Learn about men’s sexual health issues get ideas about how to improve your sex life too.
ED, or impotence, is mainly caused by blood flow problems such as high blood pressure or vascular disease, which are common among aging men. It’s quite common for stress, depression or other emotional disturbances to cause sexual dysfunction in men. At the Men’s Health Center, a team of sex therapists work with patients and their partners in a comfortable, confidential and educational setting to address possible psychosocial causes of ED with the aim of restoring a normal level of sexual functioning.
1: ED can be driven by emotional or psychological problems.
It’s quite common for stress, depression or other emotional disturbances to cause sexual dysfunction in men. At the Men’s Health Center, a team of sex therapists work with patients and their partners in a comfortable, confidential and educational setting to address possible psychosocial causes of ED with the aim of restoring a normal level of sexual functioning.
There are a number of sexual health issues among men that can interfere with a satisfying sex life, including erectile dysfunction, problems with ejaculation, infertility and others.
2: A vasectomy is extremely effective, but it should be considered a permanent form of birth control.
A vasectomy is a simple, minimally invasive surgical procedure used as a permanent form of male birth control to prevent pregnancy. The sexual health of a male is not affected as a result of the procedure and a vasectomy is extremely effective in preventing pregnancy.
While the exact cause of plaque formation isn’t clear, many men with Peyronie’s disease have suffered a minor trauma that caused bleeding inside the penis.
3: The most common male sexual health problem is Erectile Dysfunction (ED).
Erectile Dysfunction (ED), a difficulty maintaining an erection or obtaining firm enough for sex, affects 50 percent of American men over the age of 40. ED, or impotence, is mainly caused by blood flow problems such as high blood pressure or vascular disease, which are common among aging men. Other factors that increase the risk for developing ED include surgeries involving prostate cancer, smoking, certain medications and the use of alcohol or drugs.
To diagnose Peyronie’s, physicians perform an ultrasound examination to determine erectile function and anatomy. Peyronie’s presents in the initial pain and a mild form resolves in 6-12 months, allowing the patient to return to healthy sexual activity. The plaque can be treated with a customized treatment plan.
According to Dr. Michael O’Leary, director of BWH Men’s Health Center at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital, many of the first-line agents for the treatment of ED involve medications that work for 50-70 percent of men. Several non-surgical options exist to encourage an erection by promoting blood flow if a patient does not respond to medication.
4: Up to one third of infertility cases may involve male infertility.
Many factors can contribute to male infertility, including low sperm production, anatomical abnormalities, testicular trauma and immunological or genetic diseases, among many others. Determining the exact cause of infertility involves a thorough physical evaluation, lab tests, imagery and semen analysis. The physicians at the Men’s Health Center, as well as the Center for Infertility and Reproductive Surgery at BWH, are experts in evaluating and treating male infertility.
The following sexual health problems are common among men and are routinely evaluated and treated at the Men’s Health Center at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital, which was recently established to meet a growing demand to address male reproduction and sexual health concerns.
The physicians at the Men’s Health Center, as well as the Center for Infertility and Reproductive Surgery at BWH, are experts in evaluating and treating male infertility.
Occasionally, more invasive treatments are warranted for ED, such as placing an agent into the urethra. For patients who aren’t achieving favorable outcomes, physicians can also explore surgical treatments, including penile implants or prostheses. “I don’t recommend surgery as an initial treatment option for erectile dysfunction,” says Dr. O’Leary, “but for many men it’s very satisfactory.”.
5: Peyronie’s disease can be caused by minor trauma.
While the exact cause of plaque formation isn’t clear, many men with Peyronie’s disease have suffered a minor trauma that caused bleeding inside the penis. Men with Peyronie’s typically experience pain during an erection or difficulty performing intercourse.
