Sex is something most of us want, especially if we’re in loving relationships.
But of course, it’s not always as easy as it sounds, and health problems can be behind a lot of men’s struggles. Here’s a look at some of the most common sex problems challenging men, and how you can make it right...
Trouble keeping up
Most men suffer from erection problems at some time in their lives, but if you find it hard to achieve and maintain erections on a regular basis you may need to swallow your pride and visit your local GP. The good news is, they will be able to help.
Fix it:
These days the prospects for sufferers of what is known as ‘erectile dysfunction’ (ED) has improved enormously – even for men over 60.
“ED can have physical causes, including diabetes, and be an indicator of serious problems like heart disease, so it’s important to see your GP,” advises male health expert Dr Andrew Walker.
Other common triggers include stress, exhaustion and depression. Your doctor may also suggest counselling, with or without your partner, sometimes in tandem with one of the newer drugs such as Cialis or Viagra to help kick-start the process.
Good maintenance:
To keep in good erectile health you should keep fit, with regular exercise three times per week. Try to get a good night’s sleep, cut down on alcohol and avoid cigarettes altogether, as nicotine narrows the all-important blood vessels in the penis.
Sex drive stuck in low gear?
A temporary loss of sex drive happens more often than you may think and for a multitude of reasons.
Dr Walker says: “A lowered libido can be the result of an underlying health problem such as high blood pressure, obesity or anaemia, but more often the trigger is purely psychological and linked to stress.”
Fix it:
If your libido refuses to rev after yet another day at work, it may not just be that you’re tired.
It could be your nervous system is too flooded with stress hormones to produce the hormones involved in sexual response, such as testosterone.
While there are no drugs for loss of libido you should always see your GP in the first instance to rule out major diseases such as diabetes.
Good maintenance:
As well as relaxation techniques, one of the best cures is sex. A study on middle-aged couples found people who enjoyed sexual intimacy with a partner displayed lower stress and bad moods the next day.
Jumping the gun
Premature ejaculation is considered one of the most common sexual dysfunctions in men. It affects up to a third of men at some point in their lives.
While closely associated with younger men, middle-aged men aren’t immune and can acquire the condition due to the same psychological triggers, including stress, that cause other sexual problems.
Fix it:
Among medical experts, there’s no agreed rule about what counts as ‘premature’ – so the best guide is if you or your partner think there’s a problem, you should seek advice. Failing to deal with the problem will only cause more ‘performance anxiety’ and make things worse.
“If you are currently with a partner your GP will most likely recommend sex therapy in which techniques to add more control are taught and possible psychological causes are explored,” says Dr Walker.
Good maintenance:
Although it’s not yet available on the NHS, a drug called Priligy was released in the UK last year and has been shown to increase the length of time between arousal and ejaculation if taken a couple of hours before sex.
Visit www.lloydspharmacy.com/doctor for more information.
A nasty rash?
Despite huge advances in education and prevention, STIs are on the rise. Syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, human papillomavirus (HPV), and HIV, are the six most common STIs in men.
While the onset of some STIs is marked by warning signs such as discharge, others like chlamydia can often be symptomless in men.
Fix it:
“Antibiotics are usually prescribed for the milder STIs but several resistant strains of virus have been noted recently so prevention is still preferable to cure,” warns Dr Walker.
“Left untreated, some STIs can affect long-term health and fertility for both you and your partner. If you’re worried, head immediately to your GP or to your nearest sexual health clinic where testing can be done anonymously.”
Good maintenance:
In absolutely all cases, safe sex habits, including always using condoms and regular sexual health check-ups, are your best insurance policy.
Low sperm count
While a low sperm count doesn’t affect your sexual performance, it can make starting a family difficult, and with a rising incidence rate it’s one aspect of sexual health you shouldn’t ignore.
Some 20 years ago, research by a Danish scientist, Professor Skakkebaek, suggested that sperm counts had fallen by about a half over 50 years and scientists have been puzzling over the causes ever since.
But while environmental factors such as pollution often take the blame, the truth is your own lifestyle choices have a major role to play.
Fix it:
“Recent studies have found plenty of evidence tying obesity to low sperm counts,” say Dr Walker.
“So lose weight if you need to.” Conversely, a balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables, rich in vitamin C, and shellfish, for the zinc, is known to have a positive effect on sperm quality.
Good maintenance:
Regular exercise can boost male fertility, but hit the showers afterwards, as too-hot baths have been found to reduce
sperm production.
