Mind Over Masculinity: Breaking the Stigma of Men’s Mental Health

This article is a repost which originally appeared on RHODY HEALTH/Cranston HERALD

Edited for content. The opinions expressed in this article may not reflect the opinions of this site’s editors, staff or members.

Written by: Eric Tirrell, clinical manager of the Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) program and the research operations manager for the Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) in Neuromodulation at Butler Hospital and Joshua Davis a program therapist in the Butler Hospital’s Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program. 

Mental health is a crucial part of our overall well-being, yet it remains a topic that is often misunderstood, stigmatized, and overlooked, especially for men. For far too long, men have been expected to suppress their emotions, to tough it out, to soldier on through difficult times. This resulted in a significant gap in our understanding of men’s mental health needs and an alarming disparity in the rates of suicide, substance abuse, and other mental health issues among men.

By breaking down the walls of stigma and shame surrounding men’s mental health, we can start addressing this critical issue with compassion, understanding, and empathy. Here we will explore the importance of men’s mental health, the challenges men face when seeking help, and the available treatment options that can help them achieve greater emotional well-being and fulfillment.

Sobering Statistics

• Men are more likely to die by suicide than women. In the United States, men account for nearly 75% of all suicides.

• Men are less likely to seek help for mental health issues than women. In a survey conducted by the American Psychological Association, only 35% of men reported they would seek help from a mental health professional, compared to 58% of women.

• Men are more likely to struggle with certain mental health conditions. For example, men are more likely to be diagnosed with alcohol dependence and antisocial personality disorder, while women are more likely to be diagnosed with depression and anxiety disorders.

• Men are more likely to experience workplace stress and burnout. According to a survey by the American Institute of Stress, men are more likely to report feeling overwhelmed at work and are less likely to take time off to care for their mental health. (Ultram online)

• Men are more likely to engage in risky behaviors as a coping mechanism. This can include substance abuse, reckless driving, and other dangerous activities.

Importance of Men’s Mental Health

Men’s mental health is important for many reasons.

1. Mental health issues can severely affect a man’s quality of life. This includes relationships, work, and personal goals.

2. Depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions can impact a person’s ability to function, causing them to feel hopeless, isolated, and overwhelmed.

3. Untreated mental health conditions can lead to physical health issues like heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

4. Mental health issues can have a ripple effect on those around them, including family members, friends, and colleagues.

5. When men struggle with mental health issues, it can impact their relationships and those closest to them.

6. Addressing men’s mental health is crucial for building a more equitable society that prioritizes all individuals’ well-being, regardless of gender.

Contributing Factors

Several factors contribute to men’s reluctance to seek help for mental health issues. These include societal expectations of masculinity, mental health stigma, and a lack of awareness about available resources.

Men are often expected to be strong, stoic, and self-sufficient, making it difficult to acknowledge their struggles and ask for help. Additionally, mental health stigma can make men feel ashamed or weak for struggling with mental health issues, further preventing them from seeking help.

Treatment Options for Men’s Mental Health

Fortunately, several treatment options are available for men struggling with mental health issues. These include:

• Therapy: Talk therapy can involve working with a mental health professional to identify and address mental health issues. Therapy can be conducted in person, online, or over the phone and can help men develop coping strategies, manage symptoms, and improve their overall mental health.

• Medication: In some cases, medication can be used to treat mental health issues. This may include antidepressants, anti-anxiety medication, or mood stabilizers. Medication can help manage symptoms and improve overall mental health but should always be prescribed and monitored by a healthcare professional.

• Support groups: Support groups can be valuable for men struggling with mental health issues. These groups provide a safe space for men to share their experiences, connect with others going through similar challenges, and receive emotional support.

• Lifestyle changes: Making lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and practicing stress-management techniques, can also improve mental health. These changes can help reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, improve mood, and promote overall well-being.

• Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT): ECT uses brief, low-energy electrical pulses to stimulate nerve-cell activity in the part of the brain that affects mood. Stimulating this area helps to alleviate symptoms of depression. The electrical impulses are delivered through electrodes placed on the scalp. Patients are given anesthesia to relax and ensure the procedure is pain-free.

• Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS): TMS is an FDA-approved outpatient treatment that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerves in the brain non-invasively. This innovative and safe technique requires no sedation or anesthesia and successfully treats individuals suffering from Major Depressive Disorder and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Published reports from TMS treatment studies for depression show that more than half of patients treated with TMS Therapy experienced significant improvements in symptoms, and one-third of patients experienced full remission of their depressive episodes.

Disclaimer: The content in this blog is for informational and educational purposes only and should not serve as medical advice, consultation, or diagnosis.  If you have a medical concern, please consult your healthcare provider, or seek immediate medical treatment. 

‘It feels like a badge of dishonor’: How to overcome the stigma surrounding men’s mental health

JOANNA HAYES [email protected] Jun 30, 2023 Updated 13 hrs ago

This article is a repost which originally appeared on Post Register

Edited for content. The opinions expressed in this article may not reflect the opinions of this site’s editors, staff or members.

Key Points

‧ Men often find it difficult to discuss mental health issues.

‧ Men make up to 80% of suicides.

‧ Everyone struggles with something.  Talking about it can go a long way towards helping.

Five years ago, Charles Hale walked down Park Avenue, having finally mustered the courage to seek help out of homelessness.

Hale looked up and saw the Idaho Falls Rescue Mission sign. His heart beating uncontrollably. His shame hanging over his head. He couldn’t carry the burden of addiction any longer.

What were the people at the Rescue Mission going to tell him? What were they going to think of him? Hale never thought he would find real help in Idaho Falls, a town full of strangers.

He took a deep breath and opened the mission’s front door. He had nothing with him. Hale sat down at the front desk and explained that he needed a safe place to sleep. He didn’t want to spend another night on the street. He had been without shelter for five years, spending cold nights in Phoenix, Spokane, Seattle and, now, Idaho Falls.

“You know how they say the grass isn’t any greener?” Hale said. “Well the streets aren’t any blacker. It didn’t matter where I went.”

After meeting with a volunteer at the Rescue Mission for a few minutes, Hale started to wonder if the Idaho Falls streets might be less black. He might get off of them this time around.

The volunteer asked Hale if he could pass a urinalysis, as the Rescue Mission requires their guests to be sober upon admission and throughout their stay.

Hale couldn’t. He had been struggling with addiction his entire bout with homelessness. The Rescue Mission sent him to the Behavioral Health Crisis Center while he got sober.

But Hale knew he didn’t want to stay at the crisis center. There was something different about the Rescue Mission. They smiled when he entered. He felt his heart beat slower. His shame lifted. The Rescue Mission would help him carry the burden.

“I had become jaded from seeing the world (on the streets),” Hale said. “My breakthrough moment was when I walked through those doors and saw someone with a smile. It broke me.”

Hale never thought he would end up homeless. No one does. His family was close. They went to church every Sunday. He got a bachelor’s degree in information technology and a master’s degree in business.

Hale climbed the corporate ladder in Phoenix for 15 years. He married a lovely woman and had three beautiful boys. And then his mental health took a turn for the worse. He lost his father and fell into a deep reliance on alcohol and drugs.

“It was three strikes,” Hale said. “I lost my father, then my career and then my wife and three kids.”

For five years, Hale struggled under the weight of grief and addiction.

