Male UltraCore Blog

Although it’s considered a natural phenomenon that your testosterone levels decline as you advance in years, a lot of men still get worried when it happens. That’s because there are so many health problems that are associated with low levels of testosterone. Low testosterone levels are also known to have detrimental effects on men’s sexual function.

If you’re not too concerned about developing testosterone-related osteoporosis, or losing your libido, or developing erectile dysfunction, you should still worry about low testosterone levels because research indicates that it can raise your risks of dying.

Low Testosterone in Men

Also referred to as “low T,” having low levels of testosterone is very much prevalent in elderly men. Around 20% of men in their 60s have low T, and the percentage increases in older age groups. Nearly half of men in their 80s have low testosterone levels.

The thing about having low T is that your sex life is greatly affected. When you’re still young, you don’t really worry about losing your ability to achieve erections or having a low libido. And you don’t really believe you’ll have those problems in your advanced years.

The truth is that an active sex life and healthy sexuality are still important even for older men. And not being able to sexually perform anymore just because of low testosterone levels can have a lot of negative psychological impact.

Sexual satisfaction actually contributes to the overall well-being of older adults, and not being able to enjoy that results in a significantly reduced sense of well-being, and it can even lead to depression. This is just one of the numerous reasons why you should take care to maintain high testosterone levels even in your advanced years.

In addition, low T also has several adverse effects on your health, regardless of your age. For instance, it can lead to weight gain due to increased body fat. It can also make you lose muscle mass and reduced energy. Additionally, it can also cause testosterone-related osteoporosis, which can make you more vulnerable to injuries.

Low Testosterone and Risk of Death

There have been numerous scientific studies that investigated the relationship between having low levels of testosterone and heart diseases. Researchers have also looked into the association between low T and the risk of death.

One such study was conducted by researchers from the University of California School of Medicine. The study involved close to 800 men whose testosterone levels were measured from 1984-1987, with follow-up measurements conducted until 2004. During the follow-up period, more than 500 deaths occurred.

The researchers found that men who had total testosterone levels lower than 241 ng/dl were 40% more likely to die as compared to those who had higher total testosterone levels. In addition, the authors noted that having low testosterone levels is predictive of death due to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

In another study, the researchers noted that men with low testosterone levels were more likely to die due to respiratory, cardiovascular, and renal diseases, as well as cancer and type 2 diabetes.

Furthermore, the researchers also noted that there’s a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome, obesity, inflammatory disorders, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases among men with low testosterone levels.

Low Testosterone Levels in Relation to Specific Medical Conditions

Low testosterone levels, when accompanied by certain medical conditions, can greatly increase your risks of mortality. For instance, a recent study published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society revealed that among men with metabolic syndrome, low testosterone levels are closely tied to increased mortality risks.

Among men on hemodialysis due to renal or kidney diseases, researchers found that having low testosterone levels can increase overall mortality risk by as much as three times. On the other hand, for men who have chronic kidney disease but are not on hemodialysis, increases in total testosterone levels can reduce risks of mortality by around 30%.

Several studies have also validated the relationship between low testosterone levels, erectile dysfunction, and cardiovascular diseases. It’s been shown that for men who had both erectile dysfunction and low T, their risks of death due to cardiovascular diseases were much higher.

Low testosterone levels are closely tied to cardiovascular mortality. This means that if you have low T, you may have a higher risk of dying due to coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, thrombosis, and sudden cardiac death.

On the one hand, there are also many studies that show the positive effects of testosterone treatment on risks of mortality. One study showed that getting testosterone treatment can lead to around 40% reduction in risks of death.

Another study showed that in men with hypogonadism and type 2 diabetes, those who did not get testosterone treatment had a higher mortality risk than those who received testosterone treatment.

All these studies suggest that although having low testosterone levels does not cause death by itself, it can increase your chances of dying if you’re also suffering from other medical conditions like heart diseases and renal diseases.

Naturally Increasing Your Total Testosterone Levels

With so many studies showing that you’re more likely to die if you have low testosterone levels, it becomes more necessary for you to take steps to normalize your levels of testosterone. You can definitely talk to your doctor about getting testosterone treatment, or you can try various natural means to increase your total testosterone levels.

For instance, you can try fenugreek, which is a healthful supplement that’s known for its anti-diabetic properties. Fenugreek is also often used to help increase weight loss. More importantly, fenugreek also exhibits aromatase inhibitory properties.

What this means is that fenugreek can stop your free testosterone from getting converted to estrogen. This is why fenugreek is good for keeping your free testosterone levels high. And since it helps you lose weight, that can also have positive effects on your total testosterone levels.

Aside from fenugreek, there are many other herbs that are scientifically recognized to have positive effects on men’s testosterone levels. These include Tongkat Ali, Ashwagandha, and Tribulus terrestris. You can also try increasing your intake of zinc as this trace mineral is necessary for testosterone production.

While some men want to purposely delay their orgasm so they can last longer during sex, those who suffer from retarded or delayed ejaculation take no pleasure in it. It’s a frustrating sexual problem, and it can lead to sexual dissatisfaction and relationship problems.

Of the many types of sexual dysfunction, delayed ejaculation is one of the least common. Psychiatrists categorize it as a type of diminished ejaculatory disorder, and it’s characterized by a persistent delay in orgasm, causing interpersonal difficulty or personal distress. Find out how you can address your delayed ejaculation problems.

The Many Causes of Delayed Ejaculation

Delayed ejaculation has many possible causes. What’s important to note about this sexual dysfunction is that it’s not accompanied by any erection problems at all. Most men who suffer from delayed ejaculation can maintain their erection for a long time, usually for more than half an hour.

Sadly, even with their ability to maintain their erection, they still don’t derive much pleasure from sex. You would probably feel the same if you keep trying and trying for more than 30 minutes and yet you still can’t climax.

