Career, family, everyday problems. . . In the cycle of problems, many men put concerns about their own health in the background and return to them only after unpleasant sensations become apparent.
One obvious example is erectile dysfunction. On the one hand, sexual weakness causes many men to fear. On the other hand, weakened sexual potential is rarely taken seriously at first. Meanwhile, the first signs of reduced potency in men definitely draw attention and are a reason to consult a specialist.
Problems with potency: psychology or physiology?
Traditionally, the problem of erectile dysfunction has been linked to age: the older a man is, the more problems he has in the sexual sphere. However, doctors are starting to sound the alarm: erectile dysfunction has become noticeably younger. The modern man can periodically experience the manifestations of this symptom starting from the age of 25. In addition, nowadays, the main causes of reduced potency in young men are not considered to be stress and psycho-emotional disorders, but rather chronic diseases and lifestyle characteristics.
So what are the main factors that reduce the sexual power of men?
- infectious diseases (usually chronic);
- diseases related to metabolic destabilization (including obesity);
- prostatitis;
- vascular damage;
- bad habits;
- diabetes;
- neurotic disorders, prolonged stress, depression;
- acquired or congenital abnormalities of the male genitalia.
It should be noted that the listed factors do not always lead to the development of sexual disorders, but the first signs of worsening erection or decreased libido may indicate the need to visit a doctor. Only a specialist can identify the real causes of the dysfunction and rule out the presence of serious diseases that may be hidden behind the symptom.
The fight against reduced potency: on all fronts
Out of 100% of men who experience sexual impotence, only 10% immediately consult a doctor and actively work on solving the problem. The rest, for various reasons, the main one being confusion, ignore the "first signs", thereby bringing the problem to its peak. That is why the first step in regaining sexual power is to recognize the problem and only then to try to get rid of it.
In men, the causes and treatment of the decrease in potency are related, and it requires not only medical, but also psychological correction, as well as serious changes in lifestyle and diet.
If the decrease in potency in young or mature men is not a physiological factor, then in order to normalize libido and sexual potential, it is necessary:
- giving up habits that negatively affect potency - smoking, frequent alcohol consumption;
- balancing the diet - it is important to add vitamins to the menu, exclude fatty cholesterol foods and fast foods, love sauerkraut, watermelon and dark chocolate;
- make your lifestyle more active, but without excessive physical activity;
- avoid stressful situations, be able to relax and direct attention to positive aspects;
- avoid hypothermia and carefully follow personal hygiene;
- do not get carried away by promiscuous sexual relations.
If the decrease in potency is not critical, no medication is needed. A positive effect can be achieved in combination with lifestyle correction by taking herbal and biological supplements that have a mild corrective effect on the body.
Premature ejaculation
Premature ejaculation is one of the most common sexual disorders in men. However, this is not a full-fledged disease, since the function of the genital organs is preserved, and it is usually characteristic in certain stages of life (adolescence, long-term sexual abstinence). Premature ejaculation (PE) refers to ejaculation with little sexual stimulation and when ejaculation cannot be delayed long enough for full sexual intercourse. This leads to sexual partners not getting satisfaction from sex and conflicts arise. The man begins to experience psychological problems, fear of intimacy. If the pathology becomes chronic and occurs more often, the help of an andrologist is needed.
What are the causes of premature ejaculation
There are primary and secondary (acquired) forms. It occurs primarily due to anatomical defects of the genitals or abnormal heredity. The debut of premature ejaculation occurs during puberty and does not depend on external factors (partner, situation, psychological state).
Causes of the congenital form:
- hypersensitivity of the penis;
- dysfunction of serotonin receptors;
- short frenulum of the penis;
- cavernous fibrosis.
Secondary premature ejaculation can occur at any stage of life against the background of a man's overall physical health. The main reason for this is chronic urogenital diseases. Hormonal disorders characteristic of endocrine pathologies can also lead to sexual disorders.
Factors that significantly increase the risk of PE include:
- obesity;
- traumatic sexual experience;
- chronic stress;
- family problems (conflicts, emotional coldness between spouses);
- presence of neurological diagnoses - sclerosis, Parkinson's disease;
- irregular sex;
- operations on the genitals or pelvic area.
