Men's Health Safety: Urinary Retention, Sudden Symptoms and Unsupervised Hormone Use

Get urgent help first

In the United States call 911. Elsewhere, use your local emergency number. If a poison or overdose is possible, see Poisoning: what to do first and Poison help by country.

Urinary retention

Urinary retention means being unable to empty all the urine from the bladder. It is more common in older men, and men with an enlarged prostate are more likely to develop it. [1] Chronic retention can cause few or no symptoms, yet can lead to infection, bladder damage and kidney damage. [1] Some medicines can make urination harder: NIDDK names cold and cough medicines (decongestants and antihistamines), tranquilizers, antidepressants and diuretics, and MedlinePlus adds some incontinence medicines and some vitamins and supplements. [7][9] Ask a pharmacist before using them if you already have urinary symptoms. See Urinary symptoms and enlarged prostate.

Hidden drugs in "enhancement" products

The FDA says many male enhancement supplements, ED treatments, energy pills and stamina pills are likely to be contaminated with dangerous hidden ingredients. They are sometimes falsely advertised as dietary supplements or all-natural treatments, are sold online and in stores, may carry many positive reviews, and can lead to severe health issues and hospitalization. [10] The FDA's list covers only a small fraction of these products, so a product that is not listed is not necessarily safe. [10]

What you can do:

• Avoid products marketed for instant sexual performance, especially from social media or unfamiliar websites.


• Read Unsafe products and warnings and Product quality and contamination.


• Report a bad reaction: see Side effects and reporting.

Medicine interactions

• Sildenafil is not usually prescribed together with nitrates taken for chest pain. [5] Taking it with poppers (amyl nitrate) or illegal drugs such as amphetamines, ecstasy and cocaine can increase the risk of serious side effects. [5]
• NIDDK advises telling your health care professional about all medicines you take, including supplements, because interactions can lead to serious side effects. [3]
• Do not stop a medicine you need because you suspect it causes ED; talk with your health care professional first. [3]
• General rules: How interactions work.

Unsupervised hormone use

Testosterone and "anabolic steroids" taken without medical supervision carry real risks.

• NIDA lists, for misuse of anabolic steroids: high blood pressure, blood clots, heart attack and stroke, and in men decreased sperm production, enlarged breasts and shrinking of the testicles. [11]
• The WHO notes that anabolic steroid use can cause abnormal semen parameters such as sperm count and shape. [12]
• MedlinePlus lists stopping anabolic steroids as a cause of central hypogonadism (low hormone output controlled from the brain). [13]
• When testosterone is prescribed for confirmed deficiency, the Endocrine Society recommends monitoring symptoms, side effects, blood testosterone and hematocrit (the proportion of red cells in blood), and prostate cancer risk in the first year. [14] That monitoring is not possible if the source is an online seller.
• The TRAVERSE trial found more atrial fibrillation, acute kidney injury and pulmonary embolism with prescribed testosterone gel than with placebo. [15]

See Testosterone and low testosterone and Male fertility concerns.

Mental health

NIMH notes men are less likely than women to have received mental health treatment in the past year, and that earlier treatment tends to be more effective. [8] See Stress and anxiety safety.