“It feels like you’re wearing a placard around your neck saying ‘addict’ or ‘homeless.’ You don’t need people to tell you that you are less than. You already feel that,” Hale said.

Hale said many men find it difficult to open up about their struggles, especially when it comes to mental health.

“It feels like a badge of dishonor,” Hale said.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, men are four times more likely to die by suicide than women. Men make up 50% of the United States population but 80% of the suicides.

Kade Anderson, a psychiatrist with Ascend Mental Health Center in Idaho Falls, said the reason for that is layered. Anderson said men tend to use a more “final method,” such as firearms, when attempting suicide.

However, Anderson believes that the stigma surrounding men’s mental health also contributes to that statistic.

“Men can be afraid to admit weakness,” Anderson said. “They don’t want to talk about it. They want to do it all on their own.”

He said many people aren’t ashamed of other health struggles they have, but when it comes to mental health, they feel less than if they admit vulnerabilities. One way Anderson tries to combat stigma surrounding men’s mental health is through his own vulnerabilities.

“I tell my patients that I struggle with mental health, too.” Anderson said. “I have had to ask for help. I have zero shame. I think that helps them open up.”

Anderson said the best thing people can do is to be honest. Talk about wins. Talk about losses. Talk about the highs, and talk about the lows. He said the more open people are about their struggles, the more one realizes that everyone struggles with something.

Following Anderson’s advice is what brought Hale out of his cycle of addiction and struggles with depression. Hale knew he had to be honest about his situation in order to overcome it.

The Rescue Mission was different from any other safe house Hale had been to, and he had been to a lot. Safe houses focused on mental, physical and emotional health. But the Rescue Mission added spiritual health into the equation.

Hale found both “law and grace” while staying at the Rescue Mission. The workers were caring and loving, but they didn’t enable anyone, Hale said.

Hale joined the Rescue Mission’s recovery program. The seven-month course helped him find a job and permanent housing. He also found a mentor from a local church.

Today, Hale is the mission’s director of operations. He uses his story to help the men there overcome their battle with mental health.

He mentioned that over the past few months, he has seen men walk into the shelter who seemed to be struggling with their mental health, but they weren’t talking about it.

“(Men) can be concerned with stigma and they can’t make that connection. It’s heart-breaking,” Hale said. “Someone has told them they are suffering and it’s too hard to accept. They think ‘If I’m labeled this, how am I going to be successful?’”

Everyone struggles with something, he said, it’s just whether they talk about it.

“We have all experienced a mental health crisis in our lives. Whether it’s you or someone you know,” Hale said.

June was Men’s Mental Health Month. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, call or text 988 to reach the suicide hotline. You can also reach out to Ascend Mental Health Center at 208-419-3002 or the Behavioral Health Crisis Center at 208-522-0727.

Young, Single, Not Ready to Mingle: Relationships, Mental Health, ED

A study ties depression, anxiety and lack of a partner to erectile dysfunction in younger men.

Author: James Anderson
Published: February 20, 2023

This article is a repost which originally appeared on Giddy

Edited for content. The opinions expressed in this article may not reflect the opinions of this site’s editors, staff or members.

Key Points

‧ The quality of a relationship will have an impact on sexual performance.

‧ Anxiety can lead to low libido and ED.

‧ Problems arise when anxiety medication side effects add to sexual performance issues.

A single man in his late 20s occasionally dates but hasn’t been on a date in some time. He has sex infrequently. That’s been the case for a few years, maybe about a decade.

He has developed depression and anxiety. He has struggled with those mental health issues for a while, and now he has problems getting erections. When he does get hard, his penis doesn’t remain that way for long, certainly not long enough to enjoy penetrative intercourse.

He’s been saying to himself, “Man, I’ve been single for so long. I feel broken because of my mental health issues, and now I can’t even get it up or keep it up. Nobody is going to want to be with me.”

Any young guy experiencing mental health issues and erectile dysfunction (ED) should know there’s hope. Their situation is not as dire as it might seem, according to Ravi Hariprasad, M.D., M.P.H., a psychiatrist with Intuitive Psychiatry in San Francisco.

“His first step was recognizing the problem and seeking help and taking the steps required to make the situation better,” Hariprasad said about the hypothetical young man.

Relatively young single men who suffer from both a chronic mental health condition, such as anxiety or depression, and ED are not alone, contrary to what they might fear. There’s not only hope for them, but also help and coping strategies available.

Risk factors for depression, anxiety and ED

Authors of a study first published in 2020 in the Journal of Urology found an association between relationship status, mental health and ED. The mental health and ED link appeared common among a sample of 2,660 sexually active men between 18 and 31 years of age. About 14 percent reported some form of ED. Anxiety and tranquilizer use were associated with greater odds of moderate-to-severe ED; antidepressant use was associated with more than three times the odds of moderate-to-severe ED. Married men and those with partners were 65 percent less likely than single guys to experience it in moderate-to-severe form.

“This information may not necessarily function the same way when reversed and used as a predictive model of whether a young single man may be at risk of having or developing ED of any severity,” according to Joshua Poole, M.D., a psychiatrist in California who works with Open Mind Health, a virtual mental wellness network. “It more so tells us that those surveyed who were already partnered were less likely to have moderate to severe ED.”

We don’t yet have definitive data clarifying just how relationship status, mental health and sexual dysfunction relate to each other, however, Poole said.

“Clinically, I have witnessed that the quality of the relationship frequently has more to do with sexual dysfunction than the presence or absence of a relationship,” he explained. “There are many instances where a relationship can be the source of both mental health issues and sexual dysfunction. In speaking to therapists who specialize in sex therapy, I have often been told that a great deal of sexual dysfunction is actually the result of emotional dysfunction in the dynamic of a relationship.”

For young men, the major risk factors for developing anxiety and depression include genetics, stress, and drug and alcohol problems, said Eric Yarbrough, M.D., a psychiatrist based in New York City. Like Poole, though, he doesn’t consider the relationship between partner status and mental health clear-cut.

“Some people have relationships which are healthy and supportive,” he said. “Others might have relationships which cause them stress and do more harm than good. There are reasons to be single and reasons to be in a relationship, but they are highly individual and relative.”

Nevertheless, several factors might account for the association observed in the study.

Ways mental health interferes with sexual health

Anxiety and depression can both lead to low libido, ejaculatory dysfunction and ED, Poole explained.

Those mental health conditions, Hariprasad suggested, can keep someone from being present and can interfere with their ability to focus when trying to have sex.

“This can make it more difficult for men to achieve and maintain an erection, leading to erectile dysfunction,” he said in an email. “Additionally, single men may be more likely to be in sexual relationships with less familiar partners, which can lead to increased feelings of anxiety, further exacerbating erectile dysfunction.”

There’s nothing mysterious regarding the comparatively lower prevalence of sexual dysfunction among men in emotionally supportive, multidimensional and close partnerships vis-à-vis young single men, Hariprasad said.

“I’ve seen over these years of our Tinder culture—our hookup culture—people are losing these other dimensions of friendship and intimacy in relationships, and that’s leading to some of this difficulty,” he said in reference to struggling single men. “Contrary to what the media says, the novelty of having sex with a partner you don’t know is not universally arousing. It can be terrifying to some, and it can activate feelings of insecurity and anxiety in others, none of which are very sexy.”

In contrast, as Hariprasad stressed, arousal can emerge from intimacy.