Biogenic factors

Any disease or procedure that impairs the functions of somatic and sympathetic nerves in the genital region can cause ejaculatory problems. Severe diabetes, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, and radical prostatectomy can cause damage to the nerves in the genital region.

Anatomic abnormalities in the genital area, endocrine problems, and even certain medications like antidepressants can also cause retarded or delayed ejaculation. Moreover, retarded ejaculation caused by biogenic factors tends to increase in severity with age.

Psychogenic factors

Several psychological problems have been associated with delayed ejaculation. These include unexpressed anger, unconscious aggression, fears of getting the partner pregnant, and religious orthodoxy have all been tied to retarded ejaculation.

According to experts, religious orthodoxy can cause a man to “not learn” to spill his seed or ejaculate, and it may also be accompanied by guilt and anxiety. Religious orthodoxy, however, is culturally influenced, so the prevalence of delayed ejaculation due to religious orthodoxy greatly varies all over the globe.

Idiosyncratic masturbation

When you can ejaculate just fine when you’re engaged in solo play, but you can’t seem to orgasm at all when you’re having sex with your partner, the reason may be due to your idiosyncratic masturbation techniques.

What this means is that the pressure, intensity, and speed with which you stimulate yourself during masturbation cannot be easily duplicated during sexual intercourse. And because you don’t feel the same sensations, it doesn’t bring you as much pleasure and excitement, hence you can’t orgasm and ejaculate.

How To Overcome Delayed Ejaculation

Depending on the reason why you can’t ejaculate, certain types of treatment are available. Here are some tips on how you can overcome delayed ejaculation.

Masturbation retraining

Sex therapists often employ masturbation exercises to treat delayed ejaculation. If you’re able to ejaculate when you masturbate, then your delayed ejaculation problem is most probably caused by your unique masturbation technique.

Masturbation retraining aims to increase your psychosexual arousal when you’re having sex with your partner to enable you to orgasm and have a more satisfying sexual experience.

It’s not just about having your partner duplicate the exact way by which you stimulate yourself during masturbation. Rather, it’s about getting you to be more aroused during partnered sex, although there are times when the sex therapist would guide the partner to approximate the man’s unique way of masturbating.

The sex therapist may also advise that you refrain from masturbating altogether. The idea is to make you become more used to partnered sex, and to focus your sexual energy on partnered sex.

In addition, when you don’t ejaculate for quite some time, it can increase your need for a release, thereby allowing you to ejaculate more easily during partnered sex.

Couples therapy

In many cases, delayed ejaculation is caused by relationship issues such as communication problems or disparity in sexual desire. Many sex therapists advise that both the man and the partner should participate in the therapy.

This not only to help the couple gain a better understanding of the man’s delayed ejaculation problem but also to help resolve whatever relationship issues they may be having, thus giving the couple an opportunity to resolve conflicts that may be contributing to the man’s ejaculatory problems.

Pornographic materials

There are many ways by which sex therapists use pornographic materials to help resolve a couple’s sexual problem. There are cases wherein the man is unable to ejaculate during partnered sex because it’s too disparate from his sexual fantasies when he watches porn.

In such cases, the sex therapist may either advise the man to watch less porn or to abstain from watching porn altogether. There are also times when a sex therapist would recommend that you watch porn together with your partner.

The sex therapist may also encourage the couple to share their sexual fantasies with each other, and some even recommend role-playing. This is designed to help the couple become more in sync with each other sexually and to help increase the man’s level of sexual arousal with his partner.

Medications

If you’re taking an antidepressant that’s known to delay ejaculation, you may want to ask your doctor to switch medications or to lower your dose. There are also medications that you can take which may help treat delayed ejaculation.

However, these medicines like amantadine and buspirone are not approved for delayed ejaculation. Rather, they’re used to treat other conditions. Buspirone, for instance, is an anti-anxiety medication.

The Bottom Line

Delayed ejaculation is not as easy to treat as compared to other sexual dysfunctions, primarily because this type of sexual dysfunction is less studied and understood than others. However, this does not mean that you can never overcome your problems with retarded ejaculation.

Fortunately, there are medications and therapies that can help you get rid of delayed ejaculation. If you’re not ready to discuss your sexual problem with other people yet, you can try changing your masturbation frequency and techniques.

You can also try to focus your sexual fantasies on your partner, and you can even try telling your partner about your fantasies. Hopefully, this will help you become more sexually in sync with each other and increase your sexual arousal and satisfaction with each other.

When it comes to coffee and caffeine, there’s an abundance of scientific studies. And yet, scientists are not yet completely certain whether coffee is bad or good for male fertility. The thing about coffee is that it contains so many antioxidants that it’s generally considered a healthy beverage.

Unfortunately, coffee consumption is also linked to poor sleep quality, reduced sleep duration, and certain negative habits like smoking, which are all bad for your sperm count and overall fertility. Continue reading to find out how coffee intake affects your reproductive potential.

The Many Benefits of Coffee

Coffee lovers have a lot of reasons why they shouldn’t quit drinking coffee. For one, this popular beverage contains essential nutrients like magnesium, manganese, potassium, and B vitamins.

More importantly, coffee is extremely rich in antioxidants. In fact, studies show that a lot of people get more antioxidants from the coffee they drink than from the fruits and vegetables they consume.

Given that coffee is packed with antioxidants, it’s not a surprise that this popular aromatic beverage also packs numerous health benefits. Not only does coffee increase your energy levels and stimulate you, but it can also help improve your memory, reaction time, mood, and general mental function.

In addition, coffee helps boost your metabolic rate, which is why you’ll often find caffeine in many fat-burning supplements. And because it stimulates your nervous system, promotes the metabolism of fat cells, and increases your blood adrenaline levels, it’s also great for boosting your physical performance.

With regard to diseases and medical conditions, coffee consumption has been tied to reduced risks of type 2 diabetes. Several scientific studies have shown that coffee can lower your diabetes risks by 7% to even more than 50%.

