Sex Life. Find daily tips for a healthy sex life for both men and women from Dr. David Samadi. Discover the health benefits of sex and what causes sex life issues such as male and female infertility, low testosterone or estrogen, hormonal issues, menopause, erectile dysfunction, sexual function and what causes sexual dysfunction. Explore healthy solutions for sexual issues.
It is estimated that there are about 30 million men who will experience erectile dysfunction (ED) at any given time. Even though ED is not life-threatening, it could be a sign of something more serious and one is the possibility of diabetes.
Read MoreTo help preserve intimacy and sex after prostate cancer, here are some steps to consider if sexual side effects are getting in the way of good sex:
Read MoreUniversal blood donors may have one more thing to brag about: they perform more reliably sexually. New research indicates that men with blood type O suffer fewer problems with erectile dysfunction (ED) than any other blood group. Put another way, men with blood types A, B and AB are the most at risk for impotence.
Read MoreA man’s sex life is an extremely important component of relieving stress, lowering blood pressure and enhancing his immune system. To keep activities in the bedroom bustling, a man needs to give his sex life an extra boost by remaining fit and that means to exercise.
Read MoreUp to one third of men will have a common condition causing a small, painless lump in the scrotum called a spermatocele. A spermatocele is a benign cyst in which there is an accumulation of sperm that comes from the head of the epididymis. It may also be referred to as an epididymal cyst as it is found within the long, tightly coiled tube called the epididymis that lies above and behind each testicle.
Read MoreNo matter what age a woman goes through menopause, hot flashes and vaginal dryness do not have to end one of life’s most pleasurable experiences. With a few suggestions on how to keep your love life hot and satisfying, sex post-menopause can be some of the best sex you’ll ever have. In fact, many women report sexual frequency and enjoyment actually gets better with age – kind of like a fine wine that only improves with time. During this phase of life, women are often more self-confident and self-assured feeling free to tell their lover what they want in bed, making the relationship grow and deepen.
Read MoreIt would not be unusual if the word “anorgasmia” is unfamiliar to you. Doctors rarely ask about the problem and most men will choose instead to suffer in silence as they themselves are reluctant or embarrassed to bring it up to their doctor.
Read MoreIf you are a man of a certain age (or are anyone of any age who listens to AM radio in any major market) you have heard about Viagara, Cialis and Levitra. These are the big brand names of the most popular erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs (sildenafil, tadalafil and vardenafil, respectively), and ED drugs are doing gangbusters business. But have you ever wondered whether these drugs are differentiated by anything other than their brand names?
Read MoreA smartphone app that takes a picture of your sperm and measures its potency? Is it an example of social media taken a bit too far, or a genuinely useful tool?
Read MoreExercise equals better heart health, better immune functioning, better bone strength, better self-esteem, better sleep, and ….better sex? Yes indeed. Embracing exercise to obtain the other health benefits can give you an extra added bonus of also improving your sex life.
Read MoreWe all can be forgiven if we sometimes forget that sex – despite what the poets, songwriters and HBO all have to say about it – is ultimately about reproduction. We are built to want sex because it is a zoological imperative – all species must reproduce to stay in the game.
Read MoreAt any given time, approximately 62% of all women of reproductive age are using some form of a contraceptive for the prevention of an unintended pregnancy. Out of those women regularly using a contraceptive, around 53% of unplanned pregnancies will still occur. There are many forms of contraceptives women can chose from more than what was available in the past – birth control pills, other hormonal methods of the patch, implant, injectable and vaginal ring, IUDs and condoms. With so many different options available, why do women who are using contraceptives, still become pregnant?
Read MoreIn case you didn’t know already, our hormones rule our lives. If you are a man with an endocrine disorder, you may also know that hormones released by the thyroid gland, may be putting a damper on your sex life.
Read MoreBenign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH is when a man has an enlarged prostate. Having BPH is common and more so in men who are older. It is a noncancerous condition affecting about half of all men between the ages of 51 and 60 have BPH and up to 90% of men over the age of 80 have it.
Read MoreZinc keeps popping up in a number of studies, all of them having to do with sexual performance.
Read MoreSex as exercise or sexercise may not require a gym membership or putting on your running shoes but can it be considered as good of a workout as other forms of physical activity? Any man will tell you it is a great workout but he usually has ulterior motives. But can bedroom frolics be counted as a viable means of exercise on the same level as brisk walking or jogging? The answer to this depends on several factors which have been researched by scientific studies.
Read MoreIt’s bound to happen at some point for any woman who is sexually active. You both slip under the covers ready for a sexual rendezvous when suddenly things aren’t looking up. Instead of his manhood standing tall and proud ready for action, it is behaving as if it has no interest whatsoever.
Read MoreGonorrhea is an equal opportunity sexually transmitted disease (STD) as anyone both men or women who are sexually active can contract it. It is a very common infectious disease – the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates approximately 820,000 new gonococcal infections occur in the United States each year. Less than half of these infections are detected and reported to the CDC.
