Discerning Fact From Fiction on Men's Sexual Health

Issues on men's sexual health are generally a hush-hush topic even among men themselves. Whereas women are more open in discussing personal and sexual matters with their peers and with their doctors, men are generally reticent to seek advice from other people even with medical professionals on matters of men's sexual health. It may well be within the nature of men to keep to themselves on personal matters, what more on men's sexual health which can be a delicate issue. As adolescents, young boys get information about their sexuality from their peers, and eventually, men's sexual health and issues are closed door topics in locker rooms in college.

Although the information they have acquired during these stages may be titillating or interesting, almost often they can be inaccurate or incorrect. Men are less likely to discuss matters on their sexual health with other men whereas women have the tendency to confer such concerns easily and openly. Consequently, men are often dazed when concerns on men's sexual health arise as they are left to themselves. With the extensive invasion of the Internet technology however, there is a massive dissemination of information on men's sexual health. This is tremendously advantageous for men as they can have access to information on men's sexual health - an anonymously at that - as countless websites offer vast data on the matter.

It must be noted however that there are also innumerable sites conveying bogus and incredible information on men's sexual health, therefore a questioning intelligence and sharp discernment are also necessary to acquire the accurate facts from the internet. There is a broad range of topics on men's sexual health. Like for instance, the use of condoms. The use of condoms is basically seen as the proper means to prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STD's) and as a contraceptive as well. However, a large percentage of men do not comply with this preventive measure against STD and unwanted pregnancy for the woman.

A men's health forum online on men's sexual health can prove to be remarkably helpful in this matter. Risks, tips and personal experiences can be shared and discussed in this mode of communication among men. Erectile dysfunction or impotence is also one of the most covered concerns on men's sexual health. As impotence is a sensitive issue of masculinity, a large proportion of men find it embarrassing to discuss this topic with their peers or even their physicians. Pharmaceutical advances have tried to develop means to combat this condition, but still the issue of impotence connotes personal humiliation. By visiting credible information sources online, men can find the answers to their queries thereby alleviating their anxieties and making them look for options to correct the problem.

Another issue on men's sexual health is the improvement of the libido. Online forums can be an avenue to address underlying medical issues and lifestyle related matters that can affect their sexual desire such as fitness, diet and weight management. Other men's sexual health questions can be very specific ranging from the inability to retract the foreskin, Peyronie's disease, venous leakage and abnormal development of the urethra. Of foremost concern on men's sexual health are STDs. Much information derived on STD's such as HIV/AIDS, gonorrhea, herpes and syphilis are sometimes borne out of misinformation and sheer ignorance. Accurate information on men's sexual health is the cornerstone for a healthy sexuality and in enjoying sexual relationships to the fullest.

Men's health forums online are excellent avenues for education and awareness among men and would encourage them to take measures and seek medical attention as well.

Poor Sexual Health - A Natural Alternative

For many, poor sexual health and aging go together. Because of the sensitive nature of sexual health the exact statistics are a little murky, but the following one stands out:

Erectile dysfunction affects 50% of the male population over 40!

When I read that statistic I thought it might be on the high side. That was until two other pieces of information came to my attention:

First, Google lists over 17 million web pages that incorporate the word "Viagra." That compares to 3.3 million web pages for the word "aspirin" and 936,000 web pages for the word "Tylenol." When I did an overture search for "Viagra" there were over 310,000 searches. "Buy Viagra" had over 82,000 searches. "Erectile dysfunction" had over 97,000 searches. There are a lot of people (I suspect mainly men) who are looking for information on Viagra and what it can do for them.

Secondly, I went to my doctor for my annual checkup. For the first time he asked me if I was having any erection problems. I'm not going to reveal my answer but I asked him why he wanted to know. His answer had nothing to do with poor sexual health. The reason why he asks that question is because erectile dysfunction is a warning sign for diabetes and/or circulatory problems.

Creation or Evolution or Both!

