Preventing male sexual problems is not easy as their individual causes may vary. Understanding the sexual problem and knowing what can be known about the problem is a step in the right path to treating them and preventing them. Here are some general reminders that should help you avoid having sexual problems:
At the first sign of a sexual problem, consult your doctor for the proper course of treatment for the sexual problem.
You might want to consider stopping alcohol intake or at least, limiting its consumption. Quit smoking. Avoid stress, anxiety as well as depression; seek medical help if necessary.
Maintain open and constant communication with a partner, discussing sexual problems and how to avoid them.
1. CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
Seeing a doctor at the onset of a sexual problem or sexual dysfunction prevents the sexual problem from worsening and avoids further complications from arising. Your doctor can identify the cause of the sexual problem and can prescribe any of the following treatments:
Prescribing of medications like Levitra, Cialis or Viagra. These drugs have been clinically proven to increase the blood flow to the penis, thereby improving sexual function.
Hormone treatment – in men that have low levels of testosterone, testosterone therapy is prescribed to elevate the testosterone levels and restore sexual performance
To help you understand what your doctor will prescribe to treat your condition, here are some possible questions you may wish to ask him or her:
- What do you think caused the sexual problem?
- Can it get treated?
- What are the treatments available?
- How long is the treatment going to last?
- Will the treatment affect my routine daily work?
- Would a lifestyle change help in treating the problem?
- Will tablets be taken orally?
- Are there any side effects to the medications?
It is important to be truthful with your doctor to get the most information from him or her.
2. ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION CESSATION
It has been proven and clinically shown that symptoms of male sexual problems are increased due to alcohol consumption. There are three leading sexual functions that are affected by over consuming of alcohol, they are:
A. Erectile dysfunction
B. Reduced libido
C. Impaired orgasm ability
3. QUIT SMOKING
Quitting from smoking is not only beneficial to the general well-being of an individual; it has been shown that smoking can lead to infertility problems and erectile dysfunction (impotence) problems. Dr John Spangler said (from the American Society of Hypertension) that men who smoke are 26 times in danger of suffering from impotence. According to him, there are chronic and acute erectile physiology effects caused by smoking. Smoking inhibits the full erection capabilities of humans.
4. AVOID STRESS, ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION
Stress, anxiety and depression are all psychological causes that lead to sexual problems. They may be job or work related or can be caused by trauma suffered from childhood or from a previous sexual partner. Managing these psychological causes prevent the onset of sexual problems. Psychological therapy may be necessary in treating extreme cases of sexual problems of this nature.
5. COMMUNICATION WITH PARTNER
Sexual behaviour is influenced to a great extent by having an open communication with a sexual partner. Sexual concerns and needs can be readily addressed with communication. Barriers towards a healthy sex life are eliminated and thus preventing sexual problems from arising. Generally, communication on male sexual problems resolves these issues:
Physical health and psychological state
Exploration of factors in relationship aimed to treat the sexual problem successfully.
Learning of the causes and open discussion addressing the sexual needs of each partner.
Physical health and psychological state.
Exploration of factors in relationship aimed to treat the sexual problem successfully.
Learning of the causes and open discussion addressing the sexual needs of each partner.
6. BE AWARE OF THE SYMPTOMS OF MALE SEXUAL PROBLEMS
There are a number of symptoms of male sexual problems and some of them are:
- Loss of and lacking in sexual fantasies, desire and interest in sexual coitus
- Lack of ability to maintain and have an erection
- Lack of ability to attain an orgasm, despite stimulation and arousal
- Lack of control in ejaculating and reaching orgasm
- Inability to attain orgasm
- Ejaculation with blood on the semen
It is important to see your doctor at the first sign of any of these symptoms to treat the problem early. There are of course various sexual problems and their symptoms may vary.
SEXUAL PROBLEMS THAT AFFLICT MEN:
Sexual dysfunction categories
- A. Sexual desire disorders
- B. Arousal disorders
- C. Pain disorders
- D. Orgasm disorders
- E. Ejaculation Disorders
A. DISORDERS AFFECTING SEXUAL DESIRES
In this category can be classified the HSDD or the hypoactive sexual disorder disease also known as disorder of the sexual aversion type. This sexual problem is characterized by the lack of sexual fantasies and no desire for sexual contact. There are three sub classifications to this condition:
1. Generalized HSDD – With this, the man has no desire to be sexually stimulated either by his lonesome or with a partner.
2. Situational/Acquired HSDD – With this, the man has had previous interest in sex with a present partner and has lost interest to have sex with his present partner, but has the interest to be stimulated sexually by other women other than his present partner.
