Penis Function and Alcohol: Not a Good Combination

Who doesn’t enjoy knocking back a cold one? For many guys this is a ritual for weekends with the buddies, and it can certainly get a bit out of hand on holidays and celebrations. And many a man has faced the consequences of having too much to drink, then trying to get things going with a lovely partner, only to discover that penis function is decidedly affected by his alcohol intake. But just how bad can that penis function issue be?

Alcohol and Penis Function

Everyone knows the feeling of having one too many and just wanting to romp with a partner. The alcohol lowers inhibitions and makes a man want to do things he normally wouldn’t - which is why so many men might wake up the next morning with some regrets! But no matter how hot a man is feeling after having a few, he might be disappointed to see that his penis won’t respond at all to any sexual fun. This lack of penis function can be quite embarrassing, especially if he was hoping to impress a new partner.

But why does this happen? It’s because of how alcohol acts in the body. It can dull or shut down several systems in the body - for instance, before medical advancements, a hefty dose of alcohol was used for pain relief when a man had an injury. It dulled the nerves and helped ease the pain by affecting the central nervous system.

But the nervous system isn’t the only area affected. When a man is trying to get it up but he’s under the influence of copious amounts of alcohol, the physiological responses of his body can make it impossible for him to respond as he should.

Alcohol and Libido

Often, a man will have a few drinks and be raring to go. But at other times, men might be ready to simply take a nap. This can also be a matter of the mind is willing, but the body is lacking. He might think he wants to get it on, but his body says otherwise, and that can lead to a decreased drive over time.

On the other hand, as inhibitions drop and libido goes up, some men might make very poor decisions. A guy who has awakened after a night of debauchery not remembering what he did the night before can testify to this! That’s especially true if the person in bed with him, one that he was obviously intimate with, is a complete stranger. To avoid issues like this, it’s always best for a guy to reconsider that last shot or beer.

Alcohol and Penis Health

Penis health can suffer when the body is subjected to anything that causes a problem for it, such as smoking, eating too many fatty foods, or drinking to excess. Drinking too much alcohol can damage the circulatory system, which can lead to problems with penis function. It can also lead to problems with the tissue in the penis, especially over a long period of time, and can actually wind up shortening a man’s favorite tool. This is something a man definitely wants to avoid!

Avoiding Penis Function Problems

So how can a guy have a good time but still preserve his penis function so he can enjoy it when the time is right? There are some ways to do this:

- Set the ground rules. A guy will quickly learn how much alcohol he can handle. If he starts to feel problems with penis function after a fourth drink, then he should set a rule to have only three drinks that night.

- Figure out the alcohol situation. For some guys, having beer all night won’t affect their penis function. For others, beer is a killer for the libido. And still others can’t handle hard liquor, while some guys find it enhances their sexual fun. A guy can figure out which types of alcohol he can handle and stick with those.

- Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water in between each alcoholic beverage, which will both help with penis function and with filling a guy up a bit, so he won’t drink as much.

Maintaining Good Penis Function

Even in the face of alcohol, a man should still pay close attention to the health of his penis. That includes the use of a good penis health creme (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which has been clinically proven safe and mild for skin) . He should look for a creme that contains Shea butter and vitamin E for soft and supple skin, as well as alpha lipoic acid and vitamin C to help with blood flow.

Penis Function Challenge: Treating Anejaculation

Penis function is a valuable and important subset of penis health and one which, when in the midst of sexual situations, is of primary importance to a man. After all, when with a partner in bed, the last thing a man wants to be concerned about is whether his penis will operate in the manner that is expected. Often, penis function matters revolve around erectile issues or around premature ejaculation, but there can be other penis function concerns - such as anejaculation.

About anejaculation

Because it is not something that occurs commonly, few men are even aware that anejaculation exists. Simply put, anejaculation refers to a situation in which a man is unable to ejaculate semen. This is not the same thing as impotence, as most men with anejaculation have a penis that still responds to stimulation and can become aroused and erect; many men with anejaculation are even able to experience an orgasm. It is simply not accompanied by the traditional expulsion of semen from the penis.

There are several forms of anejaculation.

- When a man has total anejaculation, it means that a man does not ejaculate at all - no matter what he may do, or a partner may do. Total anejaculation is something that may have been an issue for a man his entire life, or it could be something that develops later in life, even though he at one time was able to ejaculate.

