Penis Health GuideWhy Men Opt for Foreskin RestorationMany men who are circumcised during childhood are known to face problems of a dry penis and they want to know if there is any solution to it. The problem is caused because of the natural skin covering the head of the penis or foreskin has been cut off the penis and is exposed to air. The solution lies in foreskin restoration, a process of expanding whatever that remains of the skin over the penis. Foreskin restoration may be done through surgical or non-surgical methods. While there are other reasons as well, most men opt for foreskin restoration to give a natural appearance to the penis and for the increased sensitivity. Surgical method of foreskin restoration involves grafting skin on to the distal portion of the penile shaft. The skin to be grafted is normally taken from the scrotum, which is made from smooth muscle similar to what makes the skin of the penis. However, surgical procedures of foreskin restoration are not only costly but are also known to fail in providing the desired results. Sometimes, surgical methods may result in restored skin that is unnatural. Nonsurgical methods for foreskin restoration are more commonly used. The skin of the penile shaft as well as the inner lining of the foreskin, if any remains after circumcision, is expanded through nonsurgical methods. The skin is pulled over the head of the penis and tension is applied manually through weights and/or elastic straps. In many cases, stretching exercises too can help in foreskin restoration. Circumcision normally happens during childhood and many men grow up realizing that their male identity has been taken away. This requires a lot of support from the partner of a circumcised male to help him get over the negative feeling associated with it. Foreskin restoration can go a long way in restoring confidence of man during the sexual activity. A dry penis inhibits sexual pleasure. The extra skin gained with foreskin restoration covers the head of the penis and avoids dryness to enhance sexual pleasure. The Process of Male ErectionPenile erection is a state of an enlarged penis. Although it is a physiological phenomenon, it is the result of a complex interaction of psychological, neural, endocrine and vascular factors. The quality of erection that a man is able to achieve has a major role to play in the sex life of a couple. Generally, harder and longer erections result in pleasurable sexual experiences. In addition, ability to sustain erection for an extended period allows couples to prolong sexual activity. This is exactly why every male wants to know how erections work and how to achieve long lasting erections. Penile erection is basically the result of a hydraulic action caused by flow of blood into two tubular structures that run through the length of the penis. This flow of blood may be caused by physical or psychological stimulation. In the presence of stimulation erection is started by the parasympathetic part of the autonomic nervous system, which initiates the process through which blood flow to the penis is increased. The resultant swelling and hardness of the penis facilitates penetration and enables sexual intercourse. Although penile erection is a natural process, many people are unable to attain an erection due to various reasons. One of the most common causes of inability to achieve an erection is the daily stress that men have to go through. Inability to attain erection is known as erectile dysfunction. Although occasional inability to attain an erection is normal and almost every man faces such a situation now and then. However, chronic stress may result in repeated episodes of erectile dysfunction. 1998 was a watershed year in the history of pills for curing erectile dysfunction when sildenafil citrate was approved by FDA. Pills for treating inability to achieve and sustain erection aid the natural processes and help in increasing the flow of blood to the penis. Other things that can aid in harder and long lasting erection include a healthy diet and regular exercise. Increase Quality and Quantity of SemenThe intensity of the male orgasm depends upon how much semen a man is able to ejaculate when he reaches the climax during sexual intercourse. The higher the amount of semen the more satisfying the sexual experience. It is thus natural that men want to increase semen production. Quantity of semen that the body produces depends largely on lifestyle, more particularly, the type of food you eat. The importance of food is not limited to satiation. Food is important for the nutrients it delivers to the body to sustain the processes that are necessary for sustaining life.
Men desirous of increasing semen production and enhancing sexual pleasure should ensure that they eat healthy foods, and avoid smoking and excessive drinking. Oysters and red meat, including pork, are rich in dietary zinc. Among vegetarian food items, such as beans, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds are healthy sources of zinc. In addition to these, fruits and green vegetables can deliver adequate quantities of zinc to the body. Besides zinc, Vitamin C and E are other micronutrients that help in increasing quantity and quality of semen. The negative effects of cigarette smoking on overall health are commonly known and there should not be any need to explain them. What is not commonly known is that smoking can adversely affect both the quality as well as the quantity of semen. The less said about alcohol consumption the better. There is a saying that alcohol enhances the desire for sex but snatches away performance. Excessive alcohol drinking not only affects a man’s performance in bed but also greatly reduces the amount of semen produced and ejaculated after the intercourse. There are however supplements that are clinically proven to increase semen by up to five times if used accordingly, one good example is Performer5. Circumcision and Sexual PleasureCircumcision, the partial or complete removal of the foreskin of the penis, is an age old practice. There is evidence relating to circumcision in cave paintings as well as ancient Egyptian tombs. Religious circumcision is still practiced in Judaism and Islam. In Judaism, it is a commandment from God. In Islam, although there is no mention of circumcision in the Quran, Muslims follow the practice as it finds mention in the sayings and living habits of the last prophet of Islam. Studies conducted worldwide reveal that almost 30% of the male population is circumcised and 68% of these are Muslims. Whether or not circumcision is good for health and/or enhances sexual pleasure depends largely upon cultural and religious beliefs. The fact is that the circumcised male has no role to play in the decision as it is done very early in life. Votaries of circumcision would have you believe that it is hygienic and increases penile sensation. On the other side of the spectrum is the medical opinion that states that it is a painful process and can lead to physiological stress unless done under anesthesia and medical supervision. There is also anecdotal evidence that circumcised males experience less penile sensation and less sexual pleasure as compared to intact males. There is adequate medical evidence that there are thousands of touch receptors and other highly erogenous nerve endings on the penis of genitally intact males. On the other hand there is no medical evidence to support that circumcision enhances sensation or sexual satisfaction. It is also generally agreed is that the penile foreskin protects the penis from infections. Moreover, when the glans, the small rounded structure at the end of the penis or penis head, is exposed to air it tends to remain dry and develop sores and red spots. The resultant burning sensation in the glans can greatly affect the sex life of a man. Increase Sex Drive NaturallyLow sex drive can result from many reasons including stress, depression and anxiety, particularly about sexual performance. Besides these psychological causes, many physical factors also affect sex drive. Besides medical disorders such as hypothyroidism, reduced testosterone levels in blood stream and effect of certain medications, improper lifestyle is the most common physical factor that affects sex drive. Obesity, severe underweight and malnourishment can adversely affect sex drive. Another factor that has a negative effect on sex drive is improper diet. Overdependence on junk food and lack of consumption of healthy foods can affect stamina, quality of erection and decreased sex drive. While there are pills and creams available in the market that profess to increase sex drive, one cannot rely upon them because most of these are spurious products. There is also a risk of side effects, which may cause more harm than good. The better option for people facing sexual problems like these is to increase sex drive naturally without recourse to commercial products and medication.