Thanks to its positive effects on your nervous system and brain, coffee can lower your risks of Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Researchers found that coffee drinkers enjoy a 60% reduction in their risks of Parkinson’s disease.

Regular coffee drinkers also have lower risks of liver diseases like cirrhosis and depression. In addition, a high intake of coffee can help protect you against colorectal and liver cancer.

The Effects of Coffee on Male Fertility

Despite the fact that coffee is rich in nutrients and antioxidants, there’s a lot of scientific evidence showing that a high intake of coffee may not be good for you if you and your partner are planning to have a baby soon.

Several studies have shown that consuming three or more cups of coffee every day may have adverse effects on your fertility. Some studies show that it can increase sperm DNA damage and reduce fecundability. One study, in particular, showed that high coffee intake is associated with a lower live birth rate among fertility patients. 

A Danish study involving more than 2,500 men showed that men who drank more than 800 mg of caffeine every day had lower semen volume, sperm concentration, as well as total sperm count.

In an attempt to find out how coffee consumption affects sperm production, scientists tried to test the effects of caffeine on human Sertoli cells, which are the testicular cells that are responsible for spermatogenesis.

The researchers found out that as caffeine concentration increased, the antioxidant capacity of human Sertoli cells decreased, resulting in increased protein oxidative damage. This could cause an alteration in the structure and function of Sertoli cells, which would then result in impaired sperm production.

Nevertheless, most of these studies on coffee and male fertility show that when consumed in moderation, coffee does not significantly impair sperm production, sperm parameters, and overall fertility.

This means that as long as you don’t consume coffee excessively, you don’t really need to worry about your sperm count and sperm quality declining.

Increasing Your Sperm Count Naturally

If you really do need to increase your sperm count, there are many other ways to naturally do it. Supplements like Tribulus terrestris, maca, and Tongkat Ali, for example, have been repeatedly shown to benefit male fertility by increasing sperm count, improving sperm motility, as well as increasing semen volume.

In fact, for men with idiopathic infertility, both Tribulus terrestris and Tongkat Ali are highly recommended. Not only do these two healthful herbs help promote sperm production, but they also enhance sperm health, mainly due to their antioxidant effects.

Maca has also been linked to improved male fertility as well as enhanced sexual function. This amazing Peruvian root vegetable is also packed with antioxidants, and it’s known to increase stamina and energy, improve erectile function, and reduce stress and anxiety, making it an excellent supplement for improving your bedroom performance.

Ashwagandha is also another herb that’s known to have positive effects on sperm count and semen parameters. Just like maca and Tongkat Ali, Ashwagandha can also help lower stress and anxiety levels, thanks to its rich antioxidant content.

Because of its rejuvenating effects, Ashwagandha is also great for increasing energy, reducing fatigue, improving libido, and enhancing male sexual function. In fact, Ashwagandha is popular as a traditional aphrodisiac and male fertility tonic.

Fenugreek is another herb that’s long been used as an herbal remedy for men with poor sperm health. Fenugreek seeds, in particular, are scientifically known to help increase sperm count and overall sperm quality. On top of that, fenugreek can also help normalize free testosterone levels, which also has positive effects on men’s sexual function.        

Among the many supplements that you can take to increase your sperm count, zinc is perhaps the most important. Not only do you need zinc to produce sufficient amounts of testosterone, but it’s also extremely necessary for normal sperm production and development.

To produce normal and healthy sperm, you need to have sufficient amounts of zinc. That’s because zinc is needed in various parts of the sperm cell, especially in the head and tail. Zinc deficiency can lead to abnormally sperm tails or poorly attached sperm tails, which then results in poor sperm motility.

The Bottom Line

Although coffee may not increase your sperm count, there are still many other natural options for improving your sperm parameters and enhancing your fertility. And if you do continue to enjoy your daily cup of Joe, just make sure that you don’t drink coffee excessively so as to avoid any detrimental effects it may have on your reproductive potential.

Sperm count is important in reproductive health. It determines your chances of having children. Sperm is counted against semen or every ejaculate. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a healthy sperm density against a semen sample is 15 million sperm per milliliter. When measured per ejaculate, it should count at 39 million sperm per milliliter.

Any sperm count that falls below these numbers is considered low. That does not mean the end of the road for you. You can work on your diet to increase your sperm count by taking the following vitamins:

1. Vitamin C

It is one of the essential vitamins when it comes to sperm. Whether it is the quality, count and reducing damaged cells, this vitamin has it all. The vitamin is an antioxidant which protects you from oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is the availability of free radicals in your blood. These free radicals hinder normal cell reactions by interfering with these reactions to form complex chains.

Such chains interfere with the production of sperm in your testicles. According to studies, vitamin C promotes the production of sperm and reduces the number of deformed sperms by 55%.

2. Vitamin D

It is probably the cheapest vitamin available on earth. Despite it being cheap to get, the role it plays is invaluable. The vitamin may not have a direct impact on increasing sperm count. In fact, several studies have shown that the deficiency of this vitamin does not affect sperm count.

So then, how is it important? It helps in the absorption of essential minerals such as calcium and zinc. This vitamin increases the rate at which the body absorbs these minerals.

The minerals are the core factors for producing many and quality sperm.

3. Vitamin B12

This vitamin works on your DNA.  According to studies, a sample population of men treated with vitamin B12, 27% recorded a significant increase in sperm count. Another Japanese study established that administering vitamin B12 to its sample gave stability to the sperm. According to the study, the longer the time of taking this vitamin, the more it increased the stability of the sperm.

Vitamin B12 increases sperm motility when it is enough. It also helps in repairing damaged sperm DNA. As a result, your chances of getting a healthy baby increase.

4. L-Arginine

It is responsible for sperm development. According to studies, l-arginine produces a polyamine called spermine. This polyamine is found in the semen and is responsible for stabilizing and preserving the sperm DNA. It also gives sperm its distinctive smell that you get after ejaculation.

