Male teens: bizarre lifeform

I work with a group of high school sophomores from every public high school in my county as well as the two largest parochial schools. As I prepared their work for today, I wondered how much male teenagers might know about prostates and prostate health...after all, it's something most of us were not even aware of until well into our adult lives.

I put together a very brief quiz that listed six organs, and asked the male students to identify the location of each organ in the body and it's function. The organs were:

Heart

Lungs

Liver

Kidney

Pineal Gland

Prostate Gland

Admittedly, the pineal gland was a bit of a stretch for high school sophomores...but I never said it was fair.

The majority had little difficulty with the first four organs, and several got the pineal gland location right (none knew its function). The prostate was another story.

Every one of the male students (11) had the location close enough for my purposes...one was quite specific and correct. When it came to function, I believe there was either chatter or texting going on because every paper, with the exception of the location winner who had no idea, listed the function as “Dude Juice.”

Although not a definition I was expecting (and remember, they're only sophomores), they at least had some vague limited idea of anatomy and physiology.

This brings to mind the question; when should we begin to talk with men about prostate health? Is there any reason for a sixteen year old to be introduced to something that is, for the most part, not an issue until well into adulthood? Is it unreasonable to introduce a disease so ubiquitous among males in our culture at an earlier age?

I have a lot more questions and no answers...but I'll entertain any opinion(s) you wish to share.