An important factor is proper nutrition and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The lack of male microelements such as magnesium and zinc negatively affects the quality of the ejaculate. Excessive alcohol dependence reduces the ability to control the body, which leads to unpleasant events in bed.
Premature ejaculation: diagnosis and consultation with the doctor
The main consequences of pathological sexual dysfunction are:
- Sexual dissatisfaction.
- A man is unable to delay and control ejaculation.
- Conflicts and problems in personal relationships, guilt and fear of intimacy.
If such symptoms occur, a consultation with an andrologist or urologist is recommended. During the appointment, the doctor pays special attention to collecting the sexual history. This reveals:
- average duration before ejaculation;
- the effect of physical education on the quality of personal and sexual life;
- the man has endocrine diseases or metabolic disorders;
- How often does premature ejaculation occur?
- at what age did the first case of PE occur?
- whether the man is taking any medication.
A detailed study of the details of a man's sexual life allows the doctor to distinguish between congenital and acquired pathologies. Doctors also classify the situational form of PE into a special group. In this case, premature ejaculation occurs only under certain conditions (with the same partner, in a specific place).
Treatment of premature ejaculation
In some cases, it is enough to reduce the consumption of alcohol or other stimulating drinks (energy drinks, coffee) to restore a full sex life.
For psychological reasons, a positive result can be achieved by developing friendly communication between partners/spouses. Using a condom or changing your body position can reduce penile sensitivity and increase the duration of intercourse. But such recommendations are effective only in the absence of physical health problems. The choice of therapy depends on the cause and severity of the pathology.
Conservative treatment of premature ejaculation
This group includes 3 main areas:
- Application of local ointments, anesthetic creams (mainly lidocaine). This method is easy to use and helps reduce the sensitivity of the glans penis. It is important to choose the correct dose and strictly follow the treatment regimen recommended by the doctor. In case of overdose, the opposite result is possible - numbness of the penis and lack of erection.
- Psychosexual therapy Two behavioral techniques are actively used - the "stop-start" and the "squeeze technique". They help recognize the feeling of impending ejaculation and slow it down. The goal of the therapy is also to regulate the level of sexual excitement. The methods belong to the complex therapy of acquired premature ejaculation.
- Taking medicines. Antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications are used. Prescribing selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) also gives good results. Their side effects lead to delayed ejaculation.
If infectious diseases of the urogenital area are detected, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed. In addition, vitamin complexes may be prescribed.
Surgical treatment of premature ejaculation
Surgical intervention is a last resort, used only when congenital PE is detected. A lidocaine test is required to determine the need for surgical intervention.
- Denervation of the head of the penis is a microsurgical procedure in which the nerves of the penis are corrected.
- Frenulotomy (short frenuloplasty).
- Hyaluronic acid injections.
The main disadvantage of surgical treatment methods is the presence of a recovery period and the possibility of relapse. Currently, SSRIs are considered the optimal and effective method of therapy. It is also important to improve interpersonal relationships and create a comfortable environment.
Ejaculation disorders that are not related to diseases of the internal organs are often temporary and completely reversible. For this, a person just needs to pay more attention to his own health. In order to recognize and treat infectious diseases in time, it is recommended to visit an andrologist or urologist regularly. Sometimes an explanatory conversation with a doctor is enough.
It is important to avoid mental stress, enrich your diet with healthy foods and overcome bad habits. If you cannot cope with psychological discomfort on your own, do not be afraid to seek the help of a psychotherapist.
How to maintain potency: advice from a urologist
Can a full sex life be maintained until old age? What affects potency? How should we eat, what sports should we do to remain a man in the full sense? In what situations do you need medical help? In this article, I answer questions that affect all men and give specific advice from a urologist to maintain men's health.
Myths and truths about male potency
The topic of potency is covered in so many myths that dispelling them would require not an article, but an entire book. But I will mention a few to put an end to them once and for all.
Stormy youth - old age without sex.
If you had active sex in your youth, for example every day or even several times, then by the age of 40-50 the limit of sexual possibilities will be exhausted - is this true?
Physiologically, this statement is completely unfounded. Nature has ensured that man's reproductive function works until his death. Unlike women, who have a limited number of eggs (conditionally), the production of seminal fluid continues throughout a man's life.
The number and frequency of sexual relations in youth does not in any way affect men's vitality in old age. Another problem is indiscriminate, unprotected relationships and their consequences. Complications of sexually transmitted diseases, especially those that are not treated or left to chance, are bound to return and it is only a matter of time.
