CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland Clinic has started a Center for Men's Health to offer specialty health services to men.

Housed in the Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute on the main campus, the new center is designed to treat those who have been medically under-served, the Clinic said. That includes those with urologic disorders such as voiding dysfunction, erectile dysfunction (ED), low testosterone, chronic testicular pain, benign prostatic enlargement and chronic prostatitis.

"Our focus is on addressing certain conditions that specifically affect men and improve access for populations that have been traditionally under-served and understudied," Dr. Daniel Shoskes, a urologist in the Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute and the head of the new center, said in a statement.

The Center includes a Men's Health Clinic where patients can schedule appointments with several providers in one visit. Specialists include urologists, cardiologists, endocrinologists, a psychologist focused on men's sexual health and a dietician who specializing in nutrition and dietary needs for diabetic men and those with a high BMI, the Clinic said.

"We've known for a while that sexual dysfunction is oftentimes directly linked to other health issues such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes," said Shoskes. "For example, ED is frequently the first sign of a heart problem in men."

The center offers advanced urological technology services, such as low-intensity shock wave therapy for erectile dysfunction and chronic pelvic pain. The center is the only local hospital to offer this service, the Clinic said.

The center also is working with the Clinic's LGBT Clinic - in the Lakewood Family Health Center - on improving access to care for gay and bisexual men.

Cleveland Clinic Center for Men's Health