Boxer shorts are a better choice than briefs for the same reason.
But of course, it’s not always as easy as it sounds, and health problems can be behind a lot of men’s struggles. Here’s a look at some of the most common sex problems challenging men, and how you can make it right...
Trouble keeping up
Most men suffer from erection problems at some time in their lives, but if you find it hard to achieve and maintain erections on a regular basis you may need to swallow your pride and visit your local GP. The good news is, they will be able to help.
Fix it:
These days the prospects for sufferers of what is known as ‘erectile dysfunction’ (ED) has improved enormously – even for men over 60.
“ED can have physical causes, including diabetes, and be an indicator of serious problems like heart disease, so it’s important to see your GP,” advises male health expert Dr Andrew Walker.
Other common triggers include stress, exhaustion and depression. Your doctor may also suggest counselling, with or without your partner, sometimes in tandem with one of the newer drugs such as Cialis or Viagra to help kick-start the process.
Good maintenance:
To keep in good erectile health you should keep fit, with regular exercise three times per week. Try to get a good night’s sleep, cut down on alcohol and avoid cigarettes altogether, as nicotine narrows the all-important blood vessels in the penis.
Sex drive stuck in low gear?
A temporary loss of sex drive happens more often than you may think and for a multitude of reasons.
Dr Walker says: “A lowered libido can be the result of an underlying health problem such as high blood pressure, obesity or anaemia, but more often the trigger is purely psychological and linked to stress.”
Fix it:
If your libido refuses to rev after yet another day at work, it may not just be that you’re tired.
It could be your nervous system is too flooded with stress hormones to produce the hormones involved in sexual response, such as testosterone.
While there are no drugs for loss of libido you should always see your GP in the first instance to rule out major diseases such as diabetes.
Good maintenance:
As well as relaxation techniques, one of the best cures is sex. A study on middle-aged couples found people who enjoyed sexual intimacy with a partner displayed lower stress and bad moods the next day.
Jumping the gun
Premature ejaculation is considered one of the most common sexual dysfunctions in men. It affects up to a third of men at some point in their lives.
While closely associated with younger men, middle-aged men aren’t immune and can acquire the condition due to the same psychological triggers, including stress, that cause other sexual problems.
Fix it:
Among medical experts, there’s no agreed rule about what counts as ‘premature’ – so the best guide is if you or your partner think there’s a problem, you should seek advice. Failing to deal with the problem will only cause more ‘performance anxiety’ and make things worse.
“If you are currently with a partner your GP will most likely recommend sex therapy in which techniques to add more control are taught and possible psychological causes are explored,” says Dr Walker.
Good maintenance:
Although it’s not yet available on the NHS, a drug called Priligy was released in the UK last year and has been shown to increase the length of time between arousal and ejaculation if taken a couple of hours before sex.
Visit www.lloydspharmacy.com/doctor for more information.
A nasty rash?
Despite huge advances in education and prevention, STIs are on the rise. Syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, human papillomavirus (HPV), and HIV, are the six most common STIs in men.
While the onset of some STIs is marked by warning signs such as discharge, others like chlamydia can often be symptomless in men.
Fix it:
“Antibiotics are usually prescribed for the milder STIs but several resistant strains of virus have been noted recently so prevention is still preferable to cure,” warns Dr Walker.
“Left untreated, some STIs can affect long-term health and fertility for both you and your partner. If you’re worried, head immediately to your GP or to your nearest sexual health clinic where testing can be done anonymously.”
Good maintenance:
In absolutely all cases, safe sex habits, including always using condoms and regular sexual health check-ups, are your best insurance policy.
Low sperm count
While a low sperm count doesn’t affect your sexual performance, it can make starting a family difficult, and with a rising incidence rate it’s one aspect of sexual health you shouldn’t ignore.
Some 20 years ago, research by a Danish scientist, Professor Skakkebaek, suggested that sperm counts had fallen by about a half over 50 years and scientists have been puzzling over the causes ever since.
But while environmental factors such as pollution often take the blame, the truth is your own lifestyle choices have a major role to play.
Fix it:
“Recent studies have found plenty of evidence tying obesity to low sperm counts,” say Dr Walker.
“So lose weight if you need to.” Conversely, a balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables, rich in vitamin C, and shellfish, for the zinc, is known to have a positive effect on sperm quality.
Good maintenance:
Regular exercise can boost male fertility, but hit the showers afterwards, as too-hot baths have been found to reduce
sperm production.
Boxer shorts are a better choice than briefs for the same reason.
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