Career, family, everyday issues. . . In the cycle of problems, many men put worries about their own health on the back burner, returning to them only after the discomfort becomes obvious.
One obvious example is erectile dysfunction. On the one hand, sexual weakness is a subject of fear for many men. On the other hand, weakened sexual potential is rarely taken seriously at first. Meanwhile, the very first signs of decreased potency in men should definitely attract attention and become a reason for consultation with a specialist.
Problems with potency: psychology or physiology?
Traditionally, the problem of erectile dysfunction has been associated with age: the older a man is, the more problems he has in the sexual sphere. However, doctors are beginning to sound the alarm: erectile dysfunction has become noticeably younger. Starting from the age of 25, a modern man may experience periodic manifestations of this symptom. Moreover, the key reasons for decreased potency in young men today are considered not to be stress and psycho-emotional disorders, but chronic diseases and lifestyle features
So, what are the main factors that reduce sexual potency in men?
- infectious diseases (usually chronic);
- diseases associated with metabolic destabilization (including obesity);
- prostatitis;
- vascular damage;
- bad habits;
- diabetes;
- neurotic disorders, prolonged stress, depression;
- acquired or congenital defects of the male genital organ.
It should be noted that the listed factors do not always lead to the development of sexual dysfunction, but the first signs of deterioration of erection or decreased libido should signal the need to visit a doctor. Only a specialist will be able to identify the true causes of dysfunction and exclude the presence of serious diseases that may be hidden behind the symptom.
The fight against decreased potency: on all fronts
Of 100% of men who experience sexual weakness, only 10% will immediately consult a doctor and actively work to resolve this issue. The rest, for various reasons, the main one being embarrassment, will ignore the "first signs", bringing the problem to its peak. That is why the first step to regaining sexual power should be recognizing the problem, and only then striving to get rid of it.
The causes of decreased potency in men and its treatment are interconnected and require not only medicinal but also psychological correction, as well as serious changes in lifestyle and diet.
If the cause of decreased potency in young or mature men is not physiological factors, then 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 dishes and fast food, love sauerkraut, watermelon and dark chocolate;
- make your lifestyle more active, but without excessive physical activity;
- avoid stressful situations, be able to relax and switch attention to positive aspects;
- avoid hypothermia and carefully monitor personal hygiene;
- do not get carried away with promiscuous sexual relations.
If the situation with decreased potency is not critical, there is no need to resort to drug therapy. A positive effect in combination with lifestyle correction can be achieved by taking a herbal biological supplement that has a mild corrective effect on the body.
Premature ejaculation
Premature ejaculation is one of the most common sexual disorders in men. However, it is not a full-fledged disease, since the function of the genital organs is preserved, and at certain points in life (adolescence, long-term sexual abstinence) is generally the norm. Premature ejaculation (PE) refers to ejaculation with little sexual stimulation, as well as the inability to delay ejaculation for the time required for full sexual intercourse. This leads to the fact that sexual partners do not receive satisfaction from sex, and conflicts arise. A man begins to experience psychological problems, fear of intimacy. If the pathology becomes chronic and begins to occur more often, the help of an andrologist is required.
What are the causes of premature ejaculation
There are primary and secondary (acquired) forms. Primary occurs due to anatomical defects of the genital organs or pathological heredity. The debut of early 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 against the background of a man’s full physical health at any time in life. The main reason is chronic urogenital diseases. Hormonal disorders, which are characteristic of endocrine pathologies, can also lead to sexual dysfunction.
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;
- surgeries on the genitals or pelvic area.
An important factor is good nutrition and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. A man's lack of microelements such as magnesium and zinc negatively affects the quality of the ejaculate. Excessive addiction to alcohol reduces the ability to control the body, which entails unpleasant incidents in bed.
Premature ejaculation: diagnosis and consultation with a doctor
The main consequences of pathological sexual dysfunction include:
- Sexual dissatisfaction.
- Inability of a man to delay and control ejaculation.
- Conflicts and problems in personal relationships, feelings of guilt and fear of intimacy.
If you have such symptoms, it is recommended to consult an andrologist or urologist. During the appointment, the doctor pays special attention to collecting a sexual history. For this it turns out:
- average length of time before ejaculation occurs;
- the impact of PE on the quality of personal and sexual life;
- does the man have endocrine diseases or metabolic disorders;
- How often do cases of premature ejaculation occur?
- at what age did the first case of PE occur?
- whether the man is taking any medications.
A detailed study of the details of a man’s sexual life will allow 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 circumstances (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 is achieved by establishing friendly communication between partners/spouses. Using a condom or changing positions can help reduce the sensitivity of the penis 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 of the pathology and its severity.
