Author: Troy Browning

Q. I have been on Prozac for the past 3 months. Recently, I have had trouble when my husband and I have sex. I only reach a certain plateau — not climax or orgasm. I know this is a side effect of the medication, but what can I do about it? A. You’re right that delayed orgasm is one of the possible side effects of Prozac and some other SSRIs (the class of antidepressants called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors). These medications act by inhibiting the central nervous system’s use of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which leaves more of that chemical floating…

Q. My husband, who is 53, has Peyronie’s disease and we think it was caused by Fosamax. It has gotten much worse and the penis curvature is so severe that intercourse is impossible. My husband’s urologist first gave him some POTABA and told him to take vitamin E. He now feels that surgery is the only option. My husband would prefer not to have surgery. We have heard that Propoleum injection has been effective. Do you know anything about it? What nonsurgical treatment has been the most effective for your patients? A. I doubt that taking Fosomax (used to treat…

Q. My husband has been taking saw palmetto for many, many years, but it does not seem to have been helpful. What we HAVE noticed, though, is a considerable decrease in his sexual desire. Does saw palmetto adversely affect the libido? Also, after he had problems with urinating frequently during the night, his doctor prescribed Cardura. Since he has taken the Cardura, we have noticed an INCREASE in his sexual desire. Have you had reports on this as a side effect? What can you tell of about long-term use of Cardura? A. Your husband’s usage of saw palmetto and Cardura…

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, and they even 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…

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,…