The Wellness Advisor sat down with our men’s health expert, Dr. Bernd Wollschlaeger, to learn more about men’s sexual health.
Wellness Advisor: Why is sexual health important?
Dr. Bernd Wollschlaeger: Sexual health and vitality is part of our normal well-being, but we often neglect it. Sex is important to maintain intimate personal relationships and is widely considered a healthy component of romantic relationships, especially marriage. Without proper sexual functioning, couples can do severe damage to their relationships. Men are especially susceptible to these problems throughout life’s many changes. Fatigue, stress and acute illness are just a few causes of sexual problems.
WA: What causes sexual dysfunction?
Dr. Wollschlaeger: There are many causes of sexual dysfunction: poor nutrition, stress, exposure to toxic substances, drugs and alcohol, circulatory problems, medications, lack of exercise and chronic diseases like diabetes and arteriosclerosis.
WA: What is impotence and what causes it?
Dr. Wollschlaeger: Impotence is the consistent inability to sustain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse. It can be a total inability to achieve erection, an inconsistent ability to do so, or a tendency to sustain only brief erections. In general, if a man can’t perform sexually even when he wants to, it’s considered impotence. Medical problems like diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, liver or kidney disease, lower back pain, smoking, drug abuse and excessive alcohol consumption have been known to cause impotence. Prescription drugs like Beta blockers and some antihistamines and decongestants can also cause temporary impotence.
Impotence is a problem that affects between 10 and 15 million American men. Medical professionals often use the term ‘erectile dysfunction’ to describe this disorder and to differentiate it from other problems that interfere with sexual intercourse, such as lack of sexual desire and problems with ejaculation and orgasm.
WA: Which drugs helps with impotence? Are there any non-prescription options?
Dr. Wollschlaeger: The most commonly used drug for impotence is Viagra, which works by enhancing the effects of nitric oxide, a chemical that relaxes smooth muscles in the penis during sexual stimulation, allowing increased blood flow. Viagra improves the response to sexual stimulation, but it doesn’t trigger an automatic erection. Impotence might also be due to a low concentration of the male sex hormone testosterone and can be treated with hormone injections, creams or a patch releasing the hormone in small concentrations.
Herbal, mineral or vitamin supplements are used to either increase sexual desire (Ginseng, Schisandra, Saw Palmetto), increase the blood flow to the penis (Ginkgo biloba) or induce the production of testosterone (DHEA, Androstenedione). Among the most popular sexual aids is yohimbine, an extract from the bark of the yohimbe tree. As an alpha-2 adrenergic receptor blocker, it has shown to have a beneficial effect on anti-depressant-induced sexual dysfunction, may reverse sexual exhaustion and may alleviate erectile problems. Niacin and L-arginine might also be helpful in improving sexual dysfunction. The clinical data is still inconclusive in supporting these claims and I recommend contacting a doctor for a detailed physical evaluation and/or laboratory testing before taking any such remedies.
WA: What can men do to increase sperm count and potency?
Dr. Wollschlaeger: In my clinical practice, I’ve encountered many men concerned about the quantity and quality of their sperm. It takes only one sperm to induce a pregnancy and therefore I only treat men who have a significantly decreased sperm count (less than 20 million sperms/ml) due to hormone imbalances. Potency and sperm count aren’t related to a men’s sexual performance.
WA: I have seen many supplements that claim to increase penis size. Do these actually work?
Dr. Wollschlaeger: The answer is very simple. NONE OF THESE PRODUCTS work and I would strongly discourage the use of any of them.
WA: What can men do to increase overall health and well-being?
Dr. Wollschlaeger: It’s important to stress three factors: balanced nutrition, cardiovascular exercise and emotional health. Increase your consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables (at least three-four servings a day), avoid or limit alcohol, coffee and tobacco consumption, eat lean meat (turkey, chicken) or switch to fish products. Drink low fat milk and other dairy products. Limit bread and starch in your diet and eliminate dangerous trans-fatty acids (fried foods).
I’d also recommend exercising daily for 10-15 minutes, not just on the weekends. Cherish and nourish a healthy intimate relationship with your partner and share feelings openly. Be mindful about your life and try to understand that the body and mind are connected and depend on each other’s well-being.
