As many as one third of all men experience some form of difficulty during sexual activity, yet only a few take the step forward to seek treatment for their sexual problems. It can be embarrassing to discuss one’s sexual problems with a physician, but patients must understand that if this gives an effective solution in the end, it is well worth the effort.
Male sexual problems can be described as any form of difficulty in the sexual activity that prevents the concerned man (or the couple) from experiencing satisfaction. Sexual activity can be divided into phases of excitement, plateau, orgasm and resolution and the problem can be related to any of these phases. The result can be any of the following: loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, ejaculation problems such as premature / retarded / retrograde ejaculation or absence of orgasm. The good news is that male sexual dysfunction is treatable with natural ingredients and the response is good in most cases.
At Hashmi Dawakhana, we have been treating patients for more than 35 years now and have had good results in most cases. We strongly advocate that patients share their concerns with their partner as well as the treating physician to get the best results. In addition, it is advisable that patients take adequate steps early on because seeking timely treatment can help to prevent any complications in their personal lives due to sexual dysfunction.
Male Sexual Dysfunction:
Male sexual dysfunction refers to any difficulty/problem with the normal sexual function in a man which prevents him (or the couple) from experiencing sexual satisfaction. Amongst males, the prevalence of sexual dysfunction ranges from 10% to 50% (average 30%). The problem can be associated with any of the three major components of male sexual function namely libido, erection and ejaculation:
Libido: The sexual urge/desire may be reduced or absent altogether. This can present as lack of interest in sex, absent/reduced sexual thoughts, and poor response to erotic stimuli.
Problems with the libido could be due to low testosterone levels, poor general health, certain drugs (tricyclic antidepressants, antipsychotics, etc.), physical ailments (uremia, hypogonadism, high blood pressure, etc.), depression, anxiety, etc.
Erection: A problem in getting an erection or maintaining it sufficiently for sexual intercourse (at least 25% of times) is termed as erectile dysfunction (impotence). An occasional inability to maintain an erection is common and is a normal phenomenon. However, if this tends to persist, treatment must be sought. There can be many causes for erectile dysfunction (impotence) and it needs careful evaluation.
Ejaculation and orgasm: Problems with ejaculation include premature ejaculation (which occurs sooner than desired by the man or his partner), retarded / inhibited ejaculation (when ejaculation is slow to occur) or retrograde ejaculation (wherein the semen is ejaculated backwards into the urinary bladder).
The ejaculation generally coincides with orgasm (a highly pleasurable sensation experienced in the brain) in males. Abnormally, the orgasm may be absent (anorgasmia) and this also is a component of sexual dysfunction.
Erectile Dysfunction (Impotence)
Erectile dysfunction (impotence) can be described as a problem in getting an erection or maintaining it sufficiently for sexual intercourse at least 25% of times. It is normal to face problems with erection occasionally but if this persists, it calls for prompt treatment.
Erectile dysfunction (impotence) tends to become common as a man ages; however this is caused due to other health problems that creep up with advancing age and not due to the age itself. Sometimes, erectile dysfunction (impotence) may well be an indication of some other underlying health problem such as clogged blood vessels or nerve damage due to diabetes.
A few decades ago, it was thought that erectile dysfunction (impotence) was all in the mind and it occurred purely due to psychological issues. However, it has now been understood that there can be a number of physical and psychological causes as well as medications that can lead to erectile dysfunction (impotence) and most of the causes are treatable. Apart from taking proper treatment, few lifestyle changes can also make a lot of difference to patients and this includes getting proper exercise, taking adequate rest, shedding the extra weight and quitting cigarettes.
Enumerated here are some of the common causes of erectile dysfunction (impotence):
• Cardiac disease
• High blood pressure (BP)
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Atherosclerosis (clogging of blood vessels due to cholesterol deposits)
• Low testosterone levels (for e.g. due to hypogonadism)
• Alcoholism
• Smoking
• Peyronie’s disease (scar tissue in the penis)
• Surgery for treating bladder, rectal, prostate diseases or surgery on the spine can damage the nerves that control erection and thus lead to erectile dysfunction
• Substance abuse of addictive drugs (like marijuana) also decreases sexual drive
• Stress, anxiety, depression, fatigue, poor communication with partner can be major causes for developing erectile dysfunction
• Certain drugs are common culprits in many cases and these include: antidepressants, antihistamines, tranquilizers, medications used for treating high blood pressure, pain and prostate cancer, etc.
Premature Ejaculation:
The incidence of ejaculation disorders in men stands at around 30% globally and males below 40 years of age are mostly affected.
Ejaculation disorders can be classified as follows:
Inhibited or retarded ejaculation: When ejaculation is slow to occur or delayed, it’s termed as inhibited / retarded ejaculation. Psychological factors play an important role in retarded ejaculation.
Retrograde ejaculation: When the ejaculate goes backwards into the urinary bladder instead of being expelled out through the outer end of the penis, it’s termed as retrograde ejaculation. Surgery on the bladder neck or prostate, diabetes, etc. can be the cause for this.
Premature ejaculation: This is the commonest of ejaculation disorders and refers to ejaculation that occurs before or soon after penetration. There is nothing like a time-limit to classify the time of ejaculation as this may vary from case to case. However, if ejaculation occurs before the person (or his partner) wishes i.e. prematurely, it may leave the couple feeling dissatisfied. This may occur before vaginal penetration or at a point just after penetration.
Premature ejaculation tends to be common in young males due to hyperexcitability and often due to excess stimulation. It generally improves with the adoption of premature ejaculation treatment combined with the right kind of treatment.
