Author: fitness-expert
Q. I am 25 and will be cycling across Canada next year which means 130km (80 miles) a day, for 55 days. I am healthy and will be ready for the level of fitness demanded. However, I’m concerned that I may potentially increase my risk of prostate problems in the future. Are there prostate health risks, or other risks to the male organs, associated with men who cycle long distances? A. Last year, Dr. Irwin Goldstein reported the results of some research on this very question. Specifically, he looked at long-distance bike riders and found that they were at increased…
Q. What are some of the side effects of Viagra? A. Let me first explain how Viagra works; this might help you understand the side effects better. The mechanism of erection is a complex process that we as physicians are only beginning to understand. We know that when a man is aroused, the nerves to the penis cause the smooth muscle in the penis to relax; as a result, the penis fills with blood. When filling is complete, the penis is rigid. It normally remains that way until ejaculation, when a different set of nerves to the penis is activated,…
Q. How does sex affect weight training and muscle growth? I have heard of boxers who would not have sex with their wives for six months because they were weight training for a fight. Does it have anything to do with a man’s testosterone level? A. The mythology of athletic depletion and sexual activity goes back to the Middle Ages, when crusading knights were warned to not fall prey to the love interests of damsels, lest their powers be wasted and heathens not be conquered. Today, that same fear is echoed by high school PE teachers, athletic trainers and professional…
Q. Could smoking (20 cigarettes per day) affect erection and ejaculation during intercourse? A. Smoking has many effects on the body. One of them is certainly decreased erectile function. The loss in erections is due both to decrease in blood flow to the penis and to loss in elasticity of the penis. As you know, for a man to have an erection, the small muscles in the penis must relax so that the arteries to the penis can allow blood to enter it. Once the penis is full of blood, it is hard and erect. Unfortunately, smoking can lead to…
Q. I lost a testicle about 10 years ago, and my remaining testicle is smaller than usual. I had a low sex drive before the procedure, and it is even lower now. Would testosterone therapy help my sex drive? A. Normally, losing one testicle should not affect a man’s ability to have sex or reproduce. The remaining testicle functions well enough to keep body testosterone levels normal. However, since you feel your remaining testicle is smaller, that may be a sign it is not functioning properly, for reasons unrelated to the loss of the other testicle. If it is making…
Q. After my husband and I have sex, the next two or three times he urinates, he passes blood clots and has very bloody urine. He has seen a urologist three times, but they can’t find anything wrong. His PSA was good. The cystoscopy found nothing. They checked his kidneys and did a full-body scan with dye. Still no answers! There is no pain associated with the passing of this blood. I know it has something to do with his erection, because it will happen if he has a wet dream, or even if he just becomes aroused and we…
Q. If a man takes Viagra that is not prescribed to him, can it hurt him? If the man has no sexual problems with having a erection and takes the Viagra, can it cause him to go impotent? My brother-in-law is doing this because he thinks it will enhance his sex life. My sister is trying to get pregnant, and I’m worried about her. A. First, no one should ever share prescriptions. Viagra has been associated with deaths in some circumstances. If someone with certain heart problems takes it, that person could have a heart attack and die. In fact,…
Q. My friend has erectile dysfunction and was given injections of papaverine. These were painful, so he discontinued. Now he is using a vacuum pump device. Is it safe to use such a device? How long can one use it in one session? Are there any side effects to prolonged use? A. Vacuum devices to improve erections have been used for years. In fact, the U.S. Patent Office issued its first patent for such a device in 1917. The devices have undergone many changes since then, and today they are FDA- approved for erectile dysfunction. The vacuum erection device works…
Q. What are the properties of yohimbe root? What is it supposed to aid in? A. Yohimbe is an herbal supplement made from the bark of the Pausinystalia yohimbe tree. Until Viagra, the alkaloid yohimbine from yohimbe was the only FDA-approved oral medication for the treatment of impotence. So, yohimbe is available both as an herbal extract and a prescription medication. It does help to increase libido, but its primary action is to increase blood flow to erectile tissue like the penis. It does not affect testosterone levels. By itself, yohimbe has been shown to be effective in about 40…
Q. I am 39 and just got married. My problem is I am having difficulty ejaculating or reaching an orgasm. I really would like to impregnate my wife, but I just cannot. Do you have any suggestions? A. Problems with impotence include difficulty with erection, failure to maintain the erection, difficulty achieving orgasm, or ejaculatory disturbances. Each of these problems can stem from a variety of causes. Your doctor can help you determine just what is happening in your case. Difficulty achieving erection can reflect problems with either the nervous system or the blood vessels. This can be due to…