Conversely, frequent masturbation and excess ejaculation can exacerbate the cycle of mental health issues contributing to relationship difficulties and vice versa, he said, adding that porn consumption often gets paired with incessant masturbation, and that can cause another vicious cycle. Watching a lot of porn can desensitize someone to the amount of stimulus needed for arousal, which could result in ED, Hariprasad explained.

“Often, people are not watching the entire clip,” he said. “They’re just fast-forwarding to the components that are highly arousing, and that’s leading to an inappropriate mental patterning of the sexual response cycle that’s not often conducive to a normal sexual response cycle with a partner.”

Therapy and coping strategies

So what can the young, single guy dealing with ED as well as anxiety and/or depression do to address his problems?

Yarbrough would advise the man to prioritize treating his anxiety and depression since the conditions can affect myriad facets of life, from work to family to friendships to romance. He should also see a primary care physician to rule out any potential health problems that could be causing the mental health difficulties.

“After all of this, a person can explore their sexual history and views on sex to understand how they might be affecting his ability to maintain an erection,” he said.

Poole cautioned that the gold standard for treating both anxiety and depression has a reputation for contributing to sexual dysfunction. These are typically antidepressants derived from the family of medications that includes selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).

“It’s a tricky thing when the treatment for a problem can also cause the problem,” he acknowledged.

If ED results as a side effect of antidepressant medication, Poole recommended decreasing the dose or switching to a medication that doesn’t worsen the patient’s mood disorder.

Nonpharmaceutical strategies, including practicing breathing techniques to help in the moment and writing a journal to identify and alter spiraling negative thoughts, can help some people cope with anxiety and depression.

Certain physical activities, done regularly, have been shown to be potentially helpful, such as the following:

‧ Practice stress-management techniques, such as meditation and yoga
‧ Engage in mindful movements like tai chi
‧ Adopt a proper sleep schedule
‧ Avoid excess caffeine
‧ Eat a balanced diet

CBD oil might be a mild therapeutic option for some folks struggling with anxiety and depression. Assistance from professionals in the form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be a talk therapy tool worth exploring to pinpoint triggers and manage symptoms.

A new lens for sexual behavior

Hariprasad affirmed talk therapy and lifestyle changes as treatment possibilities.

“Then, in parallel, we’d need to change your sexual behaviors and hygiene so that you’re more likely to succeed,” he said.

Depending on the person, that could involve cutting back on masturbation and time spent viewing porn.

Since a lack of exercise for the muscles in the pelvic floor can make them lax, potentially leading to problems like premature ejaculation and ED, Kegel exercises can be useful, he added.

“A lot of literature and common knowledge has been about Kegel exercises for women,” Hariprasad said. “And what’s not appreciated is that the same set of exercises can be used by men to enhance their performance. I think it’s one of the single-most helpful things that someone could do as a practice, is [to] learn to isolate those muscles and exercise them so they’re stronger.”

Doing Kegels, together with exercise for the abdominal muscles, might enable men to improve the quality of their erections and their ejaculatory control, he added.

Hariprasad further suggested that guys in their 20s and 30s could begin to address the entanglement of issues that stand in the way of good psychological health, erections and relationships by learning how to form close, meaningful connections.

“That means forming friendships and then learning to have intimacy in those friendships—not necessarily seeking sexual encounters—and allowing the sexuality to arise organically from within those intimate, connected, safe relationships,” he said.

“Taken all together, this strategy has helped countless men I’ve worked with over the years reboot their sexual life and get their life and self-esteem back in order. But [men need] to understand that the situation is hopeful. [The work] just needs to be done methodically and patiently,” Hariprasad concluded.

It’s not always easy for men to seek help, especially for something as personal and sensitive as erection troubles. Plus, a lot of people don’t have a therapist they see regularly, so it’s not always intuitive to take that first step. Video visits have become a viable option for most people, and more physicians and therapists have added them as a service. Giddy telehealth makes it easy to get connected to a qualified healthcare professional who can help with a variety of mental and physical health conditions.

Common and Uncommon Threats to Men’s Sexual Health

3 Common—and 4 Uncommon—Risks to Men’s Sexual Health

You might know some of these threats to your sexual well-being. Others might surprise you.

Author: Kurtis Bright
Published: March 22, 2023

This article is a repost which originally appeared on Giddy

Edited for content. The opinions expressed in this article may not reflect the opinions of this site’s editors, staff or members.

Key Points

‧ Sexual health information is more abundant and easier to access than ever.

‧ Ironically, men are at a greater risk of diseases caused by excess and poor lifestyle choices than ever.

‧ ED is a notorious side effect of common ailments like diabetes and poor cardiovascular health.

Sexual health information is everywhere these days, both quality info and the not-so-high-quality kind that’s widespread on social media platforms. Even with all this access to so much information, though, certain lesser-known threats to our sexual health and fertility may slip under the radar.

At the same time, the seriousness of certain sexual health risks that “everyone knows about” may go ignored.

Here are three of the more common risks to men’s sexual health and fertility, as well as a handful of risks that aren’t always recognized as threats.

What are the biggest risks to men’s sexual health?

When we talk about threats to sexual health, we’re often talking about systemic problems. That is to say, if you’re having a problem with how your penis works, it’s not necessarily about your penis.

In modern society, we tend to view medicine as slapping on a bandage or taking a pill to alleviate the most obvious symptom we can see. In reality, lots of problems you might have in other parts of your body can affect how your penis functions.

“Sexual health is health,” said Justin Dubin, M.D., a urologist and men’s health specialist with Memorial Healthcare System in South Florida. “So sexual health problems, in general, can be a warning sign or a result of other health issues: diabetes, heart issues, infections, depression, anxiety, testosterone issues, obesity, other lifestyle issues—you name it. Having ED is the canary in the coal mine.”

Common sexual health issues

Three of the most common issues that can affect sexual health are cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes. They work against us in different ways.

Cardiovascular disease

Heart disease and vascular problems are strongly associated with erectile dysfunction (ED). A vital component of getting an erection is good blood flow to the penis, and issues such as atherosclerosis and high blood pressure hamper it.

Obesity

Obesity is a big risk factor for ED. One study indicated 79 percent of men who presented with ED were clinically obese, and obesity hampers your heart’s ability to pump blood. Plus, it’s a comorbidity for another risk factor, diabetes.

Diabetes

Diabetes causes a condition called diabetic neuropathy, which affects nerve endings and can result in numbness, tingling and loss of sensation. Along with blood flow, nerves are crucial for the penis to receive the signals from the brain and nervous system to get erect.

“You need to have good nerves in your penis,” Dubin said. “People [with diabetes] who have bad sensation in their feet or fingers or their eyesight, well, the nerves in the penis are very small as well, and poorly controlled diabetes can cause ED.”
Less common risks to sexual health

Four of the less obvious issues that can affect your sexual health include smoking, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), Peyronie’s disease and mental health.

Smoking

The dangers associated with smoking often focus on the lungs and heart, and rightly so. However, a lesser-known effect of smoking is that it’s associated with ED.

“Smoking and ED are linked to overall cardiovascular health,” said Neel Parekh, M.D., a men’s fertility and sexual health specialist with Cleveland Clinic. “It’s associated with cardiovascular disease, so that’s another reason why it can make it more difficult to achieve an erection. It can even affect fertility; smoking has a negative effect on how well the sperm swim.”

Indeed, according to some studies, smoking has a negative impact on semen parameters. Luckily, other studies show that quitting can greatly improve them in a short amount of time.

