Sexual Health Issues
Sexual Desire
Sexual desire, or libido, sex drive refers to the desire to participate in sexual activity. Sexual desire disorders or decreased libido can be caused by a decrease in circulating hormones, the production of oestrogen in women or testosterone in both men and women. Loss of sexual drive affects both males and females, which can be detrimental to one’s sexual health and overall wellbeing. Sexual problems may also have a flow on effect to relationships and family life. Low libido is the number one cause of sexual dysfunction in women with about 22% of the women’s population affected at some stages in their lives.
Symptoms
• Lack of sexual interest
o Primary: has never had sexual interest
o Secondary: has previously had sexual interest
• Apathy
• Low libido
Causes
- Zinc deficiency, even marginal zinc, has been found to reduce libido
- Tobacco smoking
- Anxiety and stress
- Illnesses such as hypothyroidism, diabetes, depression etc.
- Hormonal changes
- Androgen deficiency (male andropause)
- Medications: Clomipramine, clonidine, and many tranquilizers, Pharmaceutical MAO Inhibitors, reduce sexual desire in males and females
- Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) often decreases sexual desire. Prozac decreases Sexual Desire in 25% - 30% of users
Sexual Performance
A simple description of sexual performance is the ability to achieve orgasm or orgasms. Up to 80% of women are unable to achieve orgasm through intercourse. Not everyone has a working memory of the Karma Sutra guide to sex, however there are some things we can do to improve sexual performance. Sexual performance can be affected by a number of circumstances and situations, some of which we can control and others we cannot. Many internal factors, such as nutrition, overall health and wellbeing, impact heavily on sexual performance. Taking some time to relax and feel comfortable with your partner is important, as well as healthy communication about sex. For many, feeling comfortable with your own body is essential for enhancing sexual performance.
Causes
• Lack of self esteem
• Stress, anxiety
• Premature ejaculation
• Ageing
• Androgen deficiency
• Prostate enlargement
• Excessive production of prolactin
• Drugs: clomipramine; long-term usage of minor tranquilizers, and pharmaceutical MAO Inhibitors, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
• Recreational drugs: alcohol impairs male sexual performance by inhibiting the endogenous production of nitric oxide which is required for erections and in females it inhibits genital sensation. Tobacco smoking impairs male sexual performance by thickening the arteries that supply the penis blood, thereby limiting blood circulation to the penis and reducing the rigidity and duration of erections.
Impotence
Impotence is the failure to initiate or maintain erection for satisfactory intercourse. 80% cases of impotence are caused by reduced blood circulation to the penis, leading to reduced blood supply due to the narrowing of blood vessels in the penis. The initiation and maintenance of erections of the penis are under the control of the parasympathetic nervous system (a component of the autonomic nervous system), which may also be implicated. Studies have shown that impotence is relatively common.
Impotence can be firstly devastating to one’s esteem, but it can also be hazardous to family stability. Coming to terms with impotence and getting the right advice is important to improving your sexual health and wellbeing. Fortunately, there are many treatment options for impotence.
Causes
Impotence can result from vascular impairment, neurologic disorders, drugs, abnormities of the penis, or psychological problems that interfere with sexual arousal. Physical causes are more common in older men, and psychological causes are more common in younger men. Impotence becomes more common with age, though it is not a normal part of the aging process but associated with underlying problems that commonly occur in older people.
There are many substances that can contribute to impotence such as alcohol and cigarettes, and some pharmaceuticals. Medical illnesses may also inhibit the capacity of men to experience an erection such as diabetes, androgen deficiency, syphilis, stress, anxiety and depression.