Whether you believe the Bible and we are created by God or you believe in Darwin's Theory of Evolution and we evolved over time, sexual health is important to both. At one time poor sexual health, especially ED, was thought to be a mental and/or spiritual issue. More and more research is slowing that poor sexual health is really a function of poor cardiovascular health.

The development of Viagra is a fascinating study. It incorporates male physiology, chemistry, and the nervous system all working together to create an erection. It also provides keys to slowing down the aging process. One key in particular will help you find a natural alternative to Viagra; one that won't have side effects!

How Viagra Works!

Since we all know that Viagra is designed to help males achieve an erection we need to talk a little anatomy. In its simplest terms, an erection is the change in position of the male sex organ from a limp position to a firm, hard and upright position. When you want to move any part of your body you use muscles. Unfortunately this doesn't work for the male organ. Why? Because there are no skeletal muscle contractions involved in an erection. It is all done by pressure. More specifically blood pressure.

The male organ contains two cigar-shaped structures called corpora cavernosa that run the length of the organ. Arteries bring blood into these two structures with veins carrying the blood away from them. In a non-erect state, the blood flow from the arteries is restricted while the veins are open to drain the blood away. When a man becomes aroused, the arterial blood vessels open up so that pressurized blood can enter the corpora cavernosa. The veins leaving the male organ are constricted. This action traps the pressurized blood allowing for the size increase, movement and full erection.

First Clue to ED!

If the arterial blood vessels leading to the male organ do not open properly, it is almost impossible for a male to have an erection. This is the leading cause of ED and poor sexual health in men. Prior to 1983, most doctors thought the problem of poor sexual health was primarily mental not physical. That was until the 1983 meeting of the American Urological Association in Las Vegas. At that meeting and on stage, Dr. Giles Brindley injected his male organ with the drug phentolamine. The result was an instant erection. And to prove his point, Dr. Brindley dropped his pants to display his drug-induced erection. Needless to say not everything done in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas.

Dr. Brindley's bold presentation showed that an erection was a physiological issue more than a mental issue. To understand what happened we need to talk about muscles. Yes, I know I said muscles were not involved. Technically speaking I'm still going to hold this position. There are three groups of muscles:

" Skeletal - Skeletal muscles are those muscles that attach to the bones allowing us to move.

" Cardiac - The cardiac muscle powers the heart.

" Smooth - Smooth muscles are found in blood vessels, the intestines and the stomach. They usually act involuntarily.

Dr. Brindley injected himself with phentolamine. It is a drug that relaxes smooth muscle. Because of the location where he injected himself, the smooth muscles of the arterial blood vessels relaxed allowing the corpora cavernosa to completely fill with pressurized blood. Instant and uncontrolled erection!

Second Clue to ED!

The second clue to ED and poor sexual health centers on the body's ability to control blood flow. Without some type of control, there would be an even amount of blood flow to most of the body. This might be OK if we were vegetables and inactive but we aren't. We are constantly on the go so the body has designed a mechanism to help divert blood flow to the areas that need it the most. Think of your circulatory system as an elaborate design of pipes with valves. These valves can control both the flow of blood as well as divert blood to the areas that need it the most.

This is going to get a bit technical but the control mechanism incorporates the following steps:

1. The brain sends a signal to a particular never fiber. The nerve fiber ends in an NANC nerve cell located in the artery near the point where blood flow needs to be changed. This NANC nerve cell creates nitric oxide, a potentially dangerous free radical.

2. The NANC nerve cell releases nitric oxide into the blood and surrounding cells.

3. The nitric oxide acts as a signaling molecule to stimulate an enzyme called guanylate cyclase. This enzyme keeps the nitric oxide from causing damage by using it with GTP to produce a chemical called cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP).

4. cGMP tell the smooth muscles of the arterial blood vessel to relax. This allows blood flow to increase.

5. There is another enzyme called phosphodiesterase (PDE) that deactivates the cGMP by turning it back into GTP.

6. When the cGMP is deactivated, the smooth muscle returns to its original constricted state.

Confused? Think of a cycle. Guanylate cyclase turns GTP into cGMP causing smooth muscles to relax. PDE turns cGMP into GTP causing the smooth muscles to return back to their constricted state. Nitric oxide turns this cycle on from a nerve impulse generated in the brain.

