Screening for Erectile Dysfunction Should Be Routine in Diabetes

2017-07-21

Erectile dysfunction affects more than 50% of men with diabetes worldwide and more than 65% of men with type 2 disease, new data from a large meta-analysis reveal.

Clinicians should therefore screen men with diabetes for erectile dysfunction as part of a routine cardiovascular health assessment, say Youssef Kouidrat, MD, of the Maritime Hospital in Berck, France, and colleagues in a report published online July 18, 2017 in Diabetic Medicine.

“Erectile dysfunction is common in diabetes, affecting more than half of men with the condition and with a prevalence odds of approximately 3.5-times more than controls,” say the authors.

“Our findings suggest that screening and appropriate intervention for men with erectile dysfunction is warranted.”

Erectile Dysfunction Is Likely an Early Marker of Undiagnosed Diabetes

A variety of studies have shown that advancing age, duration of diabetes, poor glycemic control, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and the presence of other diabetic complications are associated with diabetes-related erectile dysfunction.

In this latest meta-analysis, compared with healthy controls, the worldwide prevalence of erectile dysfunction in men with diabetes was 52.5%. The prevalence was 66.3% in type 2 diabetes, 37.5% in type 1 diabetes, and 57.7% in both types of diabetes (all P < .0001).

However, the analysis also uncovered significant differences in the reported prevalence of erectile dysfunction in diabetes, ranging from 35% to 80%, the study authors note.

The benefit of intimacy you didn’t know about

By: Bel Marra Health 

Sex makes you feel good, relaxed, improve sleep, and strengthens the connection between you and your partner. But we bet you didn’t know that regular sex can slash your risk of heart disease.

Heart disease continues to be the number one killer of men and women, and lifestyle factors like obesity, lack of physical exercise, smoking, stress, and an unhealthy diet can all increase your risk. Therefore, it’s almost a sigh of relief that something so easy—and enjoyable—like sex can go a long way to reduce your risk.

Sex cuts your risk of heart disease

The good news is that regular sex cuts your risk of heart disease, the unfortunate news is that the benefit was only seen among men. The researchers found that regular sex reduces levels of homocysteine, which is a harmful chemical found in the blood that can contribute to heart problems.

Men who have regular sex are thought to have greater blood circulation and healthier blood vessels, which means that homocysteine doesn’t build up in the arteries.

But why do men improve their heart health during sex and women get the shaft? This is because women’s arousal is not dependent on blood flow and blood flow is a key contributing factor to levels of homocysteine.

Previous studies also explored the benefits of sex and heart health and found that sex at least twice a week for men reduced the risk of clogged arteries by half, compared to men who only had sex once a month or less.

Although there have been prior studies that have explored the association between sex and heart health among men, this is the first study to link the association with levels of homocysteine.

Previous studies on homocysteine found that as levels increased in the blood, so did the risk of heart disease—by as much as 66 percent. Other studies found that high levels of homocysteine increased the risk of stroke by one-third. Lastly, homocysteine has been linked with Alzheimer’s disease and cancer.

or the recent study, over 2,000 Taiwanese men and were tracked and blood levels of homocysteine were examined. Those blood samples were then matched up to a person’s sexual activity levels.

The lowest levels of homocysteine were seen among men who had the most sex; there was no significant difference in homocysteine levels seen among women regardless of their sexual activity.

The researchers explained, “This is the first study of its kind to evaluate the correlation between sexual frequency and homocysteine levels. A good quality sex life, frequent sex and libido are all related to health in the middle-aged and elderly. Increased sexual frequency could have a protective effect on general health and quality of life—especially in men—so doctors should support patients’ sexual activity.”

Sex should be added to the lifestyle changes you make to increase your heart health.

Can Sending Shockwaves To Your Penis Boost Your Erection?

2017-06-22

In 1998, erectile dysfunction (ED) sufferers received a game-changer: That’s when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Viagra as the first oral pill to treat ED.

Viagra and other meds considered PDE5 inhibitors—which work by boosting blood flow to your penis—have become mainstays in ED treatment. In fact, 75 percent of men with ED who receive treatment are prescribed them, according to a Southern Illinois University School of Medicine study.

But they don’t work for all guys—and some men, like those who take meds like nitrates for heart issues can’t use Viagra in the first place. (Here are 6 mistakes you’re making with your ED drugs.)

That’s why scientists have been continually searching for other methods to treat erectile dysfunction. One that seems promising? Shockwave therapy.

In fact, a new study published in Sexual Medicine of 192 sexual health experts at the 18th Congress for the European Society for Sexual Medicine show that support for it is growing: Seventy-two percent of the experts surveyed believed that low-intensity shockwave therapy is effective for treating ED.