- With situational anejaculation, a man finds that there are times when he ejaculates and times when he doesn’t. In some cases, there seem to be clear-cut boundaries that can define when he does or does not. For example, it may be that a man finds it easy (or relatively so) to ejaculate when he masturbates. But when he is engaged in partner sex, he may find that he is incapable of ejaculation. There also are times when defining exactly when a man will experience ejaculation, and when he will not, can be unclear and imprecise.

- If a man has orgasmic anejaculation, it means (as might be supposed) that he does achieve an orgasm having sex, even without the release of any semen.

- And if he is stricken with anorgasmic anejaculation, it likewise means that an orgasm eludes him along with a release of semen.

A man may have a combination of these forms (such as being both situational and anorgasmic, for example).

Treatment

Treating anejaculation is challenging, not least because the causes are poorly understood. Sometimes there is a psychological component, but there also are several other factors that can come into play. These include spinal cord injuries, pelvic injury, reactions to medications, and nervous system disorders. If a doctor is able to pinpoint with fair certainty the cause, then treatment is easier to recommend.

When the cause is known, a doctor can take steps, such as altering medication or treating an underlying disorder. A doctor may also check to see if there is any physical blockage that can be responsible for the lack of semen release. In other cases, vibrational therapy may be employed as a means of encouraging ejaculation. Electro-stimulation may also be tried.

In many cases, it may take some "trial and error" to determine the best course of treatment for an individual patient.

Anejaculation is a difficult penis function issue; as with many such matters, it helps to have an otherwise healthy penis, so men should continue daily use of a superior penis health oil (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). It may help to find an oil with L-carnitine, an ingredient with neuroprotective properties that can help maintain proper penis sensitivity. Ideally the oil should also contain vitamin C, a key component of collagen, a tissue in the body that gives skin its tone and elasticity.

Things to Do to Assess Penis Function

Got good penis health? Men who follow these articles know how important maintaining proper penis health can be and, thankfully, many take steps to ensure that health. One of the benefits of good penis health is that it helps to maintain proper penis function as well. Just as overall penis health should be checked regularly, it doesn’t hurt to have an assessment of penis function now and then. This gives a good idea of any current or potential issues that might need treating or watching.

Penis function

What exactly is meant by penis function, though? That’s a good question, and one for which there is not necessarily a clear answer.

In many cases, penis function is thought of as the same as erectile function. In other words, when discussing penis function, the focus is on whether or not a man can attain and/or maintain an erection; how often he attains an erection (both while awake and while asleep); how easily he attains that erection; how "firm" the erection is; what is the level of sensation or sensitivity in the penis that allows arousal; how easily and for what length of time the erection is maintained; if the erection accompanies sexual activity, whether it results in ejaculation and/or orgasm; and the level of pleasure associated with the orgasm.

However, some would argue that this is too narrow a definition, that the penis is not designed solely for sexual pleasure, and that an assessment should include issues such as how forcefully one urinates; the strength of flow of the urine stream; ability to control beginning, interrupting, and ceasing urine flow; and matters related to urinary incontinence.

Assessment

An official assessment of penis function needs to take place under the supervision of a doctor, typically a urologist. However, a man may wish to conduct a self-assessment regularly; this will alert him to possible issues and may then lead him to request a penis function assessment from his doctor.

When performing the assessment himself, here are some of the things he may want to include:

- Keeping track of erections. It’s not unusual for men to get multiple erections while awake, and while often they are very noticeable to a man, some do slip "under the radar." A man might want to spend a week and keep a journal of whenever he notices he has an erection - at what time he notices it, whether it is due to sexual arousal or simple physical reaction, how long it lasts, etc. Men don’t really know how many erections they have while sleeping, but keeping track at least of "morning wood" - erections that are present upon waking for the day - is a good idea.

Men can get SOME clue as to whether they are having erections at night by taking a strip of paper about 1" wide and wrapping it all around the penis while soft, and securing the paper with a small piece of tape. The paper should snugly fit around the soft penis. Plan to sleep on the back. If the paper is torn or broken in the morning, it suggests at least one erection occurred overnight.

- Detailing sexual activity. Whether masturbating or engaging in partner sex, a man should make notes during the week he is doing a self-assessment of any issues that may have come up (such as losing firmness, etc.), as well as degree of satisfaction with orgasm, etc.

