Sunday, December 23, 2012

Understanding Male Sexual Problems

 

Understanding Male Sexual Problems -- Diagnosis and Treatment

How Do I Know If I Have Sexual Problems?

The most important way for your health care provider to diagnose a sexual problem is to listen carefully to the story you tell, review the list of medications and substances you use (including natural remedies) to track whether your sexual dysfunction is connected with them, and try to determine whether your difficulties are recent or long-standing. It's also important for your health care provider to understand your level of knowledge about your body and about sexuality.
The health care provider will probably encourage talking about relationships, partners, past sexual history, any history of trauma, possible symptoms of depression, and any other stresses or concerns that may be interfering with your ability to respond sexually. Though these topics may seem extraordinarily private, they must be covered to properly evaluate sexual dysfunction and help you have a more satisfying sex life.

Recommended Related to Sexual Conditions

Don't try to treat a sexually transmitted disease, or STD, yourself. These diseases are contagious and serious. You must see a doctor. Bacterial STDs can be cured with antibiotics if treatment begins early enough. Viral STDs cannot be cured, but you can manage symptoms with medications. There is a vaccine against hepatitis B, but it will not help if you already have the disease. If you are given antibiotics to treat a STD, it is important that you take all of the drug prescribed to you, even if...
Your health care provider will give you a thorough physical exam, checking for high blood pressure, vascular disease, a neurological disorder, or obvious signs of conditions affecting your penis or testicles. You'll probably be given a blood test to check for diabetes, thyroid disease, and any other hormonal disorders your practitioner may suspect.
Because men normally have multiple erections during sleep, you'll probably be asked about whether you ever awaken with an erection. Sometimes men are asked to undergo a test in a sleep lab to be monitored for erections during sleep. While this information can help tell whether erectile dysfunction may be due to problems with the vascular or nervous systems, it doesn't necessarily indicate whether the erection is sufficient for sexual penetration.
An ultrasound exam that measures the blood flow within the pelvis (a penile Doppler study) can determine whether there is enough blood flow and pressure in the penis to allow for an adequate erection.
A measurement of blood pressure in the penis, called the penile-brachial index, may be helpful in diagnosing penile vascular disorders. A test dose of an erection-inducing agent, such as papaverine, is injected into the penis under a doctor's supervision, followed by monitoring for a subsequent erection. Also, penile blood pressure can be measured during the erection. During this exam, contrast dye may also be injected into an artery so X-rays can reveal any leaks in the vascular system that could account for erectile dysfunction. Surgery to correct the leaks has not been found to be effective.

What Are the Treatments for Sexual Problems?

Any underlying physical conditions will be treated in an effort to improve your sexual functioning. Medication may be given to increase testosterone levels, decrease prolactin, treat thyroid disease, or address high blood pressure. If your sexual dysfunction seems to be due to medications for another condition, your health care provider may prescribe an alternative with fewer sexual side effects. If you smoke, drink alcohol, or use any recreational drugs, you'll be encouraged to stop. If you avoid tobacco, you will provide more oxygen to the vascular tissues of the penis.

 

What Are the Treatments for Sexual Problems? continued...