STIs

When it comes to fertility, another little-known issue some guys may encounter is that sexually transmitted infections can affect your sperm. An STI can travel up the urinary tract and cause problems in the rest of your reproductive system in ways that may affect you long after you’ve taken your antibiotics and the symptoms have gone away.

“Chlamydia and different bacterial infections can lead to epididymitis—the inflammation of the epididymis—which is where sperm is stored,” Parekh said. “These STDs can cause scarring of the epididymis or vas deferens and cause blockages for guys, preventing sperm from traveling through.”

Peyronie’s disease

Another issue that can fly under the radar is Peyronie’s disease. It’s a buildup of fibrous plaque or scarring in the penis that may result in a lump or new curvature that wasn’t there before. It’s thought to affect 1 in 10 men and may come on suddenly due to overenthusiastic sexual activity or over time through buildup. It can also cause erections to be painful during the acute phase.

“Peyronie’s disease is another uncommon disease that some guys will let go unchecked,” Parekh said. “A painful lump in the penis can lead to worsening curvature to the point where they can’t penetrate. Some guys will kind of ignore it for a while; maybe they’re embarrassed by it and they don’t want to tell anybody.”

Mental health

It’s an old trope: The biggest sex organ in the body is the brain. If your emotional state isn’t good, it can have a profound impact on sexual function.

Don’t forget that some antidepressants have a negative effect on sexual function, too, so it’s important to talk with your healthcare provider and make sure you address both mental health and sexual health.

“Mental health is health, too, just like sexual health,” Dubin said. “Depression, anxiety and medications that treat depression and anxiety can cause ED. I always quote the great Robin Williams: ‘God gave man a brain and a penis, and only enough blood to control one at a time.’ So if you’re up in your head, your penis is just not going to work. It’s just not.”

Conclusions

A wide variety of health issues can affect your sexual health and fertility. But perhaps the main takeaway should be that instead of trying to list all the possible factors that could specifically affect your penis, try to remember that the penis is just one part of the intricate and complex machine that is your body. Mess with one part of the network and it’s likely to have downstream effects. Take care of your body, and it’ll take care of you.

If your overall health is solid but erectile dysfunction is an issue, even intermittently, a wearable device free of the side effects of popular medications can restore sexual function. Eddie® is an FDA-registered Class II medical device designed to treat erectile dysfunction and improve male sexual performance. Its urologist-designed shape and fast-acting results allow you to treat your ED with more control. With Eddie, you don’t need to wait for a pill to kick in, use an awkward pump or subject yourself to painful injections.

In 2021 clinical trials, 95 percent of men who used Eddie reported a positive effect on their sex life.

How Men Can Take Care of Their Sexual Health

What Men Can Do to Ensure Their Sexual Health Is Strong

Mental and physical care are both critical to a man’s libido and reproductive well-being.

Author: Helen Massy
Published: March 06, 2023

This article is a repost which originally appeared on Giddy

Edited for content. The opinions expressed in this article may not reflect the opinions of this site’s editors, staff or members.

Key Points

‧ Maintaining good sexual health is important for men.

‧ Mental health will have a large impact on sexual well-being.

‧ 20-30% of men in their 20s and 30s experience some form of ED.

Sexual health is an essential part of every man’s life. As well as protecting yourself from sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and diseases (STDs) or preventing unwanted pregnancies, sexual health is about having safer, satisfying sex and a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and relationships.

Understanding how to look after your sexual health benefits both you and your partner.

The best place to start is by getting to know your body and your reproductive system, and what’s normal and what’s not normal. This way, you can quickly identify any problems and seek medical support to address them.

There are multiple aspects to men’s sexual health, including physical health and mental health. Lifestyle factors influence all of these elements, either in a positive or negative way.

Men’s health and sexual health

A few of the essential aspects of a male’s sexual health are desire, erections and endurance, explained James J. Elist, M.D., a urologist in Beverly Hills, California, who specializes in impotence and male sexual dysfunction.

Being sexually healthy enables a man to fully participate in and enjoy sexual activity.

The body can’t just rely on physical health to create desire, erections and endurance, though. Physiology, mental health and emotional health can affect both libido and sexual function.

Male sexual health isn’t just about the ability to enjoy sex. It’s also about preventing STIs/STDs and identifying any problems with fertility. It’s about understanding how to prevent unwanted pregnancies and ensuring sex is consensual, respectful and safe for both partners.

Mental health and men’s sexual health

Mental health can directly impact sexual health and vice versa.

“Low libido, erectile dysfunction [ED] and premature ejaculation can all be exacerbated by negative mental health experiences, whether that’s traumatic experiences, relationship or professional workplace stress, depression or anxiety,” Elist said.

He explained that those negative mental health experiences can lead to worsened sexual performance, which in turn leads to more strains on mental health, driven by decreased self-confidence and self-worth as a result of poor performance in bed.

This leads to a negative cycle in which one feeds into the other.

“As such, it’s important to seek solutions early on to prevent any issues from worsening. Taking care of one’s mental health through therapy, meditation, etcetera can often improve sexual health issues as well,” Elist said.

If you find your mental health is affecting your sexual health, or problems with sex or sexuality are affecting your mental health, you can explore a number of options with your healthcare provider to address either issue.

Physical health and men’s sexual health

“It all begins with male libido,” Elist said of the connection between physical health and sexual health. “A man must have the desire to engage in sexual activity in the first place.”

Unfortunately, he said, as guys get older, libido tends to decrease as testosterone decreases. Obviously, for a man to be able to perform sexually, he must be able to achieve and maintain an erection. You can take steps to address this issue.

“As with testosterone and libido, erectile function also relies on staying healthy, particularly maintaining cardiovascular health, avoiding cigarettes and exercising frequently to get the blood pumping,” Elist said.

Once a man achieves an erection, he must maintain the erection and be able to last long enough to enjoy a sexually satisfying experience for both himself and his partner.

“Often, premature ejaculation can get in the way, which is why it’s important to limit stress and practice pelvic floor exercises if that’s an issue an individual deals with,” he said.

There is no need to suffer in silence if you have any problems with your libido, erection, ejaculation or performance. Seek help from your healthcare provider if you are experiencing problems, as many treatment options are available to help you feel comfortable and satisfied when having sex.

What’s a ‘normal’ sex drive?

Sex drive varies depending on a man’s age. Elist explained what happens to libido across the stages of life:

‧ In his early 20s, an individual can desire sex almost daily.

‧ Starting in his mid-30s, an individual’s testosterone levels begin to decrease by approximately 1 percent per year.

‧ Upon reaching his 60s, sexual desire may lessen even further for many men.

While there’s no “normal” level of sex drive for men, Elist stressed it is normal for levels to decrease over time.

“However, that trend can be partially mitigated and offset through regular exercise, eating healthy and maintaining a consistent sleep schedule,” he said.

Sexual health and reproductive health

“There are various issues that can impact an individual’s reproductive health and fertility, from stress to smoking to excessive testosterone use,” Elist explained.

To look after reproductive health, men should undertake a testicular self-exam routinely to ensure that there are no signs of lumps or tumors. Cancer is obviously a concern here, but fertility comes into the picture, too.

Testicular self-exams and examinations by a physician can help men identify the presence of a varicocele, a dilated vein inside the scrotum that can increase the temperature of the testicles and negatively affect sperm development, according to Elist.