Conservative treatment of premature ejaculation
This group includes 3 main areas:
- The use of local ointments, creams with anesthetic (mainly lidocaine). This method is easy to use and helps reduce sensitivity of the glans penis. It is important to choose the dosage correctly and strictly adhere to the treatment regimen indicated by the doctor. In case of an overdose, the opposite result is possible - numbness of the penis and lack of erection.
- Psychosexual therapy Two behavioral techniques are actively used - "stop-start" and "squeeze technique". They help recognize the feeling of imminent ejaculation and slow it down. Therapy is also aimed at controlling the level of sexual arousal. The methods are included in the complex therapy of acquired premature ejaculation.
- Taking medications. Antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications are used. Prescription of 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, a course of antibacterial and anti-inflammatory medications is prescribed. Additionally, vitamin complexes may be prescribed.
Surgical treatment of premature ejaculation
Surgery is a last resort method, which is used only when congenital PE is detected. To determine the need for surgical intervention, a lidocaine test is required.
- Denervation of the head of the penis is a microsurgical intervention during 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. At the moment, 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 associated with diseases of the internal organs are often temporary and completely reversible. To do this, a man only needs to be more attentive to his own health. For timely detection and treatment of infectious diseases, it is recommended to regularly visit an andrologist or urologist. 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 help from a psychotherapist.
How to maintain potency: advice from a urologist
Is it possible to maintain a full sex life into old age? What affects potency? How to eat, what sports to do in order to remain a man in the full sense? In what situations do you need a doctor's help? In this article, I will answer questions that concern all men and give specific advice from a urologist to preserve men’s health.
Myths and truth about male potency
The topic of potency has become overgrown with so many myths that dispelling them would require not an article, but a whole book. But I will still mention some in order to put an end to them once and for all.
Stormy youth - old age without sex.
If in your youth you actively had sex, for example, every day and 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 absolutely groundless. Nature made sure that a man’s reproductive function worked until his death. Unlike women, who have a limited number of eggs (conditionally), the production of seminal fluid continues while the man is alive.
The number and frequency of sexual intercourse in youth do not in any way affect male viability in old age. Another issue is indiscriminate unprotected contacts and their consequences. Complications of sexually transmitted diseases, especially those left untreated or left to chance, will certainly come back to haunt you, and it’s only a matter of time.
- Cannot control ejaculation as before
- Does not experience vivid sensations, orgasm is erased
If you interrupt sexual intercourse, you will be impotent.
This also includes sexual arousal without subsequent release. Some men use this myth to manipulate their partner into having sex every time they get aroused.
Arousal without continuation (ejaculation) is indeed not very good for men's health, but not as critical as many people think. Interruption of sexual intercourse, when a man is maximally aroused and is ready to ejaculate, can lead to prostatitis due to stagnant processes. And only if you interrupt them regularly. Two or three episodes a month are unlikely to have any effect on his health.
Men's Health - Urology
Of the large number of factors that affect potency, urological diseases are among the "leaders". Especially in men older than middle age. The main enemies of potency in this regard are considered to be prostate adenoma and prostatitis.
Urological problems in men associated with prostate adenoma usually appear after 40-45 years. What brings patients to the doctor for men's problems is a weakened bladder or when a man is unable to urinate.
An enlarged prostate gland puts pressure on the urethral canal and interferes with the full outflow of urine. Frequent urges, discomfort from the feeling that the bladder has not completely emptied - all this, neither emotionally nor physically, is not conducive to an active sexual life. Further - worse. Problems with urination affect the functioning of the kidneys, and in this state there is no time for carnal pleasures.
Unlike prostate adenoma, prostatitis is not only a disease of age. Young men can also get it. Typically, prostatitis is the result of an unhealthy lifestyle and promiscuous sex. specifically, sexually transmitted infections. The situation with them is especially difficult.
Most infections leading to prostatitis are chlamydia, mycoplasmosis, ureaplasmosis, etc. - do not produce acute symptoms for a long time. The disease almost immediately passes into the chronic stage. But there comes a time when the disease makes itself felt through pain, atypical discharge, and problems with urination due to an inflamed prostate. A man simply cannot think about sex in such a state.
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 a man from leading 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 they are available.
Since symptoms in urology often appear when the disease has already become chronic. Detecting it at an early stage, when you can get by with simple conservative treatment, is possible only with regular preventive consultations with a urologist and taking urological tests.
Problems with erectile function - who to turn to
Let's now talk about what impairs potency in addition to urological diseases, and which doctor to contact to restore men's health.
Although there are many reasons for sexual impotence, they are all divided into three types:
- Organic. These include physiological factors - diseases and injuries.
- Psychogenic. In this case, the physiology is in order, and impotence is caused by psychological problems - stress, depression, a traumatic situation.
- Mixed. When both physiology and psyche are to blame for problems with potency.