- Noticing urinary patterns. Again, for a week keep track of how often one urinates, how long urination lasts, whether it’s a strong flow or a dribble, etc.

A penis function test performed under a doctor’s supervision, especially the overnight erection test, will be more involved and have more accurate and measurable results.

A penis function assessment benefits from good penis health, so daily apply a superior penis health oil (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) . Find an oil with many vitamins, including A, B5, C, D, and E. The oil also should include L-carnitine, which can be an aid in maintaining penis sensitivity and sensation.

Restless Legs Syndrome Could Impact Penis Function

There’s nothing to make a guy feel like a whole new man than a really good night’s sleep. Unfortunately, there can be numerous conditions which get in the way of achieving that good night’s sleep, such as restless legs syndrome. But in some cases, not only can restless legs syndrome interfere with sleep, it can become a penis health issue as well by potentially affecting good penis function.

About this syndrome

Although restless legs syndrome has likely been around for thousands of years - and perhaps even much, much longer than that - it is only relatively recently that the condition has been given a name and begun to be studied and taken seriously.

According to the Mayo Clinic website, restless legs syndrome is defined as "a condition that causes an uncontrollable urge to move your legs, usually because of an uncomfortable sensation." Although in recent years restless legs syndrome has become identified with activity happening at night while a person is sleeping or trying to sleep, in fact restless legs can occur during daytime hours as well, although this happens somewhat less often.

Also called Willis-Ekborn disease, the syndrome can begin at any stage of life and usually gets worse as a person gets older. Most often, the restless feeling begins after a person has been seated or lying down for a period of time. It may occur while at a movie theatre, for example, or while out to dinner, as well as while simply resting at home or lying down to sleep.

What does it feel like?

As the name implies, a person feels a need to move their legs or feet when the syndrome strikes. This is typically in response to an unpleasant feeling which develops, which some describe as a numbness happening in the leg or foot (not on the skin but in the body part itself). More often, it’s described with a more active verb, such as a throbbing or aching, or as if it something were pulling at the limb or causing it to itch.

This is uncomfortable and inconvenient when it occurs while awake, but it can be even more disruptive while sleeping. The legs can twitch and kick about, sometimes violently, often throughout the whole night. It may cause a person to awaken repeatedly, disrupting their sleep, or it may prevent them from having a "deep sleep," thus awakening from several hours of sleep without feeling rested.

The penis function angle

And what does this have to do with penis function? Well, for one thing, adequate and appropriate sleep is essential for proper penis function. Without it, testosterone production can be impaired, lowering one’s sex drive. Lack of sleep and rest also makes it more difficult to achieve and maintain a full erection, resulting in bouts of erectile dysfunction during sex.

Clearly, a man wants to avoid restless legs syndrome, if for no other reason than to preserve penis function. Identifying the cause of restless legs syndrome can be challenging, as there is much that is not known. In some people, it seems related to iron deficiency, so upping iron intake is often a line of first treatment. In other instances, medications may be employed to increase dopamine production or to affect calcium channels. Muscle relaxants may improve a person’s sleep patterns, though without actually addressing the problem of restless legs syndrome.

Whether because of restless legs syndrome or not, a man wants to take steps to maintain penis function, such as by using a superior penis health oil (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). The best oils will contain L-carnitine, an amino acid which helps preserve penis sensitivity, a key aspect of penis function. Ideally, the chosen oil should also include vitamin B5, aka pantothenic acid, which is a vital nutrient that is required for cell metabolism and the maintenance of healthy tissue.

Penis Function: Upping the Semen Volume

Penis function is sometimes wrapped up in penis health, but generally the former has to do with how well the organ in question is fulfilling its duties and obligations. Often when a man mentions penis function, it’s in the context of erectile issues (good or bad). But that’s not always the case. For example, matters that revolve around semen and semen production also can fall in the penis function category. And one of the semen issues a man might have some questions about is the volume of semen he is producing when he ejaculates.

Why should he care?

One immediate question that may arise is why a guy should care about how much semen he ejaculates. In fact, if a man is concerned about becoming a father, semen volume can be a factor. Although there are other factors involved, such as how many sperm are located within each measurement of semen and how active those sperm are, if a man produces too low a volume of semen, it may mean there are fewer sperm available to reach their goal of fertilizing a waiting egg.