Listed here are some of the causes of premature ejaculation:
• Concern / anxiety about sexual performance
• Marital discord, lack of attraction for the partner
• Depression
• Guilt
• Past sexual trauma
• Stress
• Fixed mindset that believes sex is sinful
Premature ejaculation can rarely be caused due to:
• Damage to the spinal cord or the back
• Medication such as anti-depressants, etc.
Premature ejaculation can be classified as primary or secondary:
• Primary premature ejaculation is a condition in which the male has always ejaculated prematurely ever since he became sexually active (after puberty)
• Secondary premature ejaculation is a condition in which the person has had control over his ejaculation in the past but later developed premature ejaculation due to any of the reasons discussed above.
Besides medication for effective treatment of premature ejaculation, here are some techniques that can be useful to patients in dealing with their condition:
‘Stop and start’ method:
To obtain effective control over the ejaculatory process, the sexual stimulation is allowed to advance to a point where the man is just about to reach orgasm. At this point, the stimulation is stopped for about 30 seconds and the process is repeated all over again. This can be continued till the man wishes to ejaculate on the last instance.
‘Squeeze and pause’ method:
In this method also, the sexual stimulation is allowed to advance to a point where the man is just about to reach orgasm. Thereafter, the man or his partner must gently squeeze the end of the penis (where the glands meet the shaft) for some seconds. The stimulation must be stopped for about 30 seconds and then resumed again. This process can be repeated till the man wishes to ejaculate on the last instance. Natural medicine for premature ejaculation can provide good relief to patients.
Diagnosis
A proper medical history and physical evaluation are very vital in diagnosing male sexual dysfunction. In addition, the physician may perform certain basic tests to rule out medical problems that may the cause of the dysfunction. An opinion of a urologist, an endocrinologist, a neurologist and sex therapist may be required based on the evaluation made by the physician.
Some of the common tests for diagnosing male sexual dysfunction include (but are not limited to):
• Testosterone levels
• Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels
• Luteinizing hormone (LH) levels
• Blood tests to rule out diabetes, thyroid disorders, lipid disorders, etc.
• Psychological evaluation may be required to rule out depression, anxiety disorders, etc.
Certain cases may require advanced tests such as:
• Ultrasonography (USG / ultrasound): To check the blood flow to the penis
• Dynamic infusion cavernosometry and cavernosography (DICC): A specialized procedure that uses a dye injected into the penis to check for any blood flow abnormalities
• Nocturnal tumescence test: Almost all men experience many erections during sleep without remembering them. This test detects if the patient has had any erection at night during sleep. If it has been so, the doctor can confirm that there is no physical cause to the erectile dysfunction but a psychological cause.
Natural Treatment
Natural medicine can provide significant relief to patients suffering from male sexual dysfunction. The natural medicine for male sexual dysfunctions targets the underlying cause of the dysfunction and provides effective relief from the same. At Hashmi Dawakhana, we have been treating patients with erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation and other male sexual dysfunctions for 35 years now and have had good response in most cases.
Natural treatment works especially well in those cases where the cause of sexual dysfunction is psychological such as depression, stress or anxiety of performance. In cases where nerve damage (due to surgical causes) has resulted in erectile dysfunction (impotence) or ejaculation problems, Natural ingredients can help to improve the nerve functions over a period of time. Dysfunction resulting from surgical causes (such as Peyronie’s disease) may not respond too well to treatment. As far as drug-induced causes are concerned, the physician may suggest alternative medications that may not have an adverse effect on the person’s sexual functions. Lastly, constitutional natural treatment can also help in tackling systemic causes of sexual dysfunction such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, hormonal problems, etc.
Conventional treatment of erectile dysfunction includes drugs like Sildenafil Citrate (famous by the brand name Viagra), Vacuum Constriction Device, Penile Injection Therapy and surgery. Too much attention has been drawn to Viagra by the media notwithstanding the potentially dangerous side-effects of this drug. Viagra enables erection (in the presence of sexual stimulation) within an hour of administration but can lead to some serious side-effects such as impaired vision, hypotension, stroke, increased intraocular pressure, mental confusion, dizziness, headaches and sudden hearing loss. It can be very dangerous especially for men who are suffering from cardiovascular diseases. The conventional medication for premature ejaculation such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), desensitizing creams, etc. also tend to provide only temporary relief but not lasting solution.
Natural treatment, on the other hand, effectively deals with the root cause of the disorder and provides lasting solutions. In addition, certain changes in the lifestyle can go a step further and relieve the patient of his problems successfully without opting for any make-shift treatment. It is strongly suggested that patients suffering from erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation or other sexual dysfunctions seek natural treatment early on to experience the benefits of this science to the fullest.
Coping with MSD:
The first step to coping with male sexual dysfunction is to be educated about the problem and not to assume that it is permanent. A sex therapist may be able to provide the right kind of education to the patient as well as answer all the queries that crowd his mind.
At Hashmi Dawakhana, we have treated a large number of cases of male sexual dysfunction, especially erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation naturally. We have had good results in most cases and based on our experience and expertise in treating these cases, we have observed that certain changes in lifestyle can go a long way in helping patients to deal with their problem:
• Communication: An open communication with the partner about the anxieties and fear can help to overcome the hurdles in leading a normal sex life
• Seek timely treatment for depression or anxiety, if any
• Practice means to deal effectively with stress
• Regular exercise helps to keep healthy in general
• Get adequate sleep
• Alcohol intake should be limited
• Quit smoking
• Substance abuse (e.g. marijuana) should be stopped without any delay
• Try not to expect any kind of dysfunction to happen again during the next sexual encounter