According to urologists, a daily dose of between 4g and 8g should be taken. Adequate production of L-arginine makes sure the structure, the form and the head of the sperm have normal development. L-arginine also enables sperm to swim effectively. The ability of sperm to swim increases your chances of becoming a father.

Effects of Low Sperm Count

When low sperm count is not treated, it can lead to several undesirable effects. They include the following:

A.  Infertility

The number of sperms released per ejaculation is a determining factor of whether you can get children or not. Low sperm count comes along with other effects. When your sperms are few, there is a possibility that some of your ejaculations will only contain semen.

Others might not have the motility to reach the ovum. As a result, infertility knocks at your door without mercy.

B.  Costly Medical Procedures

Low sperm count can cost you a fortune. When you want to make a baby, you might need to use medical procedures such as the IVF. The procedure itself is a real expense, and if you are not planned enough, you might not afford it.

You might also have to undergo some surgery. Such surgeries aim at correcting the factor causing low sperm count. These types of surgeries are also expensive to undergo

C.  Mental Disturbance

Having a low sperm count can be traumatizing to both you and your partner. Everybody experiences a moment when both partners want to expand your family. However, this condition restrains you from achieving your desire. The inability to enlarge your family affects both of you. If you are not promptly taken care of, you become stressed and in severe cases depressed.

You need to seek psychological assistance at this point, to help you overcome the challenge. Support from friends is also essential as it enables you to clear your mind.

Psychologists recommend engaging ourselves in fun activities that need our full attention when we are mentally troubled. It helps us focus on the activity, and we forget our worries. Our minds get relaxed, and we live at that moment. Such activities accelerate healing. We recover quickly and are able to continue with our schedules.

Having to deal with low levels of sperm count is not easy. It affects us psychologically; financially and also socially. We should protect our sperm levels when we can, by eating foods rich in essential vitamins.

We should also take regular checkups to help us know when our levels raise a red flag. At this point, we should seek advice from our doctors to give solutions in curbing the situation before it gets out of hand. We should also avoid self-administered medications. Low sperm count is a serious condition that requires professional attention. Are we not focusing on a more permanent solution?

There is always a contradiction when it comes to defining a micropenis. Some people mistake a small penis for a micropenis. For a penis to qualify as micro, its size is measured against the age. If it falls below the recommended length, it may be classified as small or micro.

According to urologists, the size of the baby’s penis should range from above 1.9 cm. Below this penile length, he qualifies to have a micropenis. For an adult, his penile length should range above 9.32 cm. Any adult’s penis that measures below this figure is considered a micropenis.

Factors that Contribute to Having a Micropenis    

Several reasons can make a penis micro. They include the following:

A. Fetus Development and Birth

The development of a fetus inside the womb is a very crucial part. That is why women are encouraged to do pre-natal checks. They help in identifying any possible defect on the unborn baby. At this stage, the role played by hormones is vital and one we cannot overlook. For a baby boy, the hormonal disorder can result in him having a micropenis.

After birth, it is possible to diagnose if he experienced hormonal disorder during his gestation period. It is done via a blood test. This disorder causes the baby to have low levels of the production of testosterone. As a result, his penis is unable to grow to normal size. According to a French study, 1.5 in every 10,000 births of male children have a micropenis.

B. Webbing of the Penis

A true micropenis only occurs at birth. You could not have a micropenis at your adulthood if it did not happen to you during your infancy. However, your penis might be micro as a result of webbing. It usually happens after a complication in circumcision. It may also occur in newborn babies.

The skin from the scrotum always hides the penis. This skin usually extends abnormally far than it should. It covers most of your penis, leaving only the tip and a small shaft is visible. You end up having a micropenis. This condition is however treatable. The skin only needs to be removed to make the penis more visible and freer.

C. Burying of the Penis

According to urologists, a buried penis is one that does not hang out of the body as it should. It remains hidden from inside even though the opening where it should be is still visible. It is common in adults but is also present in small babies. In children, it is brought about by prostate abnormalities. In grown men, it may result from morbid obesity or lymphedema.

Morbid obesity is the accumulation of excess fat around the scrotum and the abdomen. The size of the penis remains the same, but the fat keeps pilling. The overlapping of the fat hides the penis, making it look tiny. Lymphedema is the accumulation of lymphatic fluid around the scrotum. It causes it to swell, burying the penis.

Effects of Having a Micropenis

Having a micropenis has its side effects. The effects include the following:

A. Infertility

As we have seen earlier, a micropenis occurs as a result of hormonal imbalance. The levels of testosterone are low and thus affect the growth of the organ. This hormone is also responsible for the production of sperm. When it is low, the sperm count decreases, causing you to experience difficulties in having children.

B. Low Self-esteem

In current times, almost everyone is obsessed with big penis size. Having a micropenis in such an environment is traumatizing. It lowers your self-esteem and makes you feel like not to associate with other people. You cannot contribute to topics relating to the size of the penis with your male friends. You also do not want your partner to know you have a micropenis.

Treating a Micropenis

There are several ways of enhancing the size of the penis. They include the use of supplementing pills such as Male UltraCore, patches, injections, surgery, and therapies. The following are methods of treating a micropenis:

A. Hormone Treatment

This treatment involves administering testosterone to infants. It aims at correcting the hormone disorder. Hormones are given through injections, ointments, and gels.

If this method does not work, urologists recommend a more advanced treatment: hormone therapy.

According to urologists, hormone treatment stimulates the growth of the penis at infancy. This growth, however, is not recorded in adults.

B. Phalloplasty Surgery

It is a medical procedure to correct a micropenis. This option is given when hormone treatment fails. The surgery is usually administered to young adults, but rarely on infants. It involves taking flesh from other parts of the body such as arms and thighs to construct a sizeable penis.

