Have you heard about cooking on a charcoal grill?  Substances produced in the char have been known to increase the incidence of cancer.  Combine that with eating a lot of red meat like steaks and you have just upped your risk factors. A barbeque once in a while is okay, but let’s not overdo it, and keep our men healthy!

One major cause of prostate cancer is genetic.  Those with a family history of prostate cancer need to seek a doctor’s advice on the matter.  Yearly checkups will begin well before the age of 50 in these cases.

Doctors are hesitant to say that diet and genetics actually “cause” prostate cancer.  They do significantly increase the risk that you will develop it.  Changing what you eat and getting yearly tests may just keep the disease from ever touching your life in the first place.

Healthful Goddess provides information about healthy living, and in this segment we will concentrate on articles about Prostate Cancer, its causes, symptoms and treatment, so you can help the men in your life!

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Every year, over 240,000 men will get a diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Study shows that in America, prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in the male population.  Therefore, it is important to know what factors come into play when determining if you are at risk.  Here are some of the causes of prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is rare in other parts of the world.  That alone suggests that environment and diet play a significant role in the formation of this type of cancer.  It is not the number one killer of men but there are close to 30,000 deaths a year from the condition.  African-American men have the highest incidence of prostate cancer.

Like any other cancer, cancer of the prostate can begin with normal cells.  When the cells start to grow out of control you have cancer.  Prostate cancer has a very high cure rate when the cancer remains in situ (within the gland).  Once the cancer metastasizes to other organs, the brain and/or bone, it is incurable.

So, what do you need to know about prostate cancer to lower your chances of developing the disease?

The prostate is a small gland that is found below the bladder in the male reproductive system.  This gland is responsible for creating most of the fluid that goes into making semen.  The male hormone, testosterone, regulates the function of the prostate gland.

The prostate can become enlarged.  This is called BPH or benign prostatic hypertrophy.  It can be uncomfortable to say the least, but there are no cancer cells.  You wonít know if this is the case unless you get tested.  Beginning at age 50, a yearly exam is recommenced to catch any cancer that may be growing there.

As we said, diet can play a big role in the development of prostate cancer.  Men who have a diet high in red meat and unhealthy fats are at greater risk.  This excess animal fat increases the production of testosterone in the body.  Prostate cancer is essentially a slow growing cancer, but testosterone increases the growth rate of the prostate tumor.

At least half of the time, the cause of infertility is due to unforeseen conditions.  When it comes to the female reproductive system, infertility could have more than a dozen root causes.  Keep reading to find out some reasons for female infertility.

We’d like to think that our inside is as beautiful as our outside, but that’s not necessarily so.  When it comes to female infertility, the plumbing could be the source of the problem.  As a female, there are several reasons for infertility:

* Fibroid
* Ovulation issues
* Endometriosis
* Ectopic pregnancy
* Age
* Health
* STDs

Fibroids are benign tumors of the uterine muscle.  They can resemble bumps on the uterus or one can be as large as the uterus itself.  A surgical procedure called a myomectomy can be performed to cut the fibroids out of the myometrium.  Fibroids can make it hard for a fertilized egg to implant in the uterine wall.

Ovulation is the process by which an egg is released each month for potential pregnancy.  The ovaries release an egg and it travels through the fallopian tubes to the uterus.  Fallopian tubes can be narrowed or closed and prevent the egg from passing and having the opportunity to be fertilized.

Endometriosis is a condition where endometrial cells find their way outside of the uterus.  They adhere to the ovaries, outside of the uterus, fallopian tubes, bladder or other organs in the vicinity.  Endometriosis can cause pelvic pain and cramping.

An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy in the fallopian tube.  The egg implants here and begins to grow.  It can only grow so large in the small tube and will abort.  Ectopic pregnancies are removed with surgery and the subsequent scarring in the fallopian tube can cause problems when trying to get pregnant in the future.

Age is also a factor.  A woman is born with all of the eggs she will ever have.  As a result, the eggs age as she does.  Women over 40 are using older eggs to try and get pregnant.  Problems with the eggs can occur when they are older.

Health is important at any age and when you want to get pregnant.  Women who are overweight or underweight have a hard time getting pregnant.  Overweight women are prone to polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) which is a cause of infertility.  A lifestyle that promotes the abuse of tobacco, illicit drugs and alcohol also presents problems that can result in infertility.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) contribute to infertility.  If untreated they can cause scarring that inhibits pregnancy.  STDs can also cause a woman to miscarry.

Female infertility has many causes.  If you have any of the conditions above, seek help from your doctor about ways to increase your chances of fertility.