With shockwave therapy, clinicians apply a probe to the penis to send energy from acoustic waves to different parts of the penis, the International Society for Sexual Medicine explains. The hope is that this helps new blood vessels form, which would improve blood flow to the penis—vital to getting and maintaining an erection. Each session lasts about 15 to 20 minutes, and while you may feel some tingling, it usually doesn’t hurt. (For everything you need to keep your penis healthy for life, check out The Men’s Health Guide to Erectile Dysfunction.)

Shockwave therapy is still considered experimental, and while it’s approved in other countries, devices are still under review from the FDA here.

As the Sexual Medicine study pointed out, more randomized trials on the treatment are necessary. While studies have shown that it appears to be safe, randomized trials on its effectiveness have been conflicting—some showing little improvement that may not make much of a clinical difference.

In the meantime, if you are having problems with your erections, your tried-and-true options are oral meds like Viagra or Cialis, or injectable drugs like alprostadil. These 15 foods can help your penis perform better, too.

Bodies in Balance: Does Exercise Affect Sex?

2017-05-23

So, the really big question: Does exercise affect sex?

It depends on who you ask. Recently, a study came out that warned guys of the risk to their sex drive if they do too much physical activity. The study found that men who exercise strenuously may have a lower libido than those whose workouts are lighter.

The key words here are may and strenuous. Complications arose when men were exposed to higher levels of chronic intense and greater durations of endurance training on a regular basis. But the majority of people do not consistently exercise at this level, right? So it’s important to read the study and understand if what they analyzed describes you.

Because for most fitness enthusiasts, continuing to exercise on a regular basis does help with intimate relationships and contribute to a healthy sex life. “Exercise is extremely beneficial to sexual desire, performance, and satisfaction, says Lawrence Siegel, MA, CSE, AASECT, a Clinical Sexologist.

“Since sexual function involves more physiological, psychological, and emotional processes than most other human experiences, the closer to optimum levels we are in each state, the greater our sexual experiences,” he says. And since exercise is one of the few things that can help in ALL areas, it is an essential element to achieving those optimum levels of performance and satisfaction (or at least helping one get a bit closer).

What does exercise have to do with sex?

Siegel says exercise, in general, can significantly help achieve better sleep and reduced stress, both of which are important to emotional well being. And if you happen to be one of the millions of people taking an anti-depressant medication, “engaging in exercise is often recommended as a way of overcoming or reducing the negative sexual side effects of these medications, especially in women,” he explains. In fact, research from the University of Texas at Austin found that exercise increases genital arousal in healthy women, likely due to increasing sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity.

In addition to engaging in daily exercise such as strength training and cardiovascular activities, Siegel also recommends yoga. “Yoga has been shown to provide significant improvement in sexual arousal in women with metabolic syndrome (often a precursor diagnosis to cardiovascular disease and diabetes; related to obesity, lack of activity, and pre-diabetes) and post-menopausal women,” he explains. And for men, “yoga has also been shown to help with erectile dysfunction and rapid (premature) ejaculation, especially when it involves strengthening and opening one’s core and pelvic region,” Siegel adds.

And don’t think you’re going to get through an article on sex without talking about Kegels. Yup, that’s right—those dreaded exercises women are told to practice while waiting at a stop light, sitting in their chair at work, or basically anywhere they can, actually do help with sexual performance—and they are not just beneficial to women. Siegel says by strengthening the pelvic floor muscles, particularly the pubococcygeus or PC muscle, both men and women have reported increases in frequency and intensity of orgasms and the feeling that they have more control. “Women have long reported increased vaginal sensation and sensitivity but there is preliminary evidence to show that Kegel exercises may be very helpful in treating erectile dysfunction, or ED and rapid ejaculation in men,” he adds.

And just in case you need one more reason to be active, both sexually and via exercise, Siegel says that in addition to centuries of anecdotal evidence, there is growing empirical data to support the connection between exercise and well being. “Numerous studies have established strong correlations between moderate exercise and help in relieving depression and anxiety, in addition to improvements in sexual arousal and enjoyment.”

What about nutrition?

We can’t talk about a body being in balance without mentioning food. And according to Siegel, there are a number of nutritional changes people can make to improve sexual desire and arousal. He believes that overall, it’s less about finding specific foods that will increase libido, usually referred to as “aphrodisiacs,” than it is to develop good nutritional strategies.

Siegel says a pro-sexual diet should be based on eating lots of legumes, whole-grain products and other complex carbohydrates, as well as a good amount of nuts, fruits and vegetables. “In particular, cruciferous vegetables like brussels sprouts, cauliflower and broccoli, as well as green leafy vegetables are best, but carrots, beets, garlic, ginger, and avocado are also list toppers, he explains.