But other times a guy may simply want to produce more volume to feel more manly or to impress a partner. Especially since porn has become so widely available on the internet, ejaculations of massive amounts of semen are associated with virility. And so a guy might want to "keep up with the Joneses" by finding a way to increase his semen volume.

Suggestions

Exactly how effective semen volume production strategies are is subject to debate, but the following tips are generally considered helpful in achieving this goal, at least to some degree.

- Drink lots of water. It may be on the thick side, but a great deal of semen is still water. That means that the more water that is directly available to semen production, the more can be used. Drinking plenty of water or other fluids can have an impact on semen volume long term.

- Get sufficient sleep. It’s almost impossible to overstate how important getting a good night’s sleep on a regular basis is. The entire body responds better and functions better when it is well rested - and that extends to penis function issues, as well. The better rested a man is, the more capable is he of producing the hormones that play such an important role in semen production.

- Maintain fiber intake. When a man is constipated, it can have a negative effect on the amount of semen he releases. That’s because the constipation weighs down especially heavily on the prostate, which in turn interferes with the semen. Eating a diet that contains sufficient fiber can help to keep a man’s movements more regular.

- Consider a prostate massage. Speaking of the prostate, it may pay to occasionally give this little organ a good massage. After all, it contributes about 25 percent of the volume of semen. Some men believe regular massaging relaxes it and aids in semen production.

- Take zinc. Semen is also relatively heavy in zinc, so being sure that a guy is not zinc deficient may improve volume as well.

Increasing semen volume is only one possible role of penis function - and maintaining good organ health is likely to aid in function, as well. Therefore, daily use of a top-notch penis health oil (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) is a super idea. Try to find an oil that contains a range of penis-friendly vitamins, such as A, B₅, C, D, and E. In addition, the oil should contain L-arginine, an amino acid that plays an important part in causing the blood vessels to dilate, allowing for increased blood flow.

Refractory Period Impacts Penis Function

Although there are some men who, at least on occasion, are up to the task of performing sexually 2 or more times in a row without a real break, they are by far the exception and not the rule. No matter what excellent penis care a man may take, it’s hard to perform "serially" like that because the penis simply isn’t made that way. Regular penis function, in terms of how much time needs to elapse between ejaculations, is generally known as the refractory period, and every man has one - even if that time between ejaculations may vary.

Penis function

The body is a wonderful piece of work, including everything that makes up the reproductive system. On the surface, penis function seems pretty simple: a man spots someone who pleases him, the penis responds by becoming erect. In many situations, this leads to sexual experiences (either by the man alone or by the man with a partner or partners), which hopefully ends with the release of semen through ejaculation and the concomitant orgasm.

In reality, it’s a little more complicated than that. There are all sorts of sensory signals that get passed back and forth, as well as neurological impulses, physical stimulants, et cetera. And part of the process calls for the refractory period, in both men and women. However, in women the refractory period often can be very short; in men, it tends to be longer.

The refractory period

For men, the refractory period is defined as the amount of time after a man ejaculates before he is capable of attaining another erection. It doesn’t matter if a man orgasms or not (although clearly most men would prefer to orgasm when they ejaculate), as man simply has to finish releasing semen to mark the beginning of a new refractory period.

How long is that refractory period? That depends. Sometimes and in some men, it may only be a few minutes, although usually it is longer than that. Most studies state that the average for all men of all ages is about half an hour. However, it varies widely. For example, the average for 18-year-old men is about 15 minutes. For a 70-year-old man, the refractory period is apt to be about 20 hours on average. (Now you know why older men tend to bemoan their lost youth!)

There are some men who seem to experience no refractory period at all, but they are quite rare.

It should be noted that the refractory period tends to lengthen the more times in a row one attempts sexual activity. So a man might have a half-hour refractory period between sex acts one and two, but perhaps it takes 45 minutes or an hour before two and three, and perhaps even longer between three and four.

How it happens

When a man is sexually excited, his body produces a lot of the hormone known as dopamine, which makes a person feel good. This encourages him to move forward with his inclination toward sexual activity. But after he ejaculates, the dopamine stops being produced at the same exalted level, and a hormone called prolactin increases. Prolactin dampens the ability to become erect, so the more prolactin in the body, the longer a man’s refractory period is likely to be.