Sperm counts decrease by an estimated 40 percent for every degree the testicles rise in temperature.

Elist also highlighted that the excessive use of testosterone or androgens could damage the testicles. Tobacco and frequent marijuana use can also decrease sperm count. All of these factors should be considered if a man is experiencing fertility issues.

Your healthcare provider can use various tests to help establish fertility problems, including the following:

‧ STI/STD testing
‧ Semen analysis
‧ Urinalysis
‧ Hormone testing
‧ Ultrasound scans
‧ Testicular biopsies

Complications and related conditions

The most common male sexual dysfunctions men should be aware of, according to Elist, include:

‧ Low testosterone
‧ Low libido
‧ Erectile dysfunction
‧ Premature ejaculation

ED is an issue that impacts more than half of all men at some point in their lives.

“While many think erectile dysfunction is an issue that only affects older men, it can actually impact 20 percent to 30 percent of men in their 20s and 30s,” Elist said.

Premature ejaculation is an issue that impacts nearly 40 percent of all men.

“It is characterized by sexual activity that often lasts one minute or less and sexual experiences which cause stress and frustration,” Elist explained.

You can address premature ejaculation issues with a combination of solutions that could include meditation, pelvic floor exercises, supplements, lidocaine sprays or prescription SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

“Other issues, such as delayed ejaculation, retrograde ejaculation and Peyronie’s disease, are less common, but if an individual is experiencing any of those issues, then it’s important to discuss them with a urologist,” he added.

 

Men’s health: Employers must tackle low testosterone levels

by Helen Lake

Low testosterone is sapping the energy levels of two million men in the UK. Helen Lake discusses some of the issues and misconceptions surrounding low testosterone, as well as outlining the actions that employers can take to support their staff who are suffering with this hard-to-spot condition.

27th Jul 2022

This article is a repost which originally appeared on HRZone.

Edited for content. The opinions expressed in this article may not reflect the opinions of this site’s editors, staff or members.

Our Takeaways:

· A large percentage of men suffer from emotional concerns in silence.

· 40% of men aged 45 or older have clinically low levels of testosterone.

· Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) should be considered a tactic of last resort for men with hormonal issues.

It’s estimated that around two million men in Britain suffer from low testosterone levels, making it a very real issue for a large proportion of the UK workforce.

For those working men suffering with it, symptoms can include low energy levels, poor concentration, memory loss and side effects that are often misdiagnosed as depression. Longer term, men living with a testosterone deficiency are more susceptible to serious health issues including cardiac arrest, infertility and osteoporosis.

Recent research by Peppy found that 39% of employees experience disruption due to men waiting until a health problem becomes severe before talking to their HR team.

With low testosterone impacting a man’s general wellbeing, as well as his performance at work – increasingly, there are calls for greater workplace support and awareness around male testosterone deficiency.

Men’s Health Awareness Week recently took place, but we shouldn’t only focus on men’s health during this time. At any point in the year, organisations should examine what can be done to raise the bar for men’s health, including their ‘t-levels’.

Who is impacted by low testosterone?

The research also revealed that an estimated 40% of men aged 45 and older have low testosterone. But, since this is an issue unique to men, it’s likely that the true figures are much higher than are reported.

Testosterone is the male hormone produced that boosts bone strength, powers sex drive, and helps to maintain muscle mass.

An estimated 40% of men aged 45 and older have low testosterone, with the true figure thought to be much higher.

It is mostly produced in the testicles, with production rising rapidly during puberty, triggering a whole host of teenage side-effects in young males and peaking around the 20s.

Levels begin to decline naturally in men by around 2% a year from their mid-30s. By their 40s, the more common symptoms – such as mood swings, low energy, loss of muscle mass, and poor concentration – are more likely to occur.

The imbalance of such a crucial part of a man’s hormonal make-up can have wide-ranging implications, both for him and his workplace.

A wide range of symptoms

While concerns around the impact menopause can have upon women in the workforce have taken deserved precedence in recent years, the issue of low testosterone in men of a working age is a cause for increasing concern among medical professionals.

And it should be for employers, too.

The ‘andropause’, as it’s been dubbed, may not present with as severe a set of symptoms as those experienced by some women during menopause, but the gradual decline in testosterone levels can have a devastating impact on the long-term health of men.

At the heart of the problem, is the fact that low testosterone isn’t always correctly diagnosed. Symptoms are commonly attributed to ‘working too hard’ or just getting older, and are often mistaken for depression – or else not identified at all.

The gradual decline in testosterone levels can have a devastating impact on the long-term health of men.

The symptoms of low testosterone vary between individuals. In some cases, low levels of testosterone do not appear to cause many symptoms for reasons that are not clear.

Impacts on men’s mental health and emotional wellbeing include poor sleep quality, mood swings and irritability – making it an issue employees and employers need to be aware of. Erectile dysfunction is another common sign, but is often viewed as an embarrassing issue that contributes to men suffering in silence.

In more severe cases, a decline in testosterone can affect sperm count and cause men to grow ‘moobs’ or man boobs, due to changes in the body’s fat distribution. The knock-on effect of low testosterone can therefore impact body image, self-confidence, and even family plans.

Most cases are caused by ageing, or through being overweight or type 2 diabetes – both of which are prevalent in the male population of the UK. In addition, low levels of testosterone can affect younger men as a result of stress, lack of sleep, poor diet and lack of exercise.

The impact on male mental health

For many men, low testosterone levels are the real culprit for that general feeling of low mood and exhaustion that so many experience.

But, when men are half as likely as women to visit their GP, many go years if not decades experiencing high levels of fatigue and decreased energy levels without finding out that it is hormone related and treatable.

In the UK today, one in eight men struggle with a common mental health problem such as anxiety or depression, and this is likely to be higher than is officially recorded. One in three men also attribute poor mental health to their job, making this a serious issue for workplaces.

In the UK today, one in eight men struggle with a common mental health problem such as anxiety or depression.

Directly or indirectly, the impact low testosterone levels can have on a man’s health and lifestyle – from loss of libido, to weight gain, to lack of quality sleep, to low mood – is very likely to trickle through to their mental and emotional wellbeing.

For organisations committed to improving their male workforce’s mental health, tackling testosterone must become part of the conversation.

How workplaces can tackle the problem

At present, accessing specific support is difficult for men suffering with low testosterone. Tests are only available on the NHS to those with severe symptoms, and these people must firstly have made an appointment with the GP and made it through the system, just in order to be diagnosed with low testosterone.

Workplaces are uniquely placed to give employees the practical and emotional support they need – and this starts with raising awareness.

Employees of all genders, ages and life stages should be made aware of the signs, symptoms and risks of low testosterone, so they know what to look out for in themselves, their colleagues and even their partners. Providing resources in the workplace for improved physical and mental health for employees should also be a priority.

Organisations should make the pathway to support as easy to access as possible by giving employees access to specialist men’s health support, including highly-trained urology specialist nurses, as well as nutritionists and fitness experts. Crucially for men, support should be available remotely and entirely confidentially to maximise uptake.

The help provided should include access to at-home hormone tests and personalised, expert advice on how to treat the side-effects of low testosterone.

Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) should always be the last resort.

There is no ‘quick fix’ when it comes to low testosterone levels. Simple lifestyle changes like diet, exercise, sleep and work-life-balance can have a miraculous impact on an individual’s testosterone levels and should be explored first.

Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) should always be the last resort, with any potential underlying medical cause excluded.

Leading employers are transforming men’s health

Forward-thinking employers and their employees are already reaping the rewards of connecting their people to a team of real, human experts.

With the right tools at their fingertips, individuals from leading consultancy firms, high street retailers and law firms are able to work alongside nutritionists, personal trainers, urology specialists and mental health experts – building the habits that can help to restore healthy testosterone levels.

Because eliminating the unwanted effects of low testosterone won’t just benefit the individual, but their workplace as well.

With the right holistic support and wellbeing initiatives, employees can spot the signs, identify the causes and take immediate, practical steps towards rebalancing their hormone levels, enabling them to bring their best selves to work each day.

Men Prone To Worry and Anxiety May Develop Heart Disease and Diabetes Risk Factors at Younger Ages

Middle-aged men who are anxious and worry more may be at greater biological risk for developing heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes, also called cardiometabolic disease, as they get older, according to new research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access journal of the American Heart Association.

This article is a repost which originally appeared on SciTechDaily

The American Heart Association - January 24, 2022
Edited for content and readability - Images sourced from Pexels
Source: DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.121.022006

Our Takeaways:

  • Heart disease and Type 2 diabetes developed earlier in life among those who reported more feelings of worry or being overwhelmed.
  • The study suggests that men prone to worry and anxiety may need to pay extra attention to cardiometabolic disease risk factors, such as maintaining a healthy weight and taking blood pressure or cholesterol medicines, if needed.
  • The findings also suggest that treating anxiety disorders may lower cardiometabolic disease risk.

“While the participants were primarily white men, our findings indicate higher levels of anxiousness or worry among men are linked to biological processes that may give rise to heart disease and metabolic conditions, and these associations may be present much earlier in life than is commonly appreciated – potentially during childhood or young adulthood,” said Lewina Lee, Ph.D., lead author of the study, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine, and an investigator and clinical psychologist at the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, both in Boston.

To track the relationship between anxiety and cardiometabolic disease risk factors over time, the investigators analyzed data on participants in the Normative Aging Study, which is a longitudinal study of aging processes in men, founded at the U.S. Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic in Boston in 1961. The study includes both veterans and non-veterans. This analysis included 1,561 men (97% white), who were an average age of 53 years in 1975. The men completed baseline assessments of neuroticism and worry and did not have cardiovascular disease or cancer at that time. A personality inventory assessed neuroticism on a scale of 0–9. In addition, a worry assessment tool asked how often they worried about each of 20 items, with 0 meaning never and 4 meaning all the time.

“Neuroticism is a personality trait characterized by a tendency to interpret situations as threatening, stressful and/or overwhelming. Individuals with high levels of neuroticism are prone to experience negative emotions – such as fear, anxiety, sadness and anger – more intensely and more frequently,” said Lee. “Worry refers to our attempts at problem-solving around an issue whose future outcome is uncertain and potentially positive or negative. Worry can be adaptive, for example, when it leads us to constructive solutions. However, worry can also be unhealthy, especially when it becomes uncontrollable and interferes with our day-to-day functioning.”

After their baseline assessment, the men had physical exams and blood tests every 3-5 years until they either died or dropped out of the study. The research team used follow-up data through 2015. During follow-up visits, seven cardiometabolic risk factors were measured: systolic (top number) blood pressure; diastolic (bottom number) blood pressure; total cholesterol; triglycerides; obesity (assessed by body mass index); fasting blood sugar levels; and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), a marker of inflammation.

A risk factor for cardiometabolic disease was considered in the high-risk range if the test results for the risk factor was higher than the cut-point established by national guidelines, or if the participant was taking any medicines to manage that risk factor (such as cholesterol-lowering medications). Cut points for ESR as a risk factor are not standardized, so the participant was ranked as high-risk if they were in the top 25% of those tested. Each participant was assigned a risk factor count score, one point for each of the seven risk factors classified as high-risk. The men were then stratified based on whether they did or did not develop six or more high-risk factors during the follow-up period.

“Having six or more high-risk cardiometabolic markers suggests that an individual is very likely to develop or has already developed cardiometabolic disease,” said Lee.

The researchers found:

  • Between ages 33 to 65, the average number of cardiometabolic high-risk factors increased by about one per decade, averaging 3.8 risk-factors by age 65, followed by a slower increase per decade after age 65.
  • At all ages, participants with higher levels of neuroticism had a greater number of high-risk cardiometabolic factors.
  • Higher neuroticism was associated with a 13% higher likelihood of having six or more cardiometabolic disease risk factors, after adjusting for demographic characteristics (such as income and education) and family history of heart disease.
  • Higher worry levels were associated with a 10% higher likelihood of having six or more cardiometabolic disease risk factors after adjusting for demographic characteristics.

“We found that cardiometabolic disease risk increased as men aged, from their 30s into their 80s, irrespective of anxiety levels, while men who had higher levels of anxiety and worry consistently had a higher likelihood of developing cardiometabolic disease over time than those with lower levels of anxiety or worry,” Lee said.

The researchers did not have data on whether participants had been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Standard evidence-based treatment for anxiety disorders includes psychotherapy or medication, or a combination of the two.

“While we do not know whether treatment of anxiety and worry may lower one’s cardiometabolic risk, anxious and worry-prone individuals should pay greater attention to their cardiometabolic health. For example, by having routine health check-ups and being proactive in managing their cardiometabolic disease risk levels (such as taking medications for high blood pressure and maintaining a healthy weight), they may be able to decrease their likelihood of developing cardiometabolic disease,” said Lee.

It is unclear to what extent the results of this analysis are generalizable to the public since the study participants were all male and nearly all white. In addition, although participants were followed for four decades, they were middle-aged when the study began.

“It would be important for future studies to evaluate if these associations exist among women, people from diverse racial and ethnic groups, and in more socioeconomically varying samples, and to consider how anxiety may relate to the development of cardiometabolic risk in much younger individuals than those in our study,” Lee said.

Psychedelics Show Promise in Treating Mental Illness: Depression, Anxiety, Addiction, and PTSD

One in five U.S. adults will experience a mental illness in their lifetime, according to the National Alliance of Mental Health. But standard treatments can be slow to work and cause side effects.

To find better solutions, a Virginia Tech researcher has joined a renaissance of research on a long-banned class of drugs that could combat several forms of mental illness and, in mice, have achieved long-lasting results from just one dose.

This article is a repost which originally appeared on SciTechDaily 
VIRGINIA TECH - NOVEMBER 27, 2021
Edited for content and readability - Images sourced from Pexels 
Study: DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109836

Using a process his lab developed in 2015, Chang Lu, the Fred W. Bull Professor of Chemical Engineering in the College of Engineering, is helping his Virginia Commonwealth University collaborators study the epigenomic effects of psychedelics.

Their findings give insight into how psychedelic substances like psilocybin, mescaline, LSD, and similar drugs may relieve symptoms of addiction, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The drugs appear to work faster and last longer than current medications — all with fewer side effects.

The project hinged on Lu’s genomic analysis. His process allows researchers to use very small samples of tissue, down to hundreds to thousands of cells, and draw meaningful conclusions from them. (https://zegaapparel.com) Older processes require much larger sample sizes, so Lu’s approach enables the studies using just a small quantity of material from a specific region of a mouse brain.

And looking at the effects of psychedelics on brain tissues is especially important.

