A common concern presenting in general practice is hair loss. Hair is an integral aspect of our identity and feelings of self-esteem, and it offers an element of aesthetic expression for many. To see it recede or thin can be a challenging experience. This article will first review notable information pertaining to the hair physiology, along with key aspects relating to male and female patterns of hair loss (androgenic alopecia).

After iron, zinc is the most abundant element in the human body, with approximately 2 to 4 g distributed among the muscles (60%), bones (20%), liver, and skin. Given its abundance, concerns about zinc deficiency is often overlooked; however, as discussed in this article, certain populations and individuals may benefit from supplementation.

The topic of how diet affects prostate cancer has been a topic of interest for a while. It is known that the risk of prostate cancer varies dramatically based on geographic location—in some places, the risk is 60 times higher than others!

Often times when we hear the word “infertility”, our mind immediately goes to a woman wanting to bear a child. Less often, perhaps, does one immediately think about the potential that a male reproductive issue could be the reason a couple is having problems conceiving.

There’s little doubt that your family physician strongly believes in “preconception health care” – that’s the care and counseling designed to help you and your partner become as healthy as you can be prior to conceiving your children.

Who we are and how we feel is often expressed through our hair. Regardless of if hair is curly, straight, twisted, corn-rowed or locked; it is a universal sign of beauty, sensuality, fertility and attractiveness. Moreover, hair helps us to communicate our state of health. It also serves the function of protecting our heads and skin, adding not only a layer of insulation, but also more dimension to our personalities.

There is a new, growing interest in the field of male infertility, given the recent trends of declining conception over the past decade. The times are telling of families having fewer children, later in age and often having more difficulties with conception. Infertility can pose physical, psychological, financial and economic burden on individuals, the health care system and society.

Male fertility is measured by sperm quality and count. A man is considered at risk for infertility if his sperm count is less than 20 million per millilitre, and may be sterile if the sperm count is less than 500,000 per millilitre. Semen analysis is commonly done by light microscope and scanning electron microscope. Female infertility has become a medical hot topic, but what about men; the other half of the equation?

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among Canadian men (excluding nonmelanoma skin cancer), with 1 in 8 Canadian men expected to develop the disease in his lifetime, and 1 in 28 expected to die from it.^[1] In Canada, the five-year survival rate for prostate cancer is 96%; however, despite this promising statistic, every day an average of 65 Canadian men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and 11 will die from it.