So the refractory period affects penis function, but in a manner that is essentially natural. Maintaining good general health and good penis health can help increase the likelihood of shorter refractory periods, so it may pay to use a superior penis health oil (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). The best of these oils contain both L-arginine and vitamin C. The former is an amino acid that produces nitric oxide, which in turn helps penile blood vessels to expand. And vitamin C is also necessary for proper blood flow, which is essential for maintaining erectile function.

Anemia May Derail Penis Function

This is something that many men have been told countless times but which still bears repeating: Penis health can be impacted by issues that don’t originate in the penis – and that applies to penis function as well. While some penis function issues have a clear link to the penis, such as a line drive baseball smacking solidly against the penis, other penis function issues may have origins that are less clear. In some cases, anemia may be a big contributing factor to some penis function issues.

A blood issue

When a person has anemia, they lack a lot of energy. Just engaging in simple physical tasks may make them feel tired – sometimes a little tired, sometimes a lot, depending upon both the severity of the anemia and the physical demands of the task. But what is anemia, and why does it make a person feel tired and/or listless?

Basically, when a person has anemia, it means that their blood isn’t able to take enough oxygen around the body. There’s a protein in blood, called hemoglobin, which is largely responsible for transporting the oxygen. If there is a problem with the hemoglobin, or if there are not enough red blood cells (and therefore not enough hemoglobin), anemia results.

In addition to fatigue, anemia can have other symptoms as well, such as pale or yellowish skin, cold hands and feet, dizziness, headaches, or an irregular heartbeat. There can be several causes of anemia, but the most common is caused by a lack of iron.

Penis function

So anemia is not a good thing – but how does it affect penis function? Basically it causes or contributes to erectile dysfunction.

When the penis gets erect, the blood vessels in the penis open up so that more oxygen-rich blood can come into the penis and fill up the spongy tissue there. Blood volume is essential, but the more oxygenated the blood is, the stronger the erection can be.

Second, when there’s less oxygen in the blood, it means that more pressure is put on the heart. It’s forced to pump faster, and when this goes on for too long a period of time, the heart gets weaker. And when the heart gets weaker, it has a harder time pumping blood forcefully around – which in turn means there’s less blood volume to flow into the penis to create or sustain the erection.

Even when a man has a successful erection, anemia can still cause some performance issues. Less available oxygen means a man tires more quickly, reducing the stamina that he may need for engaging in sex. This can translate into either a weakening of the erection itself or the body becoming too tired to perform sexual maneuvers at its best.

What to do

A doctor should be consulted in order to determine the cause of the anemia. As mentioned, very often the cause is lack of iron, and the treatment then may largely consist of adding more iron, both in the diet itself and through dietary supplements. When the reason for the anemia goes beyond a simple iron deficiency, the doctor will need to determine the appropriate way to treat it.

Treating anemia can help improve penis function, and it also can be helpful to maintain general penis health at the highest possible level. This latter goal can more readily be achieved if a man daily applies a first rate penis health oil (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). A man should for an oil with L-arginine, an amino acid which helps boost nitric oxide production, which in turn enables penile blood vessels to expand as needed. In addition, the oil should include vitamin C, which is necessary for proper blood flow, which is essential for maintaining erectile function.

Diabetes Can Be a Penis Function Factor

Almost 10% of U.S. citizens have it, although many are unaware of it. That comes to over 30 million adult Americans, of which more than 7 million don’t know their status. We’re speaking here of diabetes, a serious medical condition which for men can have serious penis health implications. While there are plenty of other reasons to be concerned about diabetes, the fact that it can impede penis function should add to every man’s efforts to avoid this condition and to see it if properly treated if it cannot be avoided.

The problem

Diabetes, as most people are aware, is a medical condition in which the body has difficulty regulating blood sugar levels. In a normal situation, a person eats food and the majority of that food gets broken down into glucose (sugar), which travels through the bloodstream so that cells can use it for energy. When blood sugar levels reach a certain level, the body reacts by putting insulin into the blood, which serves to open the doorway for sugar to enter the cells.

If a person has diabetes, his body either doesn’t make enough insulin or else can’t use insulin effectively. Thus too much sugar remains in the bloodstream, which over time can cause damage to the body, resulting in heart disease, kidney disease and loss of sight.