2. Acquired HSDD – With this, the man has had interest in sex with present partner, but is lacking in interest for sexual coitus.
B. DISORDERS AFFECTING AROUSAL
In this classification, the male sexual disorder called erectile dysfunction is part of. This condition is characterized by the failure to achieve an erection or the inability to maintain an erection.
Impotence is likewise characterized by the absence of sexual pleasure and excitement during the sexual act. This inability to maintain an erection is due to the decrease of blood flowing to the penis. Here are some of the factors which are considered causes of erectile dysfunction:
- Arsenic poising coming from drinking water laden with arsenic
- Drug side effects
- Diabetes
- Prostatectomy surgery
- Cardiovascular disease
- Hypogonadism-hormonal deficiency
Impotentia coeundi is another type of erectile dysfunction that is characterized by the inability of the penis to penetrate the female vagina during the sexual act.
Erectile dysfunction may be physical or psychologically caused; a person with a psychological erectile dysfunction can be cured depending on the strength of his belief and conviction to get cured.
An individual with a physical erectile dysfunction may have had damage to their prostate as a result of colo-rectal surgery. The colo-rectal surgery may have caused damage to the Nervi erigentes, which is partly responsible for the normal flow of blood to the penis.
C. PAIN DISORDERS
Phimosis falls under this classification. It is a condition where the foreskin of penis fails to retract. This retraction failure causes pain during sexual activity. This is sometimes caused by an infection called balinitis or any diseases caused to the genitals.
Peyronie’s disease is pain in the penis due to high blood pressure and arterial hardening. Injury to the penis like bending forcefully while the penis is erect can cause this disease. Diabetes and Injecting drugs unto the penis for treating impotence have also been pointed as other causes of this sexual problem.
D. ORGASM DISORDERS
In this classification can be found the sexual problem called anorgasmia. This sexual dysfunction is characterized by an individual’s inability to attain orgasm, despite adequate sexual stimulation.
Male orgasm disorders may be caused by any of the following:
- Hypogonadism- a condition where the testes does not produce sufficient testosterone
- Disorders of the thyroid gland such as hyperthyroidism or increase thyroid hormone production or hypothyroidism or decreased thyroid hormone production.
- Nervous system diseases like strokes, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord injuries
- Alcohol and substance abuse
- Cushing’s syndrome
E. EJACULATION DISORDERS
Ejaculation disorders are the most widely known male sexual problems, they are:
- Premature ejaculation
- Retrograde ejaculation
- Delayed ejaculation
- Inhibited ejaculation
1. Premature ejaculation is a male sexual problem where a man ejaculates ahead of his partner during coitus. This condition is also known as early ejaculation or rapid ejaculation, or simply, ejaculation occurring immediately after penetration.
Researchers have given this condition the definition of ‘an ejaculation that occurs in two minutes or less after penetration.’ The following are the factors (psychological) that contributes to the development of this sexual problem:
- Temporary depression
- History of sexual repression
- Stress due to financial worries
- Unrealistic expectation on performance during coitus
- Lack of confidence
- Lack or absence of communication between sexual partners, due to unresolved conflicts, feelings of hurt and pain.
- Extreme arousal
A doctor diagnosing this problem will consider the following conditions to rule out a premature ejaculation case:
- Age
- overall sexual activity and experience
- recent sexual activity
- and novelty of the sexual partner
2. Retrograde ejaculation is a sexual problem where a man achieves orgasm, but fails to produce any semen or visible ejaculation. The absent and non-visible semen is ejaculated into the urinary bladder.
The causes of this sexual problem are as follows:
- Bladder nerve problems causing the flow of ejaculation to go backward.
- after prostate or bladder neck operations
- Diabetes with complications of nerve damage (diabetic neuropathy).
- Medications administered in treating mood disorders
In some male cases there had been claims that a voluntary retrograde ejaculation can be achieved as a contraceptive means. In this instance the semen is discharged together with the urine. A simple urinalysis test is enough to determine this problem as there is visible abnormal sperm levels in the urine.
3. Delayed ejaculation or Retarded Ejaculation (RE) is a condition where it takes a very long time for ejaculation to occur. According to the WHO (World Health Organization), delayed ejaculation is the persistent difficulty, absence or delay in reaching orgasm, despite enough sexual stimulation. This causes anxiety, distress as well as absence of sexual confidence to the person afflicted with the condition.
4. Inhibited ejaculation is characterized by a slow occurring ejaculation or a full distended penis and achieving orgasmic state with no ejaculation visible.