SEXUAL HEALTH
SEXUAL HEALTH
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| SEXUAL HEALTH |
e rectile dysfunction is an ongoing pro b l e m .
Generally speaking, your sex life is a reflection
of your overall health—the healthier you are,
the better it will be. But good overall health isn’t a guarantee of a good sex life.
In this chapter we’ll discuss men’s most common sexual problems and how to
o v e rcome them.
ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION (ED)
Sometimes called impotence, ED means that you can’t regularly get or keep an
erection long enough to satisfy your sexual needs or those of your partner. All
men—whether they admit it or not—have an occasional erection problem. But
for as many as 30 million American men—10 percent of all men, up to 15-25
p e rcent of men over 65, ED is an ongoing problem. It can start at any age in adult
men and can develop slowly over time or suddenly.
There are a lot of myths out there about ED. Some people insist that “it’s all in
your head.” Others say that “it’s what happens when you get older.” The truth
is that about 70 percent of the time, ED is the result of a physical problem that
can almost always be treated. Heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking,
alcoholism, back injuries, testosterone deficiency, prostate problems including
s u r g e ry, and over 200 prescription drugs can all contribute to or cause ED.
Even though physical problems are behind most ED, psychological factors
including depression and performance anxiety still play a role. Men who suffer
from ED often feel inadequate and less sure of themselves. That can make them
anxious, tense, angry or worried that they can’t satisfy their partners. Those feelings
only make the ED worse. And a “mild” case of ED due to physical factors will
usually be made worse by performance anxiety.
If you’re experiencing ED, do yourself and your partner a favor and schedule a
visit to your doctor right now. Chances are, he’ll be able to get to the bottom of
your ED problem in just one or two visits. He’ll ask you a lot of questions about
your health habits, diet, prescription drugs and under what circumstances the
ED happens. He may also order tests of your blood, urine, heart function and
hormone levels.
Treating ED
In many cases, taking steps to improve your overall health will help reduce or
even eliminate ED. This means:
• Eat a low-fat, low-sodium, low-cholesterol diet.
• Quit smoking. Chemicals in cigarette smoke can narrow blood vessels,
making it harder to maintain an erection.
• Drink less alcohol. Alcohol slows your body’s reaction times
• Get more exercise. Exercise builds muscle, improves blood flow, and helps
get the cholesterol out of your blood. It also improves your mood, which
will make you feel better about yourself.
• Cut back on coffee.
• Use it or lose it. The more erections you get, the easier it is to get them.
Sexual activity, including masturbation, increases blood flow and oxygen
to the penis.
Ifthese lifestyle changes aren’t successful, your doctor may prescribe one or more
drugs to treat ED. These include sildenafil citrate (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), and
vardenafil Hcl (Levitra). Each has advantages, disadvantages, and potential side
effects that your doctor will explain. Alternatively, your doctor could prescribe
injections, vacuum devices or one of a number of surgical options.
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