These vegetables contain phytonutrients and other substances, such as antioxidants, polyphenols and vitamins, that reduce inflammation and improve metabolic function. “For men, these nutrients have been shown to help prevent BPH, or enlarged prostate, a condition often related to erectile dysfunction and ejaculatory problems,” says Siegel. Other nutrients like vitamin E, nitrates, lycopene, folate, and riboflavin are all helpful at improving sexual health.

“With regard to fruits, it’s hard to go wrong,” says Seigel. Of particular interest are watermelon, papaya, and citrus (go vitamin C!). Lemon should also be on your list because of its ability to decrease acidity in the body. To keep it simple, Siegel says “for the most part, if it’s good for your heart, it’s good for sex!”

Sara Lindberg is a freelance writer specializing in health, fitness and wellness.

Does Your Sex Life Affect How Often You Masturbate?

2017-04-26

Can the sex you’re having with your girlfriend determine how often you take matters into your own hands—erm, hand? The answer might be more complicated than you think, a new study from University of Texas at Austin and Brigham Young University suggests.

Researchers looked at survey data from 7,600 men between the ages of 18 and 60 who were asked whether or not they had masturbated in the past two weeks, how often they had sex during that time, and if they were happy with the action they were getting.

It’s not exactly shocking that 61 percent of guys admitted to masturbating within the past two weeks. (Here’s how common masturbation really is.) As it turns out, how often you get laid isn’t really linked to how often you have solo sex. People who did and didn’t get off on their own had similar amounts of sex, the researchers found.

That changed slightly when they took sexual satisfaction into account: Men who reported being happy with their sex lives were just as likely to masturbate, regardless of how often they got laid or not. But guys who were less satisfied with their sex lives had the highest masturbation rates.

Translation: Your tendency to masturbate may rely more on whether you actually like the sex you’re having, rather than how often you actually do it.

But either way, you shouldn’t hesitate to give yourself a little love every now and then, says Moushumi Ghose, a licensed sex and marriage therapist who is not affiliated with the study. If you’re having regular sex—and loving every minute of it—masturbation has the ability to complement what you’re doing in bed, the study authors say.

Ghose agrees: “I like to

think of masturbation as the gateway to a healthy sexuality,” she says. “It’s the one way to discover our inner passions and desires, by tapping into what turns us on.”

And if you’ve hit a dry spell, keeping yourself satisfied on your own is typically perfectly healthy, even though masturbation can be a taboo topic, she explains. (Here’s how you can tell if you’ve been masturbating too much.)

Bottom line: Some sexual alone time can benefit you beyond the bedroom. As if you needed any convincing, here are five reasons you should masturbate tonight.

What You Need To Know About The Disturbing Sexual Assault Trend Called ‘Stealthing’

When it comes to safe sex, a condom seems like a no-brainer. When used properly, it is the most effective way to prevent sexually-transmitted infections, and of course, it also prevents pregnancy. Yet a paper published in the Columbia Journal of Gender and Law examines a disturbing new sex trend called “stealthing,” the act of intentionally and secretly removing a condom during intercourse without consent.

In the paper, author Alexandra Brodsky spoke to victims about the emotional and physical consequences of stealthing. The most obvious: unwanted pregnancy and STIs. But one victim named Rebecca told Brodsky, “None of it worried him. It didn’t perturb him. My potential pregnancy, my potential STI, that was my burden.”

On an emotional level, Brodsky reveals that the men and women who are victims of stealthing also experience a “deeply felt feeling of violation.” Another victim Brodsky interviewed for the study said, “The harm mostly had to do with trust. He saw the risk as zero for himself and took no interest in what it might be for me and from a friend and sexual partner. That hurt.” Another victim quoted in the study even referred to the act of stealthing as “rape-adjacent.”

And this isn’t something that has only happened to a few people. In her paper, Brodsky examines an online community devoted to sharing information and stories about “stealthing.” She looked, in particular, at a website that offers tips to users on how to do this to their own partners. While the website she looked at describes itself as a place for gay men, Brodsky found many comments that talked about heterosexual sex, too.

Based on the content of the site and comments from visitors, Brodsky describes this online community as males who “root their actions in misogyny and investment in male sexual supremacy.” Their communication focuses on a man’s “right” to “spread seed,” even when referring to stealthing in same-sex encounters. Brodsky argues in her study that consenting to sex with the use of a condom is not equivalent to consenting to sex without one at any point in the encounter.

In response, victims are expressing their frustration and seeking help on Reddit, with some threads amassing more than 70 comments.

According to The Guardian, a man was convicted of rape in Switzerland in January for removing his condom during sex without her consent in a landmark case. But Brodsky says she was unable to find a single legal case around this issue in the U.S.

Brodsky, for her part, concludes her paper by calling this behavior a form of “sexual violence,” and urges for a change to the law to recognize this as a punishable offense. “At its best, such a law would clearly respond to and affirm the harm victims report by making clear that ‘stealthing’ doesn’t just ‘feel violent’—it is,” she writes.