Management of Men’s Urologic Health: Scientific Rationale and Preclinical and Clinical Data. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine: eCAM [Internet]. 2013 [cited 23 Aug 2022];2013. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23589721/

[8] Cicero AFG, Allkanjari O, Vitalone A, Busetto GM, Cai T, Larganà G, et al. Nutraceutical treatment and prevention of benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer. Archivio Italiano di Urologia e Andrologia [Internet]. 2 Oct 2019 [cited 23 Aug 2022];91(3):139–52. Available from: https://pagepressjournals.org/index.php/aiua/article/view/8597