- He can't control ejaculation like he used to
- You don't experience vivid sensations, the orgasm disappears
If you stop having sex, you will become impotent.
This includes sexual excitement without subsequent release. Some men use this myth to manipulate their partner into having sex every time they turn them on.
Continuous arousal (ejaculation) is really not good for men's health, but it is not as critical as many people think. Interrupting sexual intercourse when the man is maximally excited and ready to ejaculate can lead to prostatitis due to stagnant processes. And only if you interrupt them regularly. Two or three episodes a month probably won't affect your health.
Men's health - Urology
Among the large number of factors affecting potency, urological diseases are among the "leaders". Especially in men older than middle age. In this regard, the main enemies of potency are prostate adenoma and prostatitis.
In men, urological problems related to prostate adenoma usually appear after 40-45 years of age. Men's problems bring patients to the doctor because of a weakened bladder or when the man is unable to urinate.
An enlarged prostate puts pressure on the urethral canal and interferes with the complete outflow of urine. Frequent urges, discomfort from the feeling that the bladder is not completely emptied - all this is neither emotionally nor physically conducive to an active sex life. Further - worse. Problems with urination affect the functioning of the kidneys, and in this state there is no time for physical pleasures.
Unlike prostate adenoma, prostatitis is not just a disease of age. Young men can also get it. Prostatitis is typically the result of an unhealthy lifestyle and sex life. specifically sexually transmitted infections. The situation with them is particularly difficult.
Most of the infections that lead to prostatitis are chlamydia, mycoplasmosis, ureaplasmosis, etc. - does not cause acute symptoms for a long time. The disease passes into the chronic stage almost immediately. But there comes a time when the disease causes pain, atypical discharge and urinary problems due to prostatitis. A man in such a state simply cannot think about sex.
As you already know, there is no direct physiological connection between prostate diseases and erectile dysfunction. But this does not mean that the problem does not need to be solved, as a result, they prevent the man from having a normal sex life. Neither prostate adenoma nor prostatitis go away on their own like a runny nose. It is impossible to restore men's sexual health without the help of a doctor, if available.
Because urological symptoms often appear when the disease has already become chronic. Its early detection, when it can be managed with simple conservative treatment, is only possible with regular preventive urological consultations and urological examinations.
Problems with erectile function - who to contact
Now let's talk about what, in addition to urological diseases, worsens potency, and which doctor should be consulted in order to restore men's health.
Although there are many causes of sexual impotence, they can all be divided into three types:
- Organic. These include physiological factors - diseases and injuries.
- Psychogenic. In this case, physiology is fine, and impotence is caused by psychological problems - stress, depression, traumatic situation.
- Mixed. When both physiology and psychology are to blame for potency problems.
Among the organic causes of potency problems, cardiovascular diseases are the main ones. Blood vessels affected by cholesterol plaques or other pathological changes prevent the corpora cavernosa of the penis from quickly filling with blood. As a result, erection occurs slowly. If the corpora cavernosa is not filled with enough blood, the erection is too flaccid for full intercourse. In extreme cases, it is completely absent.
Another common cause is hormonal imbalance. Hormones control most processes in the body, including sexual arousal and erection. First, the lack of testosterone affects potency. This hormone is in principle responsible for male reproductive functions. But other endocrine disorders, such as diabetes, can also affect men's sexual performance.
Psychogenic erectile dysfunction in its pure form is less common than organic. Sexual impotence is often observed with long-term depression, neuroses and psychological trauma. More often, a combination of psychogenic and physiological problems leads to impotence.
Again, I will take as an example a man suffering from prostatitis and accelerated ejaculation. Let's imagine that he was unable to control his ejaculation and his partner remained displeased because he reprimanded his partner. After a while, the situation happened again. In addition, the man did not get much pleasure from sex, which often happens with prostatitis. What thought comes to mind? "There's something wrong with me, I can't have sex normally! "The psychological problem is obvious. Add progressive prostatitis and you get impotence.
Which doctor should I consult with potency problems?
Many people believe that the main doctor for men's health is a urologist. This is not entirely true. A urologist is a specialist dealing with the urogenital system. What diseases does a urologist treat? These diseases are:
- prostate (adenoma, prostatitis, etc. );
- bladder (tumors, inflammations);
- kidneys (pyelonephritis, urolithiasis);
- urethra.