So, cGMP is produced as long as the brain is sending signals that initiate the production of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is produced as long as there is an adequate supply of the essential amino acid L-arginine.

Third clue to ED!

When a man suffers from ED and poor sexual health, the most common reason is the lack of nitric oxide in the blood vessels of the corpora cavernosa. When a man is aroused his brain does its job by sending the proper signal to the nerves located in his male organ. The nerves produce nitric oxide but the amount of cGMP produced is not enough to maintain an erection. The way Viagra solves this poor sexual health problem is pretty ingenious. To increase blood flow to the male organ you have three options:

1. Increase the amount of nitric oxide produced in the arterial blood vessels.

2. Increase the amount of cGMP produced in response to the nitric oxide.

3. Eliminate the PDE that converts cGMP back to GTP so that cGMP builds up. This causes the smooth muscles of the arterial blood vessels to properly relax and fill with blood.

Viagra uses option 3 to achieve an erection. Why PDE? Because there are 11 different kinds of PDE with only one type of PDE found in the male organ. That type is called PDE5. Talk about creative design. All Pfizer had to do was find a chemical that would selectively block PDE5 and nothing else. This chemical is sildenafil citrate. Here's how it works:

1. A male takes Viagra.

2. The sildenafil citrate is absorbed into the bloodstream and carried throughout the body.

3. The sildenafil citrate attaches to the PDE5 enzyme in the male's organ to disable it.

4. The male is sexually aroused and the man's brain does its job. A signal is sent to the nerve cell in the male's organ which produces nitric oxide.

5. The nitric oxide turns on the cycle creating cGMP to relax the smooth muscles of the arterial blood vessels.

6. Since the PDE5 is disabled the cGMP doesn't break down but builds up allowing the arterial blood vessels to fully dilate.

7. The man achieves a full erection.

Great stuff when it works perfectly but there are a few minor problems.

Side Effects of Viagra!

Almost every drug made by man has side effects and Viagra is no exception. Viagra blocks PDE5 but can also affect PDE6 which is used by the cone cells in the retina. This can affect color vision. For some it changes the way they perceive green and blue colors. For others they see the world with a bluish tinge for several hours. Because of this pilots cannot take Viagra within 12 hours of a flight.

The other two main side effects are headaches and flushing. The blocking of the PDE5 can spill over to other areas of the body causing vasodilatation and increased pressure. This raises the risk for stroke and heart attack. Because of this Viagra is a prescription drug rather than an over-the-counter drug. Additionally, you need to be careful not to combine Viagra with nitric oxide producing drugs like nitrates. Always consult a qualified physician before taking any product like Viagra for poor sexual health issues.

A Natural Alternative!

I'm not discounting the benefits of Viagra, Cialis and Levitra to help men with erectile dysfunction and poor sexual health. All three, when properly used under the guidance of a qualified physician, have been able to change poor sexual health into good sexual health. But understand that these drugs are treating a symptom more than the underlining problem.

The underlining problem for poor sexual health is the insufficient production of nitric oxide to help start and maintain proper vasodilatation. The creation of nitric oxide occurs in the endothelial cells that line the blood vessels. When the endothelial cells are damaged by high blood pressure, high sugar levels, cholesterol, and smoking this decreases nitric oxide production. That's why my physician asked me if I was experiencing any erectile problems. It's a warning sign for other potential health concerns that could affect your wellness.

The main nutrient for the creation of nitric oxide is an essential amino acid call L-arginine. Without going into detail, L-arginine has both a good side and a dark side depending upon how it is brought into your body. Please see my article, "L-arginine, Nitric Oxide and Sexual Health!" for more details.

The natural alternative to changing poor sexual health into good sexual health is to make sure you're addressing your cardiovascular system. Maintain normal blood sugar levels, keep your blood pressure in a normal range, keep your cholesterol under 200 and stop smoking. By combining this with an adequate intake of L-arginine, many males have found that they don't need to spend money on Viagra-like products to help them with poor sexual health issues.

