Every year, we observe National Infertility Awareness Week (Oct. 19-25) by cutting back on our Mountain Dew intake and wearing boxer shorts. It seems like the least we can do to show support for our swimmers. However, we often wonder if these displays of solidarity are actually having the desired effect on the old testes. To get some answers concerning the subject of seamen, we contacted our good ...

Dear Dr. Ken: I got a new tattoo a few days ago and it has been itching. My other tattoos never bothered me at all. Is this in my head or could the tattoo actually be making me itch? -- Keith G. Dear Keith: Forty percent of people aged 18 to 40 have one or more tattoos, according to some estimates. Given how common tattoos and piercings have become, there's relatively little data on their health ...

Dear Dr. Ken: I read your recent article on the risks associated with long-term pot use and am hoping you could help me out with a problem -- (no, not manboobs) concerns about drug testing. Could marijuana be detected in someone's system during a yearly physical or doctor's visit? How long does marijuana stay in someone's system before it doesn't show up on a drug test? Is there any pill I can ...

Dr. Ken: I hooked up with this woman I met at a party. We had oral sex (when I say "we," I mean I got some). She had a cold sore on her lip and, well, was still looking hot so I ignored it. Long story short, I've now got genital herpes. My sister is a nurse (at an elementary school) and she said that even though a cold sore is related to genital herpes it wouldn't cause it. What's the deal? -- ...

Dear Dr. Ken: Every so often, I hear about a guy in his 20s who drops dead of a heart attack. Do I have to worry about my ticker giving out before I'm 40? If I do, it's gonna give me a heart attack. -- Barry H., Denver, Colo. Barry: So, you're young and healthy and figure heart attacks are something only old guys with beer guts need to worry about? Think again. How you eat, live and exercise ...

Dear Dr. Ken: I'm still living with my roommate from college. Thing is, he wakes 'n' bakes almost every day (getting stoned first thing in the morning). I've tried to convince him he should take it easy, but he says I'm just dropping "propaganda." Aside from all the Doritos and Mountain Dew, will smoking so much mess with his health? -- Barry P., Austin, Texas Barry: Sorry to be a buzzkill, but ...

Dear Dr. Ken: I just got diagnosed with genital herpes on my inner thigh. But I don't know how I got it. The only person I've been with recently is a woman from my office, and she swears she's clean. I also wear condoms religiously. The only thing I can think of is that I used a few public bathrooms just before I got an outbreak. Could I have picked it up from toilet seat? -- Troy W. Troy: You ...

Ever wondered why you're still getting zits? Curious about why your breath smells like something might be dying inside of you? You don't say anything to your doctor, though, because you're too afraid that you're just being crazy, or worse, there might actually be something severely wrong. Men tend to get macho when it comes to personal health. The truth is that most of the health problems ...

Prev Next All doctors worth their salt will listen without judging and will simply do what they can to help. If you get a whiff of judgment, find a new doctor. That doesn't mean that he or she might not give you some tough love, but most docs will leave it at that. Confidentiality is not only a professional obligation, it's the law. Doctors are simply not allowed to discuss specifics of ...

Prev Next In high school you could scarf down burgers and pizza and still be thin as a rail. Once you get into your 20s, your metabolism slows down. Society may say only women should worry about their weight, but men are just as often concerned about that spare tire. Being overweight brings a host of potentially serious health problems. Is your cholesterol increasing? Your blood ...