With what symptoms and when should I consult a urologist?
- discharge from the urethra;
- difficulty urinating;
- pain in the perineum, scrotum, around the anus, in the lower back;
- impurities in urine or semen.
At the first symptoms, you should consult a doctor. Self-medication is the worst thing that can happen in this situation.
Issues related to men's sexual health are dealt with by another specialist. The chief doctor of male potency is an andrologist. He has the necessary knowledge to determine the exact cause of male impotence, to prescribe the appropriate treatment and, if necessary, to involve other specialists - urologist, psychotherapist, endocrinologist.
Since fertility and urology are closely related, andrologists are usually competent in the treatment of urological diseases and combine work in both specialties.
Useful tips for men's health
I emphasize once again that age is not the cause of impotence. Sexual impotence is caused by physiological and psychological disorders, which accumulate more and more every year. This means that you can enjoy a full sex life even in old age.
I am sure that every man knows how to maintain his intimate health.
- A healthy balanced diet;
- Regular physical activity;
- Moderate alcohol consumption;
- There are no bad habits;
- Take care of your health.
Your ability to have sex and reproduce depends directly on these simple natural things. But most men consider it trivial, ignore it and receive the appropriate consequences.
I still recommend that you rethink your approach to your lifestyle and build it with the following tips in mind:
- Give up smoking. Toxic substances you inhale through cigarette smoke - lead, formaldehyde, arsenic, etc. - destroys blood vessels. These are filled with blood and harden the penis.
- Limit alcohol. It also hits the blood vessels. In addition, it disrupts the functioning of the liver, which in "revenge" converts the male sex hormone into a female hormone. You have probably seen what men with low testosterone and high estrogen levels look like: breasts that women can envy, fat deposits on the waist and hips, hair lossin areas atypical for the female body There are enormous difficulties with libido and erection.
- To exercise. Moderate physical activity prevents fluid stagnation in the blood vessels, "trains" the blood vessels and maintains their flexibility.
- At least once a year, do an examination and perform preventive examinations at a urologist-andrologist.
Useful for enhancing male potency:
- Various spices and seasonings: ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, hot pepper, fenugreek. It enhances blood circulation, improves immunity, gives vigor and increases sensuality.
- Seeds, nuts: pistachios, pine nuts, walnuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds. They contain a lot of protein, vitamins and fat.
- All seafood: red fish, oysters. They contain easily digestible protein and other useful substances.
- Dairy products, especially homemade cheeses (paneer, cottage cheese, but in moderation). It is rich in proteins.
- Fruits: currants, strawberries, avocados, bananas, watermelons, grapes, figs, raisins. This is to prevent chronic fatigue, which is a common cause of loss of libido. But don't overdo it or your sugar levels will go through the roof. A lot of sweets are also harmful to potency.
- Greens: – celery, coriander, parsley, dill, tarragon, basil. It improves the quality of sperm and the amount of sex hormones.
TOP-7 products that improve men's sexual function:
- Raw oysters. It is rich in selenium and zinc.
- Bitter chocolate. Improves mood and increases testosterone levels.
- Greek hay. It lowers blood sugar levels and reduces the risk of developing diabetes.
- Ginger root. It causes blood flow in the penis.
- Pumpkin seeds. They contain a large amount of zinc and are considered the most favorable product for the male reproductive system.
- Walnut. Plant protein source, increases testosterone levels.
- Red wine in small portions. It strengthens the blood vessels.
Useful vitamins for male potency
In addition to vitamins that improve the functioning of the cardiovascular system, it is important to know about other supplements that will be useful in reducing potency.
- vitamins A, C, E, D, B3, B6;
- folic acid;
- omega fatty acids;
- selenium;
- zinc;
- Iron;
- phosphorus;
- magnesium;
- potassium.
The source of these beneficial substances is a balanced, healthy diet and complex vitamin preparations. Synthetic vitamins help relieve prostatitis and balance hormonal balance.
IMPORTANT! The information in this section should not be used for self-diagnosis and self-treatment. In case of pain or other aggravation of the disease, diagnostic tests can only be prescribed by the attending physician. Consult your doctor to establish a diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate treatment.