The procedure might be risky and requires regular follow-ups. Having the procedure from an experienced surgeon can eliminate most of these complications. It is essential to understand the type of penis you have. It will help you eliminate doubt and unnecessary worries that come along with having a micropenis. Once you realize you have a micropenis, it does not mean you are doomed.

The condition is manageable. It has various methods of treatment which you can have. There are also people who manage the condition by accepting themselves. They discuss it with their partners and learn to live with a micropenis. After all, sex is not about the size, but the satisfaction that comes from the action.

If your penis just stays uselessly flaccid no matter what you and your partner do, you may feel as if it’s already hopeless. No need to be so forlorn about it, though. Impotence is definitely treatable.

There are actually a variety of treatment options available for men with erectile dysfunction, ranging from surgery to lifestyle changes. Of course, which treatment would work best for you would depend on what’s making you impotent in the first place.

Counseling

Many cases of erectile dysfunction or ED are caused by anxiety, stress, and even depression. In fact, depression and ED are closely tied to each other. Men with depression tend to develop erectile dysfunction, and men with erectile dysfunction tend to become depressed.

When you’re in this kind of situation, professional help may be necessary. Talking to a professional therapist may help ease your psychological burdens and help restore your erectile function.

Medications

A lot of men think that medications for impotence can end all of their erection problems. Unfortunately, ED medicines are not for everyone. In particular, anti-erectile dysfunction pills are not recommended for men who are taking nitrate drugs and alpha-blockers.

There are actually different types of erectile dysfunction medicines, and your doctor will take into consideration factors like underlying health conditions and your overall health before he will recommend a certain type of erectile dysfunction medication.

You may be given a prescription for anti-erectile dysfunction pills or your doctor may recommend penile injections. There are also medications that are inserted into the penis. These medications will have varying degrees of efficacy, and some are known to cause side effects like headaches and muscle aches.

Suppositories and Injections

If your doctor determines that anti-impotence pills are not safe for you because you have another medical condition or you’re taking other medications, your doctor may recommend that you use suppositories instead. These are pellets that are placed inside your phallus.

Alternatively, your doctor may prescribe injectable medications for erectile dysfunction. The medicine is injected directly into the side of your penis. Although considerably effective, injectable erectile dysfunction medications increase your risks of scarring. And if scar tissue grows inside your penis, it can also contribute to ED, which can worsen the problem.

Vacuum Devices

Vacuum devices are typically recommended for penis rehabilitation, such as if you lost your erectile ability after going through a prostate surgery. These devices are supposed to help normalize penile blood flow so that you can get a spontaneous erection.

However, it may take months before you see considerable improvements in your erectile function. Moreover, using a penile vacuum device may make you feel as if sex is no longer spontaneous since you have to use the vacuum erection device first before you start having sex.

Surgery

Placing an implant inside your penis is one of the most effective ways to treat erectile dysfunction. However, doctors usually recommend this type of surgery only after you’ve tried other treatment options for erectile dysfunction but to no avail.

Your doctor may also recommend vascular reconstruction surgery if damaged blood vessels are causing your erectile dysfunction. You can have vascular reconstruction surgery to either reduce blood leakage from your penile veins or to improve blood flow to your penile arteries.

Lifestyle Changes

This one won’t require a visit to the doctor. Instead, you would need to really commit yourself to modify your lifestyle. Quitting habits, such as smoking and drinking, that are detrimental to your erectile function can definitely help.         

On top of that, you may also need to manage your weight, so exercising regularly may be necessary. You will also benefit from dietary changes such as reducing your intake of meat and fatty foods while increasing your consumption of fruits and leafy veggies.

Whatever the cause of your erectile dysfunction may be, a healthy lifestyle will definitely benefit your erectile function and improve your overall health.

Supplements

For men who are looking for accessible treatment options for erectile dysfunction, herbal supplements are a great alternative. There are actually several herbs that are scientifically recognized to have potent and effective erection-enhancing properties. Here are a few examples.

Tongkat Ali

Because it is packed with numerous antioxidants, Tongkat Ali has a number of benefits for your sexual and overall health. For one, it’s known to reduce anxiety and stress, so if your erectile dysfunction is due to stress or anxiety, this herb would work well for you.

In addition, Tongkat Ali is also an excellent testosterone booster, which means it can help improve your erectile function and libido, as well as increase your muscle mass and strength. Its energy-boosting properties also benefit your sexual stamina.

Horny Goat Weed

This icariin-containing herb has long been used as an aphrodisiac and erection booster. Due to the PDE5 inhibitory effects of icariin, Horny Goat Weed is extremely potent in improving erectile function.

Tribulus terrestris

Also referred to as puncture vine, Tribulus terrestris is great for increasing your testosterone levels, as well as for improving your nitric oxide production and increasing penile smooth muscle relaxation.

This antioxidant-rich herb is also known to increase sperm count, semen volume, as well as improve sperm motility.

Maca

Just like Tongkat Ali, Lepidium meyenii or maca also exhibits energy-boosting, anti-stress, and erection-enhancing properties. A root vegetable belonging to the same family as broccoli and cauliflower, maca is also extremely nutritious and full of antioxidants.

Maca also helps improve male fertility by improving sperm motility and increasing sperm concentration.

L-arginine

An amino acid that’s found in protein-rich foods, L-arginine is a vasodilator that helps to improve your erectile function by promoting penile smooth muscle relaxation, as well as facilitating the dilation of your blood vessels. In short, L-arginine makes it possible for you to have an erection by improving penile blood flow.

The Bottom Line

Erectile dysfunction does not have to be a permanent condition for you. There are many options available to help improve your erectile function and enable you to enjoy your sexuality again.

What’s even more amazing is that you can actually restore your erectile function naturally. A healthful diet, an active lifestyle, and taking all the right erection-enhancing supplements can surely help you achieve an erection again.