If you live a sedentary lifestyle, your provider may suggest that you start an exercise program and eat healthy foods. Studies have shown that these measures may slow the buildup of fats that can block the blood vessels. Importantly,
Treating premature ejaculation: Premature ejaculation is commonly curbed by the "squeeze" technique, a kind of biofeedback. This method has a high success rate, and repeated practice usually leads to better natural control. When you feel that orgasm is imminent, withdraw from your partner's vagina or anus or signal your partner to stop stimulation. You (or your partner) then squeezes gently on the head of the penis with the thumb and forefinger, halting the climax. After 20 or 30 seconds, begin lovemaking again. Repeat the process if necessary.
Medications may delay ejaculation, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), including sertraline (Zoloft), paroxitine (Paxil), and fluoxetine (Prozac). None of these drugs is specifically approved by the FDA to treat premature ejaculation.
Treatments for erectile dysfunction include any of the following:
  • The drugs sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), avanafil (Stendra), or vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn)
  • A vacuum inflation device that pulls blood into the penis
  • Prostaglandin urethral suppositories
  • Self-injection of medications directly into the penis
  • Vascular surgery to correct problems involving the veins of the penis (a procedure that has not been found to be effective)
  • Inflatable penile implants
Premature ejaculation may signal a more complex disorder, and any psychological aspects should be explored in therapy. To rely only on physical control may mask the symptom without resolving the cause.
Treating retarded ejaculation: This sexual problem is often treated by reducing anxiety and learning to control the timing of ejaculation. Sensate focus exercises may help; you should withhold penetration until you sense that ejaculation is inevitable. A common cause of retarded or delayed ejaculation is side effects from medication, especially antidepressant medications such as the SSRIs.
Treating retrograde ejaculation: Retrograde ejaculation may be corrected through medications or surgery that allows the valve at the base of the bladder to close. This is basically a harmless disorder, causing a problem only if pregnancy is a goal; in such situations, it may be possible to retrieve sperm from the bladder for artificial insemination.
Dealing with Environment and Psychological Causes of Sexual Problems
Your health care provider may be able to help you outline strategies to address non-medical issues. If you have psychological barriers to sexual functioning, your health care provider may suggest that you seek individual psychotherapy, couples therapy with your partner, or consult a sex therapist. A number of techniques and therapies can help traumatized individuals become more comfortable with their sexuality. Similarly, if your health care provider feels that you may need more information about sexual functioning to help you achieve greater enjoyment, you may be referred to a sex therapist.

Low Testosterone Affects Health, Mood, and Sex

How Low Testosterone Affects Health, Mood, and Sex

Low Testosterone and Sex Drive

Testosterone isn't the only fuel for a man's sex drive and performance. But low testosterone can reduce your ability to have satisfying sex. Lack of sex drive and erectile dysfunction are sexual problems that can result from low testosterone. If low testosterone is the cause, treating it can help.

Testosterone and the Causes of Low Libido

Researchers haven't unraveled the mystery of just how testosterone increases libido. It's normal for a man's sex drive to slowly decline from its peak in his teens and 20s, but libido varies widely between men. What one man might consider a low sex drive, another might not. Also, sex drive changes within each man over time and is affected by stress, sleep, and opportunities for sex. For these reasons, defining what's a "normal" sex drive is next to impossible. Usually, the man himself identifies a lack of sex drive as a problem. Other times, his partner may consider it to be an issue.
Low testosterone symptoms don't always include feeling like you have no sex drive. Some men maintain sexual desire at relatively low testosterone levels. For other men, libido may lag even with normal testosterone levels. Low testosterone is one of the possible causes of low libido, however. If testosterone is lowered far enough, virtually all men will experience some decline in sex drive.
In a large study of men in Massachusetts, about 11% overall said they had a lack of sex drive. The researchers then tested all the men's testosterone levels. About 28% of men with low testosterone had low libido. These men were relatively young, with an average age of 47; older men might have worse sexual symptoms.
Low testosterone is only one of the causes of low libido. Stress, sleep deprivation, depression, and chronic medical illnesses can also sap a man's sex drive.

Low Testosterone and Erectile Dysfunction

Surprisingly, low testosterone by itself rarely causes erectile dysfunction, or ED. Low testosterone alone -- with no other health problems -- accounts for a small minority of men with erectile dysfunction.
Erection problems are usually caused by atherosclerosis -- hardening of the arteries. If damaged, the tiny blood vessels supplying the penis can no longer dilate to bring in the strong flow needed for a firm erection. Diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol are the three main causes of atherosclerosis and erectile dysfunction.
At the same time, low testosterone is a frequent accomplice to atherosclerosis in creating erectile dysfunction. In studies, as many as one in three men mentioning ED to their doctor have low testosterone. Experts believe that in men with other factors causing erectile dysfunction, low testosterone can strongly contribute, making a difficult situation even worse.
Strengthening the connection, low testosterone is linked in some way with many of the conditions that lead to erectile dysfunction:
  • Metabolic syndrome
  • Obesity
  • Endothelial dysfunction
  • Diabetes
Although low testosterone isn't known to cause them, the associations between other medical conditions and low testosterone can be significant.
Testosterone therapy improves sex drive and satisfaction with sex in many men. However, the long-term risks and benefits of testosterone replacement are unknown. Research trials on testosterone replacement in men are ongoing, although results are years away.
WebMD Medical Reference
Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD on June 12, 2012

Read if some one from family is popping daily : Crocin or similar drugs

Shocking but true to know...

