[h=2]What is low libido?[/h]Low libido is the term used to describe a lack of interest in sexual activity. Sexual desire or libido is produced by a combination of biological, personal and relationship factors.
Sexual desire is different for each person and may change over time depending on what is happening in a person’s life. Low libido may not be seen as a problem for some men; however, if a man loses interest in sex for no apparent reason, and it is a concern for him, talking to a doctor may be helpful.
[h=2]What causes low libido?[/h]Low libido can be caused by acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term) medical or psychiatric conditions, particularly depression.
Men with low levels of testosterone (androgen deficiency) can have problems with low libido.
Prescription medicines, such as antidepressants and blood pressure medicines, as well as frequent alcohol or marijuana use can lower feelings of sexual desire.
Other factors that can affect libido include:
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[h=2]What is erectile dysfunction?[/h]Erectile dysfunction is when a man is unable to get and/or keep an erection that allows sexual activity with penetration. It is not a disease, but a symptom of some other problem, either physical or psychological or a mixture of both.
[h=2]How common is erectile dysfunction?[/h]Erectile dysfunction is very common and becomes more common as men age. An Australian survey showed that at least one in five men over the age of 40 years has erectile problems and about one in ten men are completely unable to have erections. With each increasing decade of age, the chance of having erectile problems increases.
[h=2]How does an erection happen?[/h]Getting an erection is a complicated process. There are two tubes of spongy tissue that run along the length of the penis. A tough fibrous, partially elastic outer casing surrounds this spongy material.
When stimulated by the nerves, the spongy tissue arranges itself in such a way that more blood can be stored in the penis. The veins running through the outer sheath of the penis then compress which stops the blood from leaving the penis. As the blood is stopped from flowing out, the penis fills with blood and stretches within the outer casing, giving an erection.
In both the spongy tissue and blood vessels, muscle cells react to chemicals in the body; some make an erection happen and some make the penis flaccid (soft). The balance of these chemicals controls whether the penis is hard or soft.
[h=2]What causes erectile dysfunction?[/h]Many factors can affect a man’s ability to get and keep an erection. Two or three factors, that may be a combination of physical and psychological factors, are often present at one time. Often erectile dysfunction is a sign of another serious health problem that may be undiagnosed. Sometimes there is no clear reason for the erectile dysfunction.
[h=2]Known causes of erectile dysfunction[/h]
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</tbody>[h=2]Is erectile dysfunction just part of getting old?[/h]There is no doubt that the muscle cells in the ageing penis are less responsive, interfering with getting and keeping good erections. Like the rest of the ageing body, muscle tone in the penis reduces with age, as do many other aspects of sexual function. It can take longer for a man to get fully aroused. It may take much longer before a second erection happens compared to when the man was younger, and usually the erection is not as firm.
Sexual desire is different for each person and may change over time depending on what is happening in a person’s life. Low libido may not be seen as a problem for some men; however, if a man loses interest in sex for no apparent reason, and it is a concern for him, talking to a doctor may be helpful.
[h=2]What causes low libido?[/h]Low libido can be caused by acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term) medical or psychiatric conditions, particularly depression.
Men with low levels of testosterone (androgen deficiency) can have problems with low libido.
Prescription medicines, such as antidepressants and blood pressure medicines, as well as frequent alcohol or marijuana use can lower feelings of sexual desire.
Other factors that can affect libido include:
- stress or tiredness from work
- too little or too much exercise
- feelings of dissatisfaction with the relationship.
- - - Updated - - -
[h=2]What is erectile dysfunction?[/h]Erectile dysfunction is when a man is unable to get and/or keep an erection that allows sexual activity with penetration. It is not a disease, but a symptom of some other problem, either physical or psychological or a mixture of both.
[h=2]How common is erectile dysfunction?[/h]Erectile dysfunction is very common and becomes more common as men age. An Australian survey showed that at least one in five men over the age of 40 years has erectile problems and about one in ten men are completely unable to have erections. With each increasing decade of age, the chance of having erectile problems increases.
[h=2]How does an erection happen?[/h]Getting an erection is a complicated process. There are two tubes of spongy tissue that run along the length of the penis. A tough fibrous, partially elastic outer casing surrounds this spongy material.
When stimulated by the nerves, the spongy tissue arranges itself in such a way that more blood can be stored in the penis. The veins running through the outer sheath of the penis then compress which stops the blood from leaving the penis. As the blood is stopped from flowing out, the penis fills with blood and stretches within the outer casing, giving an erection.
In both the spongy tissue and blood vessels, muscle cells react to chemicals in the body; some make an erection happen and some make the penis flaccid (soft). The balance of these chemicals controls whether the penis is hard or soft.
[h=2]What causes erectile dysfunction?[/h]Many factors can affect a man’s ability to get and keep an erection. Two or three factors, that may be a combination of physical and psychological factors, are often present at one time. Often erectile dysfunction is a sign of another serious health problem that may be undiagnosed. Sometimes there is no clear reason for the erectile dysfunction.
[h=2]Known causes of erectile dysfunction[/h]
| Psychosocial problems | • Performance anxiety • Sexual attitudes and upbringing • Relationship problems • Employment and financial pressures • Depression • Psychiatric disorders |
| Interference with nerve function | • Spinal cord trauma • Multiple sclerosis • Diabetic neuropathy • Pelvic surgery (prostate, bowel) • Parkinson’s disease • Alzheimer’s disease |
| Reduced blood flow | • Atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries) |
| Interference by drugs, alcohol and medicines | • Alcohol and drug abuse • Medicines used to treat: - Hypertension (high blood pressure) - High cholesterol - Depression and psychiatric disorders - Prostate cancer |
| Metabolic problems interfering with blood vessel function (endothelial dysfunction) | • Diabetes • Hypertension (high blood pressure) • Obesity • High cholesterol • Cigarette smoking • Sleep apnoea |
| Urological problems | • Peyronie’s disease • Pelvic trauma |
| Endocrine problems | • Thyroid disease • Acromegaly (a condition caused by too much growth hormone) • Cortisone excess • Hypogonadism (a condition where the testes are not able to make enough testosterone [androgen deficiency] and/or sperm [spermatogenesis]) |
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