Having other people find out that you have a sexually transmitted infection can be very embarrassing. If you’re not ready to go to the doctor yet, but you suspect you may have gotten an infection, STD home testing kits can be a convenient alternative.

The best thing about at-home STD tests is that you can do it yourself in the privacy and comfort of your own home. And you don’t have to worry about what other people may think when they find out you have an STD. Learn more about STD home testing kits and what benefits they offer.

Why You Should Test for STIs

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can lead to severe health issues, especially if left undiagnosed and untreated for a long time. Complications of untreated STDs include infertility, organ damage, and even cancer.

Unfortunately, many sexually transmitted infections are asymptomatic, which means you won’t be seeing any noticeable symptoms. A lot of people believe that if they don’t have any symptoms, then they don’t really need to be tested for STIs.

In truth, if you are sexually active, you should have yourself regularly tested for sexually transmitted diseases, particularly if you have multiple sex partners or if you have engaged in unprotected sex.

If you’re seeing some symptoms which you think may be indicative of an STI, it’s best that you test yourself right away. The sooner that you find out you’re infected, the sooner you can get yourself treated.

Testing for HIV at Home

In the past, if you needed to get yourself tested for HIV, you had to go to a hospital or health center. Today, over-the-counter FDA-approved home testing kits for HIV are already available. There are also labs that allow you to anonymously send a sample of your blood which you take at home using an OTC test kit.

Depending on which HIV home test kit you use, you can find out whether you’re infected with a sexually transmitted disease or not in just a short time. Some test kits give you the result in less than half an hour. If you send your sample to a lab, it can take just a few days for your results to be ready.

With HIV, early detection is crucial because the disease is relatively easier to treat and control while it’s still in its early stages. If you’re experiencing rashes, muscle and joint pains, and swelling around your lymph nodes, you may want to buy an HIV home testing kit, just to be sure.

Testing for Other STDs

Many STD home testing kits are now available, and you can test for a number of sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, herpes, and syphilis.

Some manufacturers offer single test kits for specific STDs, while there are also labs that offer a panel of tests for your blood or swab sample. Single STD test kits are usually cheaper; however, they’re designed to test for a specific sexually transmitted infection only.

The problem with that is if you’re not sure which STI you may have acquired, you may end up buying the wrong STD home testing kit. Thus, before you head out and buy a home testing kit, its best to read up a bit on the various symptoms of different sexually transmitted diseases so that you’ll know which STD home testing kit you should be using.

Alternatively, you can also try getting a panel test. Some labs can test your sample for five or more different STDs, including HIV. This can be more expensive than single STD test kits, but if you really want to be sure that you’re STD-free, it may be well worth it.

Common STD Symptoms

To help you identify which sexually transmitted disease you may have acquired, here are some of the most common symptoms associated with each disease.

Chlamydia

Common symptoms of chlamydia typically appear weeks after the initial exposure. These include swollen testicles, painful urination, and penile discharge. You may also experience rectal pain and bleeding, or you may have rectal discharge if the disease has spread to your rectum.

Gonorrhea

This bacterial sexually transmitted infection can also cause painful urination. Penile discharge due to gonorrhea may be greenish, yellowish, or whitish in color. Your testicles may become swollen or painful, and you may also experience joint pains. 

Hepatitis B

Although sexually transmitted, the symptoms of hepatitis B are not focused around the genital area. Some of the symptoms of hepatitis B are often mistaken as symptoms for flu or colds. You may also experience loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, muscle pains, joint pains, and jaundice.

Herpes simplex

This viral sexually transmitted infection can affect your genitals or your mouth. You need to watch out for pimple-like blisters on your anus, penis, thighs, tongue, lips, or gums. The area where these blisters appear usually feels itchy, or you may feel a burning or tingling sensation. You may also experience fever and loss of appetite.

Human papillomavirus (HPV)

This type of STD typically causes genital warts. Warts may also form in your mouth or throat. In men, however, an HPV infection may lead to penile, throat, or anal cancer.

Syphilis

This bacterial STD has four phases and the symptoms vary in each phase. Primary syphilis is usually characterized by small painless sores, while secondary syphilis is accompanied by a skin rash on the soles of your feet or the palm of your hands. Tertiary syphilis is extremely dangerous because it causes damage to your internal organs.

The Bottom Line

No matter how embarrassed you may feel, if you notice any signs of STD, you should immediately find out whether you’ve somehow acquired an infection or not. It’s definitely not a good thing to ignore a sexually transmitted infection as it can lead to severe health consequences.

At-home STD testing kits can tell you whether you’re still STD-free or not anymore. But remember, these kits only tell you that you’ve been infected. So, if you tested positive, it would be best that you reach out to your healthcare provider immediately.

The moment you start losing your muscle mass and be replaced with fat layers is when you realize the vital role testosterone play in your body. Lifestyle, age, and psychological factors are some of the reasons why our testosterone falls. We should act before the levels of our testosterone fall to extreme levels.

We can naturally boost testosterone by eating diets that increase this hormone. The following are some of the foods with high rates of boosting testosterone:

A.  Olive Oil

A research done by Argentinian researchers showed that Olive oil acts as an antioxidant in the testicles.  These antioxidants cause less inflammation in the testicles, creating an enabling environment for the Leydig cells. The Leydig cells are thus able to absorb enough cholesterol which it converts to testosterone. The more cholesterol is incorporated in the body, the higher the production of testosterone.

In the research, olive oil was also found to increase the activity of 3-beta HSD and 17-beta HSD. These are active enzymes that are vital in the production of testosterone. Olive oil also inhibits the production of estrogen through a compound called oleuropein. It inhibits the enzymes that convert free testosterone to estrogen.

B.  Fish Oil

Fish oil is a rich source of Omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3 is a fat that is healthy for your blood vessels. It does not form fats around your arteries to create clogs. The amount of Omega 3 in fish oil is relatively high and balances the Omega 6.