Researchers can do human clinical trials with the substances, taking blood and urine samples and observing behaviors, Lu said. “But the thing is, the behavioral data will tell you the result, but it doesn’t tell you why it works in a certain way,” he said.

But looking at molecular changes in animal models, such as the brains of mice, allows scientists to peer into what Lu calls the black box of neuroscience to understand the biological processes at work. While the brains of mice are very different from human brains, Lu said there are enough similarities to make valid comparisons between the two.

VCU pharmacologist Javier González-Maeso has made a career of studying psychedelics, which had been banned after recreational use of the drugs was popularized in the 1960s. But in recent years, regulators have begun allowing research on the drugs to proceed.

In work by other researchers, primarily on psilocybin, a substance found in more than 200 species of fungi, González-Maeso said psychedelics have shown promise in alleviating major depression and anxiety disorders. “They induce profound effects in perception,” he said. “But I was interested in how these drugs actually induce behavioral effects in mice.”

To explore the genomic basis of those effects, he teamed up with Lu.

In the joint Virginia Tech – VCU study, González-Maeso’s team used 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine, or DOI, a drug similar to LSD, administering it to mice that had been trained to fear certain triggers. Lu’s lab then analyzed brain samples for changes in the epigenome and the gene expression. They discovered that the epigenomic variations were generally more long-lasting than the changes in gene expression, thus more likely to link with the long-term effects of a psychedelic.

After one dose of DOI, the mice that had reacted to fear triggers no longer responded to them with anxious behaviors. Their brains also showed effects, even after the substance was no longer detectable in the tissues, Lu said. The findings were published in the October issue of Cell Reports.

It’s a hopeful development for those who suffer from mental illness and the people who love them. In fact, it wasn’t just the science that drew Lu to the project.

For him, it’s also personal.

“My older brother has had schizophrenia for the last 30 years, basically. So I’ve always been intrigued by mental health,” Lu said. “And then once I found that our approach can be applied to look at processes like that — that’s why I decided to do research in the field of brain neuroscience.”

González-Maeso said research on psychedelics is still in its early stages, and there’s much work to be done before treatments derived from them could be widely available.

24 Ways You or Your Penis-Having Partner Can Increase Penile Sensitivity

24 Ways You or Your Penis-Having Partner Can Increase Penile Sensitivity

Medically reviewed by Jennifer Litner, LMFT, CST — Written by Adrienne Santos-Longhurst on October 14, 2020

This article is a repost which originally appeared on Healthline

Edited for content

For many folks, sexual satisfaction is all about the feels, so if you or your penis-having partner are experiencing decreased sensitivity down there, it could really mess with your ability to get off.

There are a few things that can cause a decrease in penile sensation, from the way a person masturbates to lifestyle habits and hormone imbalances. The good news: There are ways to get back that lovin’ feeling.

Quick distinction: Less sensation vs. numbness

To be clear, there’s a big difference between less sensation and numbness.

Having less sensation — which is what we’re focusing on in this article — means you don’t feel as much sensation in your peen as you did before.

A numb penis is a whole other ball of wax and refers to not being able to feel any normal sensation when your penis is touched.

If it’s related to your technique

Yep, how you pleasure yourself might be affecting your penile sensation.

What does this have to do with it?

The way you masturbate can lead to decreased sensitivity. Some people call this “death grip syndrome.”

The gist is that people who masturbate using a very specific technique or tight grip can become desensitized to other types of pleasure over time.

When this happens, coming or even getting any pleasure without the exact move or pressure becomes difficult.

If you’re feeling all the feels just fine when you masturbate but find that partner sex is where the sensation is lacking, there are a couple potential reasons.

A thinner or smaller-than-average penis, or even too much lube (natural wetness or synthetic), can mean less friction — and ultimately sensation — during intercourse.

What can you do to help address this?

Just switching up your technique should do the trick and help you recondition your sensitivity.

If death grip is the issue, depending on how you’re used to masturbating, this might mean loosening your grip, stroking at a slower pace, or both.

You could also mix things up with a sex toy made for penis play, like the Super Sucker UR3 Masturbator, which you can buy online, or TENGA Zero Flip Hole Masturbator, which is also available online. And don’t forget the lube!

If intercourse is the issue, some positions make for a tighter fit and therefore more friction.

Here’s a little secret: Tweaking any position so your partner can keep their legs tight together during sex should work.

Plus, if anal sex is what you’re both into, the anus is by nature a tighter squeeze. Just be sure to use a lot of lube if you take it to the backside.

And speaking of a lot of lube: If an abundance of wetness is making sex feel a bit like a Slip ’N Slide, a quick wipe with some tissue should fix it.

If it’s related to your lifestyle

Certain lifestyle habits can be to blame for your peen’s lessened sensitivity.

What does this have to do with it?

Do you bicycle a lot? Do you masturbate frequently? These things can cause the sensitivity in your peen to tank if you do them often.

When it comes to masturbation, how often you do it matters if you’re doing it a lot, according to research that has linked hyperstimulation to decreased penile sensitivity.

As for bicycling, bicycle seats put pressure on the perineum — the space between your balls and anus. It presses on blood vessels and nerves that provide feeling to the penis.

Sitting in a hard or uncomfortable chair for long periods can do the same.

What can you do to help address this?

Masturbation is healthy, but if the frequency of your handy treats is causing a problem, taking a break for a week or two can help get your penis feeling back to itself.

If you sit or bicycle for long periods, take regular breaks. Consider swapping out your bike seat or usual chair for something more comfortable.

If it’s related to your testosterone levels

Testosterone is the male sex hormone responsible for libido, not to mention a bunch of other functions.

If your testosterone (T) level drops, you might feel less responsive to sexual stimulation and have trouble getting aroused.

T levels decrease as you age. Damage to your danglers — aka testicles — can also affect T, as well as certain conditions, substances, and cancer treatment.

Your doctor can diagnose low T with a simple blood test and treat it using testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). Lifestyle changes, like regular exercise, maintaining a moderate weight, and getting more sleep can also help.

If it’s related to an underlying condition or medication

Certain medical conditions and medications can affect sensation in the penis.

What does this have to do with it?

Diabetes and multiple sclerosis (MS) are just a couple conditions that can damage nerves and affect sensation in different body parts, including the penis.

Medications used to treat Parkinson’s disease can also reduce penile sensation as a side effect.

Ensuring that any underlying condition is well managed might help bring the feels back.

If medication’s the culprit, your doctor may be able to adjust your dose or change your medication.

If it’s related to your mental health

Sexual pleasure isn’t just about your D. Your brain plays a big role, too.

What does this have to do with it?

If you’re dealing with anxiety, stress, depression, or any other mental health issue, getting in the mood can be near impossible. And even if you really want to get down to business, your penis may not be as receptive.

What can you do to help address this?

It really depends on what’s going on mentally.

Taking some time to unwind before sexy time can help if you’re feeling stressed or anxious.

A hot bath or shower can help your mind and muscles relax. The warm water also increases circulation, which can help increase sensitivity and make your skin more responsive to touch.

If you’re regularly struggling with feelings of anxiety or depression, or having trouble coping with stress, reach out for help.

Talk to a friend or loved one, see a healthcare provider, or find a local mental health provider through the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA).

Things to keep in mind if you’re struggling

Not to be punny, but try to not beat yourself silly over this.

