Paying Attention To Male Sexual Health Issues Can Keep You Ready For Love

In days gone by, a man might never mention he’s coping with a male sexual health issue. But now, with the influx of drugs and treatments that can combat such issues, men have more help than ever to ensure that health problems don’t derail quality of life or sexual desire.

Below is an overview of some of the common male sexual health issues.

Prostate/Testicular Health

Prostate infection, enlargement and cancer can impact male sexual health. Symptoms that there is something wrong with your prostate, like an infection or enlargement, include an urgent need to urinate and/or the feeling that your bladder is never empty, sleep problems because of the frequency of urination and a start/stop flow when urinating. Discuss any such symptoms with your doctor.

Prostate cancer is a different story. According to Dr. Sheldon Marks, who discussed prostate cancer on www.webmd.com, “The biggest problem with prostate cancer is that there really are absolutely no early warning signs.”

Prostate cancer is detected by proper medical tests and is usually treatable. That said, it’s still the #2 cancer in US males and takes 40,000 lives annually in that country. That alone should be enough motivation for men–especially those 40 to 50 and above–to get an annual test no matter how uncomfortable you might be about the rectal exam procedure.

You can also save your life by doing a monthly testicular self-exam–just like women should do a monthly breast self-exam–whether you’re young or old. Testicular cancer is one of the more common cancers experienced by men aged 15 to 34.

ED

With the media’s openness and interest in the subject of Erectile Dysfunction (ED), most guys know it’s a common and very treatable condition that afflicts many males, not just older ones. The Canadian Male Sexual Health Council (CMSHC) web site notes, “…current research indicates that ED could affect one in three sexually active adult Canadian men. While life stressors (stress, fatigue, anxiety and even bad timing), can put the occasional kibosh on an erection, when the problem persists for three months or more, it is ED.”

Defined by www.cmshc.ca, ED is, “The persistent inability of a man to get or maintain an erection that is satisfactory for sexual activity.” Symptoms can include erections that are not hard enough or maintainable, the inability to get an erection at all and generally unsatisfactory intercourse.

ED can affect both the quality of lovemaking, plus have negative impacts on the emotional make-up of your relationship. Help is out there…talk to your doctor if you think ED is impacting you.

Lower Testosterone/Aging Male Syndrome

Changing hormone levels can affect both men and women. In males, testosterone is a hormone that serves many functions, including sperm production, quality of muscles and bones and sex drive.

It’s natural that as a man ages, his testosterone levels may decline. But too much decline can lead to symptoms including sleep problems, anger/irritability, erection issues, increased urination, depression, memory/concentration problems, bone/hair loss and less interest in/desire for sex. A blood test can help determine where hormone levels are at, and your family physician, urologist or endocrinologist can help determine appropriate treatment options for you.

Visit these pages for more information:

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