The essential function of Omega 3 is in reducing the levels of ShBG. This protein inhibits the production of free testosterone in our bodies. Also, Omega 3 increases the production of Luteinizing hormone. This hormone triggers the production of testosterone from the Leydig cells in the testes.

C. Eggs

Eggs are a rich source of cholesterol, fatty acids, vitamin D3, and proteins. Vitamin D3 in the egg is what has a high boost in testosterone. According to research published in Hormone and Metabolic Research, vitamin D3 increased testosterone at a percentage of 400% in 12 months.

Another research published in the Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism showed that eggs increased High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL). This is a form of good cholesterol which boosts the production of testosterone. The fatty acids in eggs are also a big deal in the production of testosterone.

D. Oysters

Oyster is seafood that is super rich in zinc and D-aspartic minerals. A study conducted at Barry University in Miami sought to establish the relationship between sex drive and oyster consumption. In its findings, oyster was found to have high concentrations of zinc and D-aspartic minerals, especially during summer. At this period is when oysters mate thus releasing huge amounts of the minerals.

The minerals are essential in the production of testosterone. Other studies revealed that D-aspartic increases the production of testosterone by 42% in about 14 days. The mineral intake, however, should be done in moderation. Too much of zinc prohibits absorption of minerals such as copper.

E. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil works more like Olive oil, only that it is a bit more affordable than Olive oil. Populations that included coconut oil in their foods were found to be way healthier than other population. Coconut contains medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) which nutritionists highly recommend. These fatty acids are easy for metabolism.

Coconut oil promotes the absorption of HDL cholesterol which supports the production of testosterone. A study from the American researchers established that coconut oil protects testicles from oxidative stress. It has high levels of antioxidants which enables it to achieve this function.

Testosterone Boosting Foods and Exercising

Testosterone boosting foods cannot be efficient on their own. They require your input to experience their richness. Exercising helps in promoting the metabolic rate in the body. As a result, the body absorbs useful nutrients that aid in bodybuilding and repair.

How to Incorporate Testosterone Boosting Foods in Your Meals

There is no doubt that we need these foods in our diets if we want to achieve and maintain a good level of testosterone. We do not want to miss the good that testosterone has to offer us. Incorporating these foods into your diet is simple. You can choose to take them at any time of your day’s meal and substitute your daily oils with these rich oils.

The best time to take these foods is in the morning. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Then you can take small quantities of testosterone enriching food during the rest of your day.

These foods are easy to prepare and won’t take much of your time. Oysters and eggs which have been pasteurized can be taken in their raw form.

Researches recommend taking oysters in their raw form to gain their maximum benefits. Eggs should not be overcooked to avoid killing the essential nutrients.

Some of the testosterone enriching foods such as oysters can feel uncomfortable when consuming for your first time. It takes time to learn how to eat them. However, it should not stop you from going for the benefits associated with this food. Others like the oils can be costly, but they are worth investing. It is better to prevent a condition from occurring than to look at the difficulty in maintaining a good diet. After all, is it not more expensive to treat a disease than to prevent its occurrence?

We define our health with what we eat. We need to be healthy in all aspects of our lives. A good diet that is rich in dietary vitamins and minerals is essential. When we consider sexual health, it is important that we take essential vitamins. These vitamins can be found naturally in the food we eat, and they include:

Vitamin E

It is the most controversial yet essential vitamin in the body. Different studies have come with contradicting findings on the vitamin’s effect on sex.

A study by the University of California established that vitamin E is an antioxidant. It relieves the testicles from stress caused by oxidation.

Therefore, testicles produce a high amount of testosterone and increase sperm mobility and count.

Sources of Vitamin E

Incorporating vitamin E in your diet is not a big hassle. It occurs in foods such as green leafy vegetables, almonds, goose meat, lobster, walnuts and sunflower oil. These foods are available from local stores and are affordable.

Vitamin D

According to studies, the average amount of vitamin D in your body should be 20 ng/ml. When you measure below this range, you are said to have vitamin D deficiency.

The International Journal of Endocrinology reports that vitamin D plays a crucial role in sexual function. It naturally boosts the production of testosterone and helps in the absorption of other essential minerals such as calcium.

Calcium is essential in the formation of strong bones. That strength is important during sexual performance. It helps maintain the stamina throughout and make you able to make as many sex rounds.

Sources of Vitamin D

It is the easiest and the cheapest vitamin to get. Simply basking under the sun will help your body absorb vitamin D in abundance. However, it is not always possible to be under the sun. It may be due to time constraints or the season of the year. You can have this vitamin from foods such as cod liver, salmon, tuna, herring, egg yolks, and fortified orange juice.

Vitamin B3

It is commonly referred to as niacin. It is an essential vitamin that promotes the production of HDL. HDL is considered as the good cholesterol. This compound is responsible for the production of sex hormones such as testosterone.

Vitamin B3 also helps in the production of sexual flushes. These flushes help in increasing the amount of blood flowing to your penis. As a result, you achieve hard erections, and also your orgasms become intense.

A study from the University of Rochester Medical Center showed some response from niacin to a particular protein. The signal was about the levels of oxygen in the cells.

The signaling is important as the cells will not die due to lack of oxygen. As a result, the production of sex hormones continues.

Sources of Vitamin B3

There is no doubt that this vitamin is worth finding. You can get it from foods such as liver, tuna, turkey, salmon, and nut. Animal products are rich in this vitamin. It is also available in a few plants that vegetarians can rely on.

Vitamin C

The vitamin is popularly known as ascorbic acid. The vitamin helps sexually by enhancing the flow of blood to the penis. It helps in the production of nitric oxide. This chemical is responsible for enhancing the flow of blood as it dilates and relaxes the blood vessels.