What Is The Definition Of Sexual Health?

Sexual health is influenced by a great many factors ranging from behaviour, attitudes, and conditioning, to biological and genetic factors. It encompasses the problems of HIV, unintended pregnancy and abortion, infertility and sexual dysfunction. Sexual health can also be influenced by mental health, acute and chronic illnesses, and violence. It also involves the individual, family, community, health system level legal and regulatory environments where the sexual rights of all people are upheld. Ideas and norms about sexuality and health come from a variety of sources including social custom, science, medicine, religious belief, and personal experiences. As a result, no one definition of sexual health is likely to adequately represent this diversity, especially when professional opinions on sexuality and sexual health are formed by training and social position which in turn, are often influenced by the individual's culture, socio-economic status, religion, etc. Because the words "health" and "healthy" are often linked to the field of medicine, they carry a medical connotation and authority. As a result, the term "sexual health" can be misused to express approval or disapproval of specific behaviours or individuals under what may seem to be "medical truth". This is the reason why some sex educators and therapists are fearful of promoting a concept of sexual health (directly, by defining it, or indirectly, by developing guidelines) through education. Also it's worth keeping in mind that definitions of sexual health can change and should not be taken as rigid rules of conduct. The World Health Organisation says... "Sexual health is...the integration of the physical, emotional, intellectual and social aspects of sexual being, in ways that are positively enriching and that enhance personality, communication and love." "...a capacity to enjoy and control sexual and reproductive behaviour in accordance with a social and personal ethic." "...freedom from fear, shame, guilt, false beliefs and other psychological factors inhibiting sexual response and impairing sexual relationships." "...freedom from organic disorders, diseases and deficiencies that interfere with sexual and reproductive function." Good sexual health means making sure you have the knowledge, skills and ability to make informed sexual choices and acting responsibly to protect your health and the health of others.

Women and Sexual Health

Good sexual health isn't just about sexual intercourse. Women should know that sexual health encompasses many other aspects like understanding how your body works, knowing what turns you on and what puts you off, accepting your sexual desires and sexual orientation, choosing a form of sexual expression that you are comfortable with, and knowing how to protect yourself from sexually transmitted diseases (STD s) and unwanted pregnancies.

Women should understand that sexual health begins with accepting your sexuality. Our earliest perceptions of sex are inculcated in childhood by our parents' and society's attitude towards it. Until recently, talking about sex was taboo. So, children, especially females perceive that sex is not a good thing. They hear the disapproving voices discussing homosexuality and they subconsciously register that as well. These false ideas infiltrate into adulthood and can be a mental hurdle to good sexual health. It could lead to feelings of shame or guilt when indulging in sexual activities, a reluctance to fully explore sexual potential, or a negative approach to sex. Your sexuality is an integral part of who you are. By accepting your desires, women can positively enhance their sexual experiences and create a healthier self-image.

As a women and an individual, you should never indulge in anything you are uncomfortable with, especially when it comes to sex. Putting up with sexual activities that hurt, embarrass or humiliate is just plain wrong. If you know what you want from a sexual relationship, and you understand what excites you and gives you pleasure and what doesn't, it empowers you to control your sexuality and choose a form of sexual expression that you are comfortable with.

Good sexual health also means protecting yourself from sexually transmitted diseases (STD s). Women can talk to a trusted gynecologist regarding any fear, doubts and inhibitions they may have. Learning about the various types of STDs and how to prevent them, knowing how to determine if you have one, and what to do if you are infected, is a very important aspect of sexual health. Women should have complete knowledge about STD's to prevent them from any heath risk.

Sexual health is as important as physical or mental well-being. Women can better the quality of their life by fully exploring and understanding their sexuality.