Among the organic causes of potency problems, the main one is cardiovascular diseases. 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 are not filled with enough blood, the erection is too flaccid for full sexual intercourse. In extreme cases it is completely absent.
Another common reason is hormonal imbalances. Hormones regulate most processes in the body, including sexual arousal and erection. First of all, testosterone deficiency affects potency. This hormone is, in principle, responsible for the reproductive function of men. But other endocrine disorders, such as diabetes, can also affect male sexual performance.
Psychogenic erectile dysfunction in its pure form is less common than organic one. Sexual impotence is often observed with prolonged depression, neuroses, and psychological trauma. Much more often, a combination of psychogenic and physiological problems leads to impotence.
Again, I’ll take as an example a man with prostatitis and accelerated ejaculation. Let's imagine that he was unable to control ejaculation and his partner remained dissatisfied, for which she reproached her partner. After some time the situation repeated itself. 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 to it progressive prostatitis and we get impotence.
Which doctor should I contact regarding potency issues?
Many people believe that the main doctor for men's health is a urologist. This is not entirely true. A urologist is a specialist who treats the genitourinary system. What diseases does a urologist treat? These are diseases:
- prostate (adenoma, prostatitis, etc. );
- bladder (neoplasms, inflammation);
- kidneys (pyelonephritis, urolithiasis);
- urethra.
With what symptoms and when should I go to a urologist?
- discharge from the urethra;
- difficulty urinating;
- pain in the perineum, scrotum, around the anus, in the lower back;
- impurities in urine or seminal fluid.
You should consult a doctor at the first symptoms. 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 for male potency is an andrologist. It is he who has the necessary knowledge to determine the exact cause of male impotence, prescribe adequate treatment and, if necessary, involve other specialists in treatment - a 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 specializations.
Useful tips for men's health
Let me 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 fulfilling sex life even in old age.
I’m sure every man knows how to maintain intimate health.
- Healthy balanced diet;
- Regular physical activity;
- Moderate alcohol consumption;
- No bad habits;
- Pay attention to your health.
The ability to have sex and procreate directly depends on these simple natural things. But most men consider this trivial, ignore it and receive the corresponding consequences.
I still recommend reconsidering your attitude to your lifestyle and building it taking into account the following tips:
- Quit smoking. Toxic substances that you inhale through cigarette smoke - lead, formaldehyde, arsenic, etc. - destroy blood vessels. Namely, they, filling with blood, make the penis hard.
- Limit alcohol. It also hits blood vessels. Plus it disrupts the functioning of the liver, which "in revenge" converts the male sex hormone into a female one. You've probably seen what men with low testosterone and high estrogen look like: breasts that women can envy, fat deposits on the waist and hips, hair loss in areas atypical for the female body. There are huge difficulties with libido and erection.
- Play sports. Moderate physical activity prevents fluids from stagnating in the vessels, "trains" the vessels, and maintains their elasticity.
- Get tested and undergo preventive examinations with a urologist-andrologist at least once a year.
Useful for enhancing male potency:
- Various spices and seasonings: ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, hot pepper, fenugreek. They increase blood circulation, improve immunity, give vigor, and increase sensuality.
- Seeds, nuts: pistachios, pine nuts, walnuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds. They contain a lot of proteins, vitamins and fats.
- All seafood: red fish, oysters. They contain easily digestible protein and other beneficial substances.
- Dairy products, especially homemade cheeses (paneer, cottage cheese, but in moderation). Rich in proteins.
- Fruits: currants, strawberries, avocados, bananas, watermelon, grapes, figs, raisins. This is the prevention of chronic fatigue, which is one of the common causes of loss of libido. But don't overdo it so your sugar levels don't go through the roof. A lot of sweets are also harmful to potency.
- Greens: – celery, cilantro, parsley, dill, tarragon, basil. Improves sperm quality and the amount of sex hormones.
TOP-7 products that improve sexual function in men:
- Raw oysters. Rich in selenium and zinc.
- Bitter chocolate. Improves mood and increases testosterone levels.
- Fenugreek. Reduces blood sugar levels, reduces the risk of developing diabetes.
- Ginger, root. Causes blood flow to the penis.
- Pumpkin seeds. They contain a large amount of zinc and are considered the most useful product for the male reproductive system.
- Walnuts. Source of vegetable protein, increases testosterone.
- Red wine in small doses. Strengthens 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 sources of these beneficial substances are a balanced, healthy diet and complex vitamin preparations. Synthetic vitamins will help relieve prostate inflammation and balance hormonal balance.
IMPORTANT! The information in this section cannot be used for self-diagnosis and self-treatment. In case of pain or other exacerbation of the disease, diagnostic tests should be prescribed only by the attending physician. To make a diagnosis and properly prescribe treatment, you should contact your doctor.