We get how frustrating it must be to not be able to enjoy the sensation you want or expect during sexual activity.

Here are some things to keep in mind if you’re struggling.

It’s probably not permanent

Chances are your lessened penile sensation can be improved.

As we’ve already covered, changes in technique, getting in the right frame of mind, or some lifestyle tweaks may be all that’s needed to get your penis feeling right again.

A healthcare provider can help with any underlying medical or mental health issues and recommend the right treatments.

Go easy on yourself

We’re not just talking about choking your chicken either! Stressing about this and putting pressure on yourself will only make things worse in the pleasure department.

Give yourself time to relax and get in the mood before play, and permission to stop and try another time if you’re not feeling it.

Don’t be embarrassed to ask for help

Penis health and sexual health are just as important as other aspects of your health.

If there’s something going on with your penis or your ability to enjoy sexual activity, a professional can help.

Good penis health is in your hands

You can’t control everything, but there are things you can do to help keep your penis healthy:

  • Eat a healthy diet, including foods shown to boost penis health by lowering inflammation and improving T levels and circulation.
  • Get regular exercise to improve mood and T levels, manage your weight, and lower your risk for erectile dysfunction and other conditions.
  • Learn to relax and find healthy ways to cope with stress to improve your T levels, mood, sleep, and overall health.
Things to keep in mind if your partner is struggling

If it’s your partner who’s struggling with lessened sensitivity down there, don’t worry. Chances are there’s a good reason for it, and it’s probably not what you think.

Here are some things to keep in mind if it’s getting to you.

Don’t take it personally

Your first instinct may be to blame yourself if your partner isn’t enjoying sex. Try to not do this.

Sounds harsh, but: Not your penis, not your problem.

As a loving partner, of course you want them to feel good. But unless you’ve damaged their penis by taking a hammer to it, their lessened penile sensitivity isn’t your fault, so don’t make it about you.

I repeat, don’t make it about you

Seriously, it’s not your penis!

As frustrated as you might be, keep it to yourself

Not trying to dismiss your feelings or anything, but as frustrated as you may be that your partner isn’t feeling it even when you pull out your best moves, it’s probably a lot more frustrating for them.

That said, if your partner’s lack of sensation results in a marathon shag sesh that causes chafing to your nether regions, of course you have the right to take a break or stop. It’s your body, after all. Just be mindful of how you say it.

Ask what your partner needs from you

EVERYONE should be asking what their partner needs when it comes to sex and relationships. It’s the key to making both great.

Do they need a little time to relax before action moves to the peen? Do they need more foreplay that focuses on other pleasure spots to help them get in the mood? Do they want to just stop altogether? Don’t be afraid to ask.

The bottom line

If you’ve lost some of that lovin’ feeling down below, your lifestyle and pleasure routine — solo or partnered — may provide some clues. If not, your doctor or other healthcare provider can help.

In the meantime, be patient and kind with yourself, and consider some of your other pleasure zones for satisfaction.

 

Common Causes of Impotence

Common Causes of Impotence

By Sara Ryding, B.Sc.

Reviewed by Emily Henderson, B.Sc.

This article is a repost which originally appeared on NEWS MEDICAL

Edited for content

Impotence, which is also known as erectile dysfunction, is the inability to get and maintain an erection for intercourse. While the occasional issue with impotence is not considered rare or cause for concern, persistent issues can cause severe stress and be a sign of an underlying health issue. The causes of impotence can include physical and psychological sources.

Impotence and sexual arousal

The processes around sexual arousal are complex and can be difficult to distinguish. For males, the sexual arousal process involves the brain, hormones, emotions, nerves, muscles, and blood vessels to achieve an erection.

As such, impotence can stem from any of these areas or a combination of them. For example, impotence caused by blood vessel issues can be worsened by subsequent stress and mental health concerns.

Physical causes of impotence

Vascular causes of impotence are among the most common causes of impotence. In some cases, impotence can be a symptom of progression towards cardiovascular disease. For example, impotence is common in people with atherosclerosis and can later progress into heart disease. If the veins are unable to close during an erection, this can cause impotence as it hinders the erection from being maintained. This is called veno-occlusive dysfunction.

Veno-occlusive dysfunction can be caused by the development of venous channels that drain blood from the corpora cavernosa where blood would otherwise be trapped during health erections. Veno-occlusive dysfunction can also be caused by deleterious alterations to the tunica albuginea, which would otherwise be responsible for stopping blood from leaving the penis. These alterations can occur as a result of old age, diabetes, or Peyronie’s disease. Other causes include traumatic injury, alterations to muscles around the area, and shunts that are acquired during certain surgery.

Neurological issues are another physical cause of impotence. This can occur as a result of diseases, such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease, or due to trauma and injury. These can cause impotence by both decreasing libidos and by inhibiting the onset of an erection. In the event of spinal cord injury, the effect on impotence can depend on the nature, location, and extent of the injury. Similarly, neurological issues can be the cause of impotence in old age as sensory stimuli abate with age.

There is some evidence that hormonal issues can cause impotence. A deficiency in androgen, a hormone needed for male sexual characteristics and sex drive, can lower nocturnal erections and decrease libido. However, there is also evidence that erections in response to sexual stimulation still occur in patients with decreased hormonal activity, meaning androgen is not essential.

Psychological causes of impotence

Psychological issues were previously believed to be the main cause of impotence, and it is still considered a common cause of impotence. If the onset of impotence is sudden, this might indicate that the cause is psychological rather than physical.

Psychological issues can range from serious mental disorders, such as schizophrenia, to issues in the relationship with whom impotence occurs. The brain is a starting point for sexual arousal, and issues at this stage can be detrimental to the onset of an erection.

Mental health issues such as depression have a particularly strong link to impotence. This can be due to a lack of libido, performance anxiety, or persistent loss of interest and enjoyment. In schizophrenic people, lowered libido is the main cause of impotence. Some drugs to treat schizophrenia can increase libido, but there can still be persistent issues with erections and orgasms.

Risk factors of impotence

While the causes of impotence can be physical and psychological, there are certain lifestyle and medical factors that can increase the risk of these causes. For example, using tobacco can restrict blood flow the veins and arteries and can thus, over time, lead to vasculature issues which lead to impotence.

Age is one of the biggest risk factors in impotence. Impotence occurs in around 20-40% of older men. Studies have found that the risk of impotence rises by 10% every year in men aged 40-70 years old. The reasons for this are numerous: the penis becomes less sensitive to stimulation, hormone levels decrease, cardiovascular issues become more common, and libido naturally decreases with age.

Other risk factors include obesity, injuries that damage nerves or arteries that are involved in erections, persistent drinking, or alcoholism. Impotence can be avoided by sometimes making changes to lifestyle, such as reducing drinking and smoking but may sometimes need focused treatment. Other times, medical treatments such as radiation treatment or prostate surgery can be risk factors for impotence and may be needed to save the patient’s life.

Sources

  • Mayo Clinic. 2020. Erectile Dysfunction – Symptoms and Causes. [online] Available at: <https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/erectile-dysfunction/symptoms-causes/syc-20355776> [Accessed 26 August 2020].
  • Lue, T., 2000. Erectile Dysfunction. New England Journal of Medicine, 342(24), pp. 1802-1813.
  • Wyllie, M., 2005. The underlying pathophysiology and causes of erectile dysfunction. Clinical Cornerstone, 7(1), pp. 19-26.