Living long and, above all, living well is a bit like putting together a puzzle: we cannot hope to see the complete picture if we ignore some fundamental pieces. Rightly, we focus on nutrition, physical activity and stress management, but we often forget that our body works as a single, interconnected system. It is precisely from this holistic perspective that longevity medicine cannot neglect two fundamental aspects of men’s health: urogenital health and sexual health.
The three stages of male prevention
Even today, many men tend to go to the doctor only when “something is wrong”. But for those who aim to live a long and healthy life, this approach is not only outdated: it is wrong. “Prevention, including andrological prevention, does not only serve to avoid disease, but to optimize the body’s performance over time,” explains Alberto Gheza, urologist-andrologist and sexual counselor at SoLongevity Clinic in Milan. “The urological consultation should not be frightening. After an in-depth conversation and the taking of a medical history covering daily habits, any illnesses or family history, we proceed to the physical examination: the patient usually lies on the couch and a general inspection is carried out, followed by palpation of the abdomen and external genitalia. On some occasions, depending on age or if prostate problems are suspected, a rectal examination is finally performed.”
There are three crucial moments in a man’s life when a “service check” is due, even in the absence of symptoms:
- Adolescence (18–20 years), the first real check-up. It serves to understand whether “the machine” has been assembled correctly. “In this phase we check that there are no conditions, such as phimosis or a varicocele, that could create sexual or fertility problems in the future,” explains Gheza. It is also the right time for education on contraception and protection.
- Adulthood (30–35 years), when it is time to take stock. The check assesses how lifestyle is affecting the health of the urogenital system (and not only) and fertility — an increasingly hot topic. A consultation at this stage of life can prevent serious problems later on.
- Maturity (from age 50), when a little maintenance is needed. Once past the age of 50, in fact, the prostate physiologically begins to change. “The consultation becomes essential to monitor benign prostatic enlargement and, above all, to make an early diagnosis if needed,” warns Gheza, who points out that if there have been cases of prostate cancer in the family, PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) testing should be brought forward to age 40.
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Listening to the body: the warning signs of the urogenital system
Regardless of age, the body sends us signals that should never be ignored. Urination problems (for example urgency to urinate, increased nighttime frequency, weak or interrupted stream, burning, urinary incontinence) are calls for help from our urogenital system.
Another symptom to pay particular attention to is erectile dysfunction. “We must not see it only as a sexual problem,” stresses the specialist. “It is often a ‘warning light’ for our vascular health.”
Erectile dysfunction, in fact, can precede a major cardiovascular problem by as much as 5 or 10 years. For this reason, taking care of the uro-andrological aspect often means protecting the heart.
SoLongevity: an integrated approach to men’s health
It is precisely because of this close connection between the urogenital system, the heart and biological aging that andrological assessment has a place in the most advanced longevity pathways.
At SoLongevity we have chosen to treat urology not only as a discipline in its own right, but also to integrate it into comprehensive check-ups (such as the AGE360° Physiological Check-up and AGE360° Ultimate Check-up pathways).
The goal is to cross-reference data: to understand how hormonal and urological health interact with the body’s other systems. Without overlooking the sexual component, which has a profound impact on daily life, relationships and emotional balance and which should be considered, to all intents and purposes, the “sixth lifestyle pillar of longevity” — an indispensable pillar for aging while maintaining a high quality of life.
Whether it is a matter of prevention or of investigating symptoms, the presence of the andrology specialist in the multidisciplinary team makes it possible to build a tailored pathway for even more complete well-being.