PANADOL

My husband was working in a hospital as an IT engineer, as the hospital is planning to set up a database of its patients and he knows some of the doctors quite well. The doctors used to tell him that whenever they have a headache, they are not willing to take PANADOL / PARACETAMOL.

In fact, they will turn Herbal Medicine or find other alternatives. This is because Panadol is toxic to the body, and it harms the liver. According to the doctor: Panadol will remain in the body for at least 5 years.....!!
And according to the doctor, there was an air-hostess who consumed lots of Panadol as she needed to stand all the time and work under lots of pressure. She's now in her early 30's, and she is undergoing kidney cleaning (DIALYSIS) every month.
Whenever we have a headache, that's because it is due to the electron / Ion imbalance in the brain.
Some alternative solution to cope with this matter is Drink lots of water.

Another method will be to submerge your feet in a basin of warm water so that it brings the blood pressure down from your throbbing head.

As Panadol is a pain killer, the more Panadol you take, the lesser would be your threshold for pain (your endurance level for pain). We all will fall ill as we age.

Imagine that we had spent our entire life popping quite a substantial amount of Panadol (Pain Killer), when you need to have a surgery or operation, you will need a much more amount of general anesthesia.

The thought is scary enough to turn me to Herbal Medicine or other healthier alternative. Value your health, value your life, THINK TWICE before you easily pop that familiar pill into your mouth again.

Please don't take PANADOL always and try to send this e-mail to people you care.
Here in India it is sold as CROCIN or METACIN

Monday, December 3, 2012

Read for your Heart and for escaping Cancer ....GHEE


A spoon of ghee full of health: 'Poses no danger to cardiac health' and could protect us from cancer

PUBLISHED: 23:23 GMT, 6 October 2012 | UPDATED: 23:24 GMT, 6 October 2012

Desi Ghee or clarified butter oil - often blamed for obesity and heart diseases - is not that bad after all.

Indian scientists have just discovered that cow ghee could protect us from cancer.

Cow ghee enhances the availability of enzymes responsible for detoxification of cancer-causing substances and decreases the availability of those responsible for activation of carcinogens, scientists from the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) have reported in the latest issue of the Indian Journal of Medical Research.

The new finding, however, does not mean you can go ahead with liberal amount of ghee in your food.

Ghee poses no danger to cardiac health if the total fat intake is restricted to the prescribed limit, researchers said
Ghee poses no danger to cardiac health if the total fat intake is restricted to the prescribed limit, researchers said
One must ensure that the intake of total fat (including ghee) should not exceed the prescribed limit of fat consumption. In the experiments done in lab, scientists studied the effects of cow ghee compared to soybean oil on female rats which were artificially given breast cancer causing chemicals.

They observed that the initiation and progress of mammary cancer decreased in rats which were fed on cow ghee. However, there was a greater proportion of tumours in animals fed on soybean oil.
Fights Cancer
Researchers have deciphered the mechanism of ghee's protective properties.
'Feeding cow ghee decreased the expression of genes responsible for cell proliferation and raised regulated genes responsible for cell apoptosis', explained Dr Vinod Kansal, who led the research team.

One probable factor in cow ghee is the presence of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which is known to possess beneficial properties.
Cow ghee is a rich natural source of CLA, whereas, vegetable oils lack this particular fatty acid.

Most vegetable oils contain high amount of unsaturated fatty acid as well as linoleic acid - which is considered pro-carcinogenic as it forms free radicals known to damage DNA.
The ghee available in India is mostly made from buffalo milk.

And though the study was done on cow ghee, scientists said buffalo ghee is also expected to be similarly effective because both contain CLA.

Dr Kansal said 'Ghee poses no danger to cardiac health as long as the total fat intake remains restricted to the prescribed limit.'

Moreover, ghee improves blood HDL level, which is good for heart, he added. 'I have serious reservation about doctors prescribing vegetable oil brands with highly unsaturated fat which is pro-carcinogenic,' the researcher said.