Men's Sexual Health
Sexual disorders are problems in the male sexual response that impede the development of a full erotic life, affecting physical and emotional health, as well as relationships.
There are various sexual disorders that affect men and they tend to occur at different ages, many of them, in addition to the physical problem, are accompanied by emotional problems. On the contrary, others have emotional problems that affect their sexual performance.
Each case is different and therefore must be personalised, with medical study and treatment and psychological therapy in cases with emotional components.
Details of the approach to male sexuality disorders
How are sexual disorders classified?
The disorders have been categorised as follows:
- Of sexual desire;
- Sexual arousal (erectile dysfunction);
- Orgasm;
- Sexual dysfunction due to medical illness;
- Substance-induced sexual dysfunction and
- Unspecified sexual dysfunction.
What are the possible causes of a sexual disorder or dysfunction?
The causes can be physical, sometimes chemical (hormonal or metabolic) and sometimes psychological. In many cases, a psychological factor is added to a physical cause, so that we are dealing with a mixed cause of your sexual problem.
How are physical and psychological problems linked?
A physical problem can lead to psychological problems (such as anxiety, depression or emotional stress) which, on the other hand, may aggravate the physical problem.
In which cases does the emotional cause prevail in sexual disorders?
It should include interpersonal problems (such as relationship problems or lack of trust and communication), as well as psychological problems of the individual (depression, fears and guilt, trauma, among others).
Some men put pressure on themselves or feel pressured by their partner to perform adequately sexually, and become distressed when they cannot do so (sexual performance anxiety).
Sexual performance anxiety can cause problems and make capacity much worse.
Which sexual disorders have predominantly physical causes?
Among the most frequent organic causes are diabetes, penile circulation problems, endocrine disorders with decreased testosterone and elevated prolactin, and the use of beta adrenergic blocking drugs, antihypertensive drugs and alcohol. Back injuries, blood supply problems, nerve damage, among others.
What are the criteria for deciding on the treatment of sexual disorder or dysfunction?
The assessment of each case determines the most appropriate type of treatment. In some cases, medical or surgical treatment is favoured, in others, psychological treatment. If the organic problem cannot be fully overcome, counselling and sexual rehabilitation are necessary. If the psychiatric condition is responsible for the symptom, it must be treated.
Frequently Asked Questions on Male Sexuality Disorders
What solutions do male sexual health treatments offer?
Our centre has always paid primary attention to male sexual health. Sexual medicine has been established in Europe for many years and aims to provide solutions for men suffering from disorders of both sexual desire and sexual performance, in the areas of sexual potency, penile deformities, sexual pleasure, semen emission, fertility and male contraception.
What are the causes of male sexual problems?
In these problems, the causes are sometimes physical, sometimes chemical (hormonal or metabolic) and sometimes psychological. In many cases, in addition to a physical cause, there is often a psychological factor due to a loss of confidence that the response is adequate, so that the patient enters a phallus-insecurity-failure loop and we are dealing with a mixed cause of their sexual problem.
It so happens that disorders in the sexual sphere are often the "tip of the iceberg" and indicate that there is a problem in the body, in all or part of it, which warns us through this disorder. We often find diseases that were not known in patients who consult for disorders of their sexual function. Thus, sexual problems behave as a marker of health, and we can say that sexual health is integral health.
What is the profile of patients in GUA?
We treat men, then. Men with problems in some part of their sexuality, or in several parts, but men who want to solve these problems, or at least try to do so. These men have a relationship with their partners that is not only sexual but also interpersonal. This may also be the source of some of the problems. And in addition, this partner has his own sexuality, in which there may be problems that affect our patient. It is therefore a set of considerations that we must address when we approach a patient who tells us that he or she has a problem in his or her sexual life.
What sexual medicine solutions do we offer at GUA?
Twenty-first century sexual medicine offers good results in most disorders, especially those of physical or organic origin. Psychological problems must be looked for and treated if they appear and when it is the behaviour in relation to sexuality that is altered, we start a sexual therapy, sometimes with the support of medical or physical therapies, resorting to physiotherapy. We have all these care solutions in our centre in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.