Penis function

As mentioned, diabetes can also have an impact on penis function. Improper blood sugar levels can impact the nerves, hormones, blood vessels and even one’s emotional health, all of which can play a role in penis function. There are several penis health issues that may be caused or may be worsened by diabetes. These include:

- Erectile dysfunction. This is one of the more distressing penis health issues a man can face. As the name implies, when a man suffers from erectile dysfunction, his penis either cannot become properly erect or cannot maintain its erection. This does not necessarily mean a total lack of an erection, but it does often mean that a man’s penis becomes only partially erect – not to the degree that he is able to perform satisfactorily sexually. Men with diabetes are about 3 times as likely to have erectile dysfunction than men without, and more than half of men with diabetes develop the issue at some point. This is usually due to damages to penile nerves and to penile blood vessels due to diabetes.

- A bent penis. Although some curvature of the organ is normal, when a man has a severely bent penis that impedes sex and/or causes penis pain, he is said to have Peyronie’s disease – and men with diabetes are more likely to develop Peyronie’s disease than are men in the general population.

- Retrograde ejaculation. This is a fairly rare complication, but men with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing it. In this condition, men have an orgasm, but some or all of their semen is diverted into the bladder rather than ejaculated through the penis.

- Lower libido. Testosterone production is also impacted by diabetes, and lower testosterone levels (in addition to being associated with erectile dysfunction) can diminish a man’s sex drive.

Proper diabetes management is crucial to continued health, including penis health. Men who suspect they may have diabetes should see a doctor and get a diagnosis. If they do have diabetes, the sooner treatment is begun, the better.

Diabetes is a serious condition which can impact penis function, so a man needs to be sure his penis is in its best shape so it can better respond to diabetes treatment. One excellent idea is to regularly apply a superior penis health creme (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). The best cremes will have L-carnitine, an amino acid which is helpful in limiting nerve damage which can cause a loss of penis sensitivity. The creme should also include vitamin B5, or pantothenic acid, a vital nutrient that is required for cell metabolism and the maintenance of healthy tissue.

Looking at Tweets and Penis Function

That social media has become a ubiquitous part of our lives is news to exactly no one. It is likely that every person reading this tweets or reads tweets, likes or dislikes posts, and shares pictures using one social media platform or another. Social media does not, per se, have a direct link to penis health; however, as arguably the main medium for self-expression and public communication in contemporary times, social media is a rich field for exploring attitudes toward everything, including sexuality and sexual health. In fact, a new scientific study is one of the first to take a look at social media tweets and penis function.

The study

Entitled “The Sentiment Analysis of Tweets as a New Tool to Measure Public Perception of Male Erectile and Ejaculatory Dysfunctions,” the study was conducted by a team of Italian doctors and psychiatrists. It has been published in the medical journal Sexual Medicine.

Sentiment analysis refers to a kind of analysis that aims to summarize the opinion toward a topic. For this study, the researchers wanted to see what kind of opinion tweets revealed about erectile dysfunction and about premature ejaculation, two common penis function issues.

Initially, 11,000 tweets on premature ejaculation and more than 30,000 on erectile dysfunction were gathered. (These were unique tweets, not including retweets.) Further purging of duplicates left scientists with 7,020 premature ejaculation tweets and 22,648 tweets on erectile dysfunction. (This broke down to an average of 51 tweets daily on premature ejaculation and 164 daily on erectile dysfunction.)

Results

The scientists stated that they conducted this study “to assess the need to share personal opinions on these sexual health problems and to measure the perception by the general population on two important aspects of sexual dysfunction.” Surprisingly, in spite of the fact that premature ejaculation is significantly more common than is erectile dysfunction (about 20% to 30% of men for the former versus 15% to 20% for the latter), the number of tweets on erectile dysfunction outnumbered those on premature ejaculation by about 3 to 1.

In both cases, however, the words in the tweets were most often about treatments for each of these penis function issues. One interesting finding is that, judging by tweets, the availability of pharmacological treatment for premature ejaculation is far less known than that for erectile dysfunction. In other words, among tweeters at least, many know about “little blue pills” but don’t seem to realize that some other medications have been shown to help lengthen ejaculation times in some patients.

The study was not able to provide a quantifiable sentimental analysis, largely because many of the words used in the tweets could be classified as either depicting a sexual act or of a common expletive; this dual meaning impacts the study’s interpretive ability to a significant degree.