Read MoreA warning from a study review article summarizes the dangers men face if they choose counterfeit drugs to eliminate erectile dysfunction. This review brings to light the global problem of drug counterfeiting and the products produced placing consumers in danger unknowingly subjecting themselves to significant health risks.
The definition of a counterfeit medicine was defined in 2009 by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one “which is deliberately and fraudulently mislabeled with respect to identity and/or source.” However this definition has been disputed and at this time there is no universally agreed upon definition within WHO. Therefore, WHO is using the term “Substandard, Spurious, Falsely labeled, Falsified, and Counterfeit (SSFFC)” instead.
The growing market for counterfeit phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE-5i)
The use of counterfeit drugs is always dangerous. Unlike legitimate pharmaceuticals which must pass vigorous standards and large, randomized trials before being approved for the public, counterfeit drugs do not undergo any sort of testing or scrutinizing of its effectiveness and safety.
Yet, the market for counterfeit drugs continues to grow rapidly despite the potential dangers. One large market demand for counterfeit medications is for counterfeit phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE-5i). Examples of PDE-5i include Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra, all used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Sildenafil and tadalafil are also PDE-5i but are indicated for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension.
The demand for PDE-5i for erectile dysfunction is due to several reasons – erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common problem and increases in incidence as men age. With the world population aging, there is a larger potential market for ED medications. Also, there is a high economic gain to be made from counterfeit ED drugs. Another factor involved is the embarrassment many men have bringing up this problem with their doctor which leads patients to seek alternative means of obtaining PDE-5i for ED. The fact too that many of these counterfeit PDE-5i are advertised as “all natural” giving men the perception they are somehow safer than synthetic medications.
Recreational use is another reason for PDE-5i demand and the fact many users believe these drugs to be harmless and that they can be self-prescribed with no negative consequences. On top of this, internet pharmacies have made it very easy for men wanting to use a PDE-5i. This review showed that 68% of users did so without a prescription with 60% of these users falsely believing they were receiving the same product as from a legitimate pharmacy. Anyone doing a simple internet search for “internet drug store” will bring up 6.4 million hits and 7,000 Internet pharmacies. Of these pharmacies, only 4% were in compliance of the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites program.
Why counterfeit PDE-5i can be dangerous
To understand the dangers of PDE-5i, one has to have a basic understanding of how they are used. The purpose of PDE-5i is to inhibit phosphodiesterase, an enzyme in the biochemical cascade of erection initiation. When a man achieves an erection normally, vascular endothelium release nitrous oxide that activates several processes that lead to vasodilation and an erection. PDE-5i help lead the process to sustained vasodilation.
There are many reasons why use of counterfeit PDE-5i can be dangerous. They can result in the following situations:
· Since PDE-5i are active in the vasodilation pathway, there is the risk of profound hypotension and syncope with existing use of nitrates and alpha-blockers.
· Headaches
· Dyspepsia or indigestion
· Flushing
All patients who are planning on taking any prescription medications need to be evaluated by their physician for potential drug interactions with other medications they are taking. Another danger is the indirect risk of missing potential medical conditions in patients who bypass the healthcare system to purchase illicit PDE-5i. Men who have ED have also been known to be at a greater risk of other significant medical conditions including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia.
Another concern with counterfeit PDE-5i is the fact that the content of them is unregulated. In 2009, over 2300 samples of counterfeit Viagra were seized by United Kingdom authorities and had them analyzed by Pfizer laboratories. The concentration of active sildenafil ranged from 1-200% of indicated strength and only 10% of the samples contained an active ingredient within 10% of what was advertised on the packaging.
How are counterfeit PDE-5i being limited?
There have been several means of trying to limit the distribution and sale of counterfeit PDE-5i over the years:
· In 2006, WHO created the International Medical Products Anti-Counterfeiting Taskforce (IMPACT) to help build coordinated networks across and between countries to halt the production, trading, and selling of counterfeit medications around the world.
· PDE-5i manufacturers have started working with regulatory and law enforcement authorities to provide distinctive packaging using holographic security foil, 2D barcodes, and radio frequency identification tags.
· The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched significant public education campaigns through magazine public service announcements, education leaflets, news articles, a consumer website (www.fda.gov/counterfeit), and a pharmacist education program.
· Healthcare providers are encouraged to educate patients on the risks of counterfeit and other non-FDA approved products reminding them to only purchase from VIPPS-certified pharmacy if they want to fill prescriptions online and to report any suspected cases of counterfeit medicines to the FDA.
In the meantime, men should not rely on purchasing any ED medications online without checking with their physician first on the safety of the website selling them. When men are educated and understand the health ramifications of using PDE-5i drugs that are counterfeit, they can avoid potential side effects of improper dosing and contaminants placing them at a dangerous risk to their health and well-being.
Here are 12 mistakes men could be making possibly increasing his chance of any unfortunate mishaps he really doesn’t want to have to deal with:
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