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| Your own sexual health can be hard to talk about, but even harder to ignore. There can be questions and hurdles to explore throughout your life. Experts agree that sexual health is an important part of our overall well-being. Sexual health involves a lot of different factors. For example, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sexual health is a “state of physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being in relation to sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction, or infirmity.” If you have questions, your doctor is likely one of the first people you should see. You may also find yourself in need of a specialist. The following describes some common conditions that can affect the sexual health of both women and men: Female sexual dysfunction: This includes a low or absent desire to have sex. For a variety of reasons, a woman can’t maintain arousal or doesn’t become aroused despite her desire. She can’t experience an orgasm, or she has pain with sexual contact. Most often, women experience this when their hormones change. Some women also have these sexual concerns when they are going through a major illness. Experts suggest seeing your physician if any of your sexual concerns are disrupting your peace of mind or are bothering your relationship. There may be physical conditions occurring that are relatively simple to change. In addition, certain medications can also produce unpleasant side effects that can affect your sexual health. Treatments can range from hormone therapy, such as localized estrogen therapy, androgen therapy, and testosterone therapy, to psychological and social options. For example, untreated anxiety or depression or even long-term stress can lead to sexual dysfunction for many women. Erectile dysfunction: A man may have erectile dysfunction if he cannot maintain an erection firm enough for sex on an ongoing basis. Male sexual arousal is often described as a complex process including the brain, hormones, nerves, emotions, muscles, and blood vessels. If there are problems in any of these areas, erectile dysfunction can result. Plus, mental health problems and stress can also cause or worsen the condition. Erectile dysfunction is most often caused by physical factors such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, or obesity. Other factors include clogged blood vessels, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, tobacco use, and alcoholism. There are a variety of options for treating erectile dysfunction, including oral medications, injections, and hormone replacement. Other treatments include pumps, surgery, and implants. Male infertility: This is one sexual problem that couples may only find out about when they try to conceive a baby. Experts say that being infertile means a couple isn’t able to conceive a child when they’ve been frequently trying for a year or longer. Male infertility is the cause in about half the cases. Male infertility can be caused by biological factors such as low sperm production, immobile sperm, or a blockage that prevents sperm delivery. Other factors include injuries, chronic health problems, and lifestyle choices. There are many male infertility treatments available today, including surgery, treating an underlying infection of the reproductive tract, and hormone treatment. Some couples choose to explore assisted reproductive technology such as In Vitro Fertilization. Peyronie’s disease: Another sexual health concern for men is Peyronie’s disease, which is abnormal scar tissue inside the penis. Experts say that when a man has this disease, his penis may be bent and painful when erect. It’s also known that this disease may prevent a man from having sex and often causes stress or anxiety. One of the more common treatments for Peyronie’s disease is surgery to correct the curved or bent penis. Surgery is usually performed when the condition has stabilized. Oral medication is also available, but there is limited information on the effectiveness of it. Research on penile injections is also limited. Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD’s): These diseases are infections caused by unprotected sexual contact with a partner who is infected. What may be most troubling is that some people can catch an STD from a person who appears healthy since many STD’s don’t have any symptoms at first. The timelines from infection to symptoms vary with the different diseases. Some early symptoms may include vaginal discharge, painful or burning urination, swollen lymph nodes, or fever and flu-like symptoms. Experts suggest seeing a doctor immediately if a person is sexually active and it is discovered that his or her partner has an STD. Treatment can include antibiotics for some STD’s such as gonorrhea, syphilis, Chlamydia, and trichomonas. However, two sexually transmitted viral infections that aren’t curable but can be prevented with vaccines include Human papillomavirus (HPV) and Hepatitis B. Male hypogonadism: This condition is caused when a man doesn’t produce enough testosterone. Testosterone is the hormone that aids masculine growth and development during puberty. Some boys are born with low testosterone. However, it can also develop from an injury or infection. Its effects depend on the cause and at what point it occurred. Adult males with low testosterone may find that it affects their reproduction functions, and it may alter certain masculine physical characteristics. Some symptoms include erectile dysfunction, a decrease in muscle mass and body hair growth, breast tissue development, and loss of bone mass. It can also cause emotional and mental challenges such as fatigue, hot flashes, and decreased sex drive. Treatment options include hormone replacement and assisted reproduction. Varicocele: This male condition is caused by an enlargement of the veins inside the scrotum—very similar to a varicose vein in the leg. Most commonly, varicoceles can cause low sperm production and decreased sperm quality. Usually, varicoceles develop over time, and experts say they are easy to diagnose and repair surgically. Often the condition doesn’t have any signs or symptoms. It is rare that a varicocele will cause pain, but over time it may enlarge and become more noticeable. Surgical repair is an option for treating a varicocele. During the surgery, the affected vein is sealed off to redirect the blood flow into normal veins. Repair options include open surgery, laparoscopic surgery, and percutaneous embolization. Sources for this story included: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Mayo Clinic, and the New York Times. |
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