Treatment for Pearly Penile PapulesDid you see some bumps on your penis and are worried to death that you have contacted a sexually transmitted disease or think that it is some sort of a cancer? While it may be unnerving to see those bumps, there is no need to worry because it is a benign condition known as pearly penile papules. You need to be well informed about the condition because an inexperienced doctor may mistake it for HPV warts. Nearly 20% of the male population develops pearly penile papules. These are small but prominent elevations on the ridge of the glans of the male genital organ. It is a harmless anatomical variation that has no potential for malignancy. These appear as a single or several rows of flesh colored, smooth bumps situated circumferentially around the coronal margin of the glans. The size of the papules may vary from 1mm to 3mm. Such anatomical variation is usually seen in males between the age of 20 and 40 years but may also appear in boys of 12-14 years. Pearly penile papules require no medical treatment as the condition poses no risk to health and does not affect sex life. However, the psychology associated with pearly penile papules can lead to problems with the concerned person as well as his partner. Some men find the condition aesthetically worrying and sometimes humiliating. Treatment can be sought if a man considers the condition to be embarrassing. Treatment is a simple procedure wherein a dermatologist uses a laser beam to vaporize the papules. Another method involves application of high frequency current with a low powered medical apparatus. Both methods are harmless and normally done in an office setting. It takes only half hour to one hour and there is no need for post-treatment hospitalization. Treatment of Peyronie’s DiseasePeyronie’s disease is a connective tissue disorder that involves the growth of soft tissues on the penis. Commonly known as a curved or bent penis, it is a condition that affects 1-4% of men. Common symptoms of Peyronie’s are pain during erection and lowering of the diameter of the penis during erection and appearance of thick band of hard tissues on one or more sides of the penis. While the underlying of the condition is not fully understood, it may be due to injury to the penis during sexual activity, excessive smoking and abnormal collagen. Peyronie’s disease also has a genetic component in many cases. Generally, 12-13% of men suffering from Peyronie’s disease see an improvement in the condition without treatment but a vast majority of patients experience worsening of the disease. In the event treatment is required, this may be done through surgical or non-surgical means. Surgical treatments have their own complications and may not be advisable in all cases. Moreover, surgical treatments are expensive and there is always a risk of something going wrong as well as post treatment infection. Non-surgical treatments involve shock wave lithotripsy using ultrasound technology, medications and penile prosthesis. Traditionally, medical treatment of Peyronie’s disease has been done with Vitamin E supplementation. In addition, a combination therapy involving vitamin E and colchicines has shown a lot of promise in halting the progress of the disease. Newer drugs are still under consideration and are undergoing clinical trials. Another non-surgical treatment of Peyronie’s disease that has given good results in many cases is the use of a penile traction device. The device works on the core of the penile base to straighten it. The process is clinical proven and recommended for people who want to avoid the risks associated with surgical treatments. All That You Need to Know About Prostate CancerThe prostate, a gland in the pelvis area is about the size of a walnut but a source of major headache for middle-aged men. The gland naturally enlarges in size with age and causes most of the urinary problems in men after they cross 40-45 years of age. Prostate cancer, on the other hand is a serious prostate condition that affects nearly 16% men in America. In fact, after lung cancer, prostate cancer is a major cause of death of men in America. All types of cancers are usually detected late but prostate cancer is even more difficult to detect. The reason is the prostate gland enlarges naturally with age. Most of the times, the enlargement is benign, a condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH. Prostate cancer is usually detected very late, sometimes after it has already metastasized to surrounding areas. One reason is that urinary symptoms associated with benign as well as malignant growth in the size of the prostate are similar to those experienced in urinary infections. Secondly, many men hesitate to discuss urinary incontinence and other embarrassing symptoms associated with prostate conditions. The factors that play an important role in occurrence of prostate cancer vary from diet and lifestyles to genetics and race. Since enlargement of the prostate is a natural phenomenon, it is incumbent upon men to monitor prostate health once they cross forty. This is regardless of whether they see any visible urinary symptoms. Constant laboratory tests for prostate specific antigen and regular ultrasound examinations for monitoring the size of the prostate gland and urine retention help in early detection of prostate cancer.
There is no single treatment of prostate cancer. In the unfortunate event of detection of prostate cancer, the option is usually between chemotherapy, hormone therapy, radiotherapy and surgery. The decision usually depends upon whether the cancer is still localized or has spread to surrounding organs. |