Sources of Vitamin C

The good that comes with vitamin C can be found in natural foods. Such foods involve citric fruits, potatoes, brussels sprouts, and broccoli. These foods are affordable and easy to incorporate into your diet.

Impacts of Deficiency of These Vitamins

Several consequences come with lack of these important vitamins. Some of the effects include the following:

1. Low libido

It determines our sex drive. When we lack these vitamins, our sex drive will go down due to decreased libido.

2. Lack of sexual stamina

As seen above, these vitamins help in the absorption of other minerals. These minerals are essential to our sex life as they provide us with the energy to keep us going for long between the sheets.

3. Low production of sex hormones

When we have a deficiency of these vitamins, our testicles are likely to suffer from oxidative stress. As a result, they will not be able to produce enough sex hormones such as testosterone. The production of sperm is affected as well.

4. Poor blood flow

The flow of blood is vital during sex. It is what makes sex possible. When blood has poor circulation, the penis remains flaccid and not able to penetrate for intercourse.

5. Mal-absorption

Vitamins help in the absorption of other important minerals. Their deficiency will make the body not able to absorb these minerals. Thus, we suffer a deficiency of both minerals and vitamins.

The role played by these vitamins cannot be overlooked. Since we know their importance, we should make sure that they find a way into our diets. Also, we should make sure we do not overdose them. They may turn toxic to our livers since they are designed to be consumed in moderate quantities.

Since we now understand that these vitamins occur naturally, we should always go for natural foods as sources of our vitamins. When they are entirely unavailable is when we should think of supplementing them with top-rated supplements such as Male UltraCore, but of course with the advice from a certified medical practitioner.

Erectile dysfunction is a complex condition that needs complex treatments. The use of supplements gives a temporary solution to erectile dysfunction.

Other methods such as hormone therapy are a better option, with the Endocrine Society and the FDA insisting on age. The two bodies insist that this treatment should only be given to older men. You can also improve this condition by the type of diet you take. Incorporating some vital vitamins in your diet can improve the dysfunction. These vitamins include the following:

1. Vitamin D

It is a sunshine vitamin. You get it by basking in the sun from outdoors. This vitamin is essential in the health of the blood vessels. The flow of blood is a crucial process when it comes to sexual function.

A study done on 3,400 men by John Hopkins University revealed that men who had a deficiency of this vitamin were 32% more likely to have trouble making an erection.

According to studies, vitamin D deficiency triggers the production of superoxide ions. These are free radicals that destroy nitric oxide.

The destruction of nitric oxide interferes with the flow of blood since it handles the relaxing of the blood vessels.

When we get enough of this vitamin, we promote the flow of blood to our penis. Thus, we get hard erections, ready to experience that magical feeling beneath the sheets.

Sources of Vitamin D

Apart from getting this vitamin from the sun, you can also get it from foods such as liver, egg yolk, meat, and some dairy products.

2. Folic Acid

Referred to as vitamin B9, this vitamin works on erectile dysfunction by liaising with nitric oxide. A study published in the Journal of Aging men, Italy, established that men with a deficiency in folic acid had severe ED compared to those without the deficiency.

According to this study, folic acid triggers the activities performed by nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is a major contributing factor to making hard and lasting erections.

You can take folic acid supplements to boost its levels, but it is always good to take it from natural sources such as food.

Sources of Folic Acid

Getting food that contains folic acid is easy. You can get it from your local stores without undergoing tough hurdles. The best thing about getting folic acid from food is that you can never go wrong with quantity. When using supplements, chances of overdosing are high, which poses a high risk of liver toxicity.

You can get folic acid from foods such as liver, beans, green leafy vegetables, oranges, and milk.

3. L-Arginine

Also referred to as arginine; according to urologists, it is the building block of the component responsible for relaxing the blood vessels: Nitric Oxide.

Studies from the University of Foggia, Italy, established that arginine is usually absorbed at a high rate in the body.

The study recommends the use of L-citrulline, which the body converts to arginine. It helps to slow down the fast absorption rate of arginine, making it effective to overcome ED.

Once we have enough arginine, the production of Nitric Oxide gets enhanced. You achieve firm erections since the flow of blood to your penis increases to amounts necessary to make it hard.

Sources of L-Arginine

It is found in dairy products, fish, meat and poultry. If you choose to take L-citrulline to be converted to arginine, you can get it from sources such as pomegranates, lemon, and watermelon.

Erectile Dysfunction and Vitamin Deficiency

From the above studies and findings, the major contribution to erectile dysfunction is lack of enough flow of blood to the penis. These vitamins play a vital role in making sure there is enough blood flowing to the penis. They all work to trigger the production of the major component: Nitric Oxide.

Nitric Oxide takes the sole responsibility of relaxing the blood vessels. It is obvious that when the blood vessels expand without relaxing, there will be not enough pressure to take it to the relevant parts that it is intended to reach.

Once you start experiencing difficulties in achieving erections, you need to get a blood check to determine the levels of these essential vitamins. Nutritionists say an average of 30ng/dl and below is considered as vitamin deficiency.

Supplementing the Vitamins

Nutritionists recommend getting these vitamins from their most natural form. At this form, they are easy to digest and not cause any toxicity in the body.

Taking vitamins from natural foods can be refreshing. It is also cheap since they take care of your stomach needs (hunger) as they play their crucial function in the body.

Using supplements can come with adverse effects. Most supplements come with effects such as indigestion which can be uncomfortable. They can also bring about toxicity when not taken at the recommended doses.

When you have a good diet, you reduce your chances of having to struggle with erectile dysfunction. If you are not sure which vitamins are good for you, seek medical advice from certified practitioners. Adding these vitamins to your diet is easy, and they are not hard to find. They are available in all food stores, and they do not go for ridiculous prices.

Also, doing regular physical exercises is crucial. It helps the body to have a high metabolism of these vitamins. Is it not such a huge waste to consume foods with these vitamins then, due to poor metabolic rate, miss their efficiency?