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 doctor. 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 doctor about it.
Other common triggers include stress, exhaustion and depression. Your doctor may also suggest counselling, with or without your partner, sometimes in tandem with a drug 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 and cut down on alcohol. Avoid cigarettes altogether, as nicotine narrows the all important blood vessels in the pen*s.
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. 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 doctor 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 climax 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, you could seek sex therapy which will help you with techniques for more control and explore possible psychological causes.
Good maintenance
Your doctor could prescribe drugs to increase the length of time between arousal and ejaculation if taken a couple of hours before sex.
A nasty rash
Despite huge advances in education and prevention, STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections) 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. 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 doctor or to a 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. 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.
By DAILY MIRROR
Premature climax 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, you could seek sex therapy which will help you with techniques for more control and explore possible psychological causes.
Good maintenance
Your doctor could prescribe drugs to increase the length of time between arousal and ejaculation if taken a couple of hours before sex.
A nasty rash
Despite huge advances in education and prevention, STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections) 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. 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 doctor or to a 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. 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.
By DAILY MIRROR