Male Sexual Health - Past and Present

Preoccupation with the male genitalia and virility is not a new social behavior. Ancient civilizations had already placed a high value on the phallus not only for sexual reasons but also for the preservation of peace and order. The phallus was a very important symbol in the Roman Empire, specifically in the city of Pompeii. Pompeii is famous for being the Roman city that was literally buried in lava, mud, and rocks when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 B.C. Accidentally discovered in 1748, the city was found beneath meters of ash and pumice. People who resided in that city were found stone-like and lying in different poses that showed their panic and despair that fateful day when the volcano took away their lives and property.

But another interesting find in the ruins was a fresco inside the Villa dei Vetii. The fresco showed Priapus weighing his penis against a sack of money. In Greek mythology, Priapus was a fertility god who was also considered the protector of livestock, plant life, and yes, even the male genitals. Called Mutinus Mutunus in Roman mythology, the said minor god was the son of Aphrodite and Adonis. The fresco boasted how Priapus' privates outweighed the bag full of coins. In fact, sculptures and images of Priapus were placed by farmers in the field supposedly to ensure the abundance of the harvest. For the Romans, his status also served as a scarecrow. The erect penis was not only propped to scare off the birds but burglars as well. These statues usually had inscriptions that contained the threat of sodomy on anyone caught stealing in the field or house where the said stone figures were set-up. During those times, rape was a common punishment for criminal offenders.

Archaeologists and sociologists believe that for many men during those ancient days, a properly functioning penis was crucial to having self-esteem. Proficiency and endurance in sexual activity were considered "manly" attributes, and are still viewed as such by most 21st century men. But what is really interesting in the archaeological ruins of Pompeii is how the penis as a symbol was highly regarded, even revered, by the Roman people.

Today, we can hardly see pictures or statues of men that show the disproportionately sized penis. In ancient Rome, it was important enough to commission an artist to paint such a scene inside one's villa. Still, the preoccupation with the male genitals and sexual performance is still a "silent concern" for most men. Lack of sexual ability, or more accurately, the inability to achieve an erection is a major male concern. It is estimated that at least 30 million American men have been diagnosed with erectile dysfunction. As a sexual health problem, male impotence is defined as the total inability to achieve an erection; an inconsistent ability to achieve an erection; or a tendency to sustain an erection for only brief moments.

Sexual health is more than just an issue of prevention and control of sexually transmitted disease. More appropriately, it is concerned with the physical, emotional and even relational conditions of people. Specifically, male sexual health is focused on a man's ability to have an erection, which is crucial to performing the sexual act. Intimacy in marriage or in deeper, physical relations between a man and a woman is normally attached to the issue of having the "capacity to perform." While professional definitions of sexual health goes beyond anatomical and coital discussions, most ordinary men and women attribute the term to acts "in the bedroom." Surely, men will do well to elevate the discussion of male sexual health above sexual trivia, positions, and performance. Aside from the obvious need to be informed about the dangers of sexually transmitted disease, men should also be educated about the women's sexuality and women's needs. Unlike men, the sexual functions of women are influenced by a number of factors, and not the normal rise in libido.

To access reliable and professional advice regarding sexuality and sexual health, both men and women should consider an appointment with a professional counselor or doctor at the nearest sexual health clinic. It is a known fact, especially in poor countries, that what goes around as knowledge about sexual health is nothing short of a myth. Often, young boys and girls rely on the peer group to get information about sexual health, or about sex itself.

But for men, whether they live in a poor country or in a developed nation, sexual problems must still be addressed by going to a sexual health clinic. Erectile dysfunction is not just a physical problem. It is also linked to emotional and psychological distress. While men who suffer from erectile dysfunction still have the ability to father a child, they do encounter challenges in sustaining their relationships and even their own self-esteem. By getting professional help, men with erectile dysfunction can benefit from science-based information and even medications such as Sildenafil (usually sold under the brand name Viagra), Vardenafil, and Finasteride.

Indeed, getting information on how to attain good sexual health need not be as difficult as excavating Pompeii. Male sexual health is not about achieving the legendary size of Priapus or have circus-like abilities for the most intimate human act. Sexual health is, above all, about maintaining physical health, safety in intimacy, and sustaining good relationships with those we love.