Interestingly, there did seem to be a connection between number of tweets and events during the news cycle, suggesting an increase in activity on social media corresponding to stories available in or on other media. In other words, when a news outlet or TV program featured penis function challenges, it bumped their tweet status online.

Many tweets on social media about penis function discuss treatments or medical breakthroughs. Maintaining adequate penis health can be a factor as well, so men are well advised to daily apply a first-rate penis health creme (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). Not just any crème will do, of course; men are urged to find one that lists among its ingredients vitamin B5 and L-arginine. The former is one of the B family of vitamins; known also as pantothenic acid, it is a vital nutrient that is required for cell metabolism and the maintenance of healthy tissue. In addition, L-arginine is an amino acid that aids the body’s production of nitric oxide; this in turn makes penile blood vessels more receptive to increased blood flow and expansion.

Some Medications Might Impact Penis Function

Lots of guys are proud of having a big penis, and other men with less-impressive packages may feel insecure about the size of their equipment. Yet in the bedroom, penis size gives way in importance to penis health and to penis function; clearly, a healthy, if small, penis that functions well and is handled with skill is preferable to a flabby monster that can’t get the job done. Of course, men with penises of all sizes – and shapes and ages, etc. – may experience penis function issues, either regularly or intermittently, and for a variety of reasons. If this happens to a guy, he may want to carefully read the labels on any medications he is currently taking; some can have an impact on penis function.

Is it all medications?

First, it’s important to realize that not all medications are associated with penis function issues. And even when medications used to treat a particular problem do have such an association, it’s rare that ALL medications used to treat that problem will have that association. And finally, even if certain medications do list penis function issues as a possible side effect, that doesn’t mean that every man who takes that medication is going to experience penis function issues. Every person metabolizes medication in a slightly different way or at a slightly different rate, and side effects are also often affected – positively and negatively – by things like diet, exercise, obesity, alcohol intake, etc.

Some more likely

That being said, there are medications for certain conditions that may be more likely to be associated with penis function than others. Again, however, that doesn’t mean that every man who takes medications for these conditions is going to experience issues with their penis.

Among the medications more likely to cause penis function issues are some (not necessarily all) drugs that are used to treat high blood pressure, antidepressants, antihistamines, muscle relaxants, chemotherapy drugs, antiarrythmics; drugs for treating Parkinson’s disease, sleeping medications, drugs for treating ulcers, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

If a man is using medications that he suspects may be causing erectile issues (whether the medication falls into one of these categories or not), he should bring this to the attention of his doctor and discuss whether an alternative medication might be a better option.

Not just erectile function

Although erectile issues are the penis function problem most often associated with medications, there can be other problems as well. For example, some studies indicate that certain medications may bring about a degree of penis shrinkage, something that most men wish to avoid. Medications most often thought to possibly cause penis shrinkage include antidepressants and antipsychotics, drugs used for attention deficit and/or hyperactivity disorders, and medications for enlarged prostates.

Again, penis shrinkage is not necessarily related to all drugs used to treat these issues, and not every man who does use medications associated with penis shrinkage will experience this complication. And as mentioned above, discussing with a doctor whether a drug may be causing penis shrinkage and what alternatives may be available is key.

Medications are only one potential source of penis function issues. In general, a healthier penis is less likely to experience problems, so men are well advised to apply daily a superior penis health creme (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). The most appropriate crèmes will contain a range of vitamins, including A, B5, C, D, and E. Applying these vitamins topically through a crème directly to the penis allows them more direct access to the organ. The best crèmes will also include L-arginine, an amino acid that helps in the process by which penile blood vessels are enabled to expand when blood flow increases.

Delayed Ejaculation: A Penis Function Issue Needing More Study

Mention penis function issues and what comes to mind to most men is either premature ejaculation or an inability to attain and/or maintain an erection. These are definitely penis function issues, but they are far from the only penis health issues which impact function of the organ. One of the lesser-known such issues is delayed ejaculation, sometimes called retarded ejaculation. And it’s a subject which deserves more study from the sexual health community.

What is delayed ejaculation?

In some ways, the name delayed ejaculation sums up the problem. It describes a situation in which a man continues to engage in sex (either with a partner or with himself) past the point when he wishes to have ejaculated or orgasmed.

But some medical professionals choose to define it as when a man is unable to ejaculate after having engaged sexually (again, with a partner or with himself) for 20 minutes or longer. This is a handy definition for research purposes, but it doesn’t accurately capture the issue at hand. There are many men who routinely engage in sex (especially masturbation) for much longer than 20 minutes and are perfectly happy to do so.

No, the definition needs to emphasize the fact that a man is continuing to have sex despite the fact that the wishes to ejaculate – that he has, in a sense, reached past the pinnacle of his desire and is continuing on without knowing when – of if – he will attain the release he so badly desires.

Not a joke

Men like no joke about being able to “last” for hours, but for the 1% to 4% of men who genuinely suffer from delayed ejaculation, this penis function problem is no laughing matter. It can lead to extreme frustration, inhibition, worry, anxiety and even depression.

Although there has been some attempt to study delayed ejaculation, there is still a lot about it that needs to be studied, beyond the need for a clearer definition. For example, how does the penis behave physically during this period, and is that behavior different from the behavior of the penis which achieves “typical” ejaculation? Meaning, does it go through different cycles of becoming more and less erect? If so, are there differences in how long these cycles last?

Does stimulation of the penis differ with delayed ejaculation – is it more or less sensitive on different points at different times? Does it respond more effectively to certain kinds of strokes or stimulation? There are several possible causes, including nerve damage, reactions to medications, side effects of certain conditions, mental health status, etc. What “mixture” of causes is most common? If certain medications have the unintended consequence of creating a delayed ejaculation situation, are there some which can induce an opposite issue, ones which can create a richer sensory sensation in the penis which would lead more naturally to release?

Scientists are interested in the issue, and research into it could provide greater general understanding of male sexual anatomical response. Here’s hoping that some breakthrough study will be forthcoming.

While further study of the penis function issue called delayed ejaculation is certainly needed, men in the meantime need to take steps to keep their penis health in general on the upswing. One way to help is by daily application of a first rate penis health creme (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). Look for a crème with the “L” pair – L-carnitine and l-arginine. The former is a neuroprotective agent which can be a big help in retaining penis sensation that may otherwise be lost due to rough handling. The latter is an amino acid which helps the body produce nitric oxide. This in turn better enables penile blood vessels to expand and open when greater blood flow is needed.

Penis Function: 5 Tips for Increasing Semen Volume

As penis health issues go, increasing semen volume is not usually high one the list. The exception, of course, is when a man is trying to conceive a child with a partner; however, in that instance, the penis function situation is likely to be more about increasing sperm volume, which is not the same as semen volume. Sperm of course, is a component of semen but semen is made up of other elements as well. No, for most men, a desire to increase semen volume is more for physical show – a penis that ejaculates copious amounts of semen is seen as being more virile and impressive. And so many men do wish to increase their semen volume.

There are several steps a person can try to help increase the amount of semen they ejaculate. Some tips may work better for one man and some tips may work better for another – so the serious semen enthusiast is encouraged to sample these and see which produce the best results for him.

Tips

- Don’t ejaculate as often. One of the simplest techniques for increasing semen volume among frequent ejaculators is simply not to ejaculate as often. Taking a longer break between ejaculations gives the system more time to replenish what was ejaculated; usually 1 or 2 days is all that’s required.

- Ejaculate more often. However, going too long between ejaculations may actually decrease semen volume. This is because having sex (with a partner or one’s own hand) increases testosterone levels, which in terms boost semen production. Finding the right mix between ejaculating too much and too little can therefore be a help.

- Stay hydrated. By now we know that drinking plenty of water is good for health in general, and that includes penis health. Not surprisingly, a great deal of semen is made up of water, so having plenty of water available helps to increase semen volume. Be careful to limit fluids like alcohol and caffeinated beverages, which can actually encourage dehydration.

- Load up on zinc. The prostatic fluid which makes up a large percentage of semen contains a very high percentage of zinc. Up to a point, if there is more zinc available, more will be used; if less, then less will be used, decreasing ultimately semen volume. Consuming a diet with healthy amounts of food rich in zinc, such as pumpkin seeds, lamb, chickpeas, beef, yogurt, spinach, chicken and lentils, or taking zinc supplements may be helpful in adding to the body’s store of zinc. (As always, consult a doctor or nutritionist before making major dietary alterations or adding supplements.)

- Get more amino acids. Amino acids are organic compounds that are key components of proteins. Some amino acids, such as L-arginine and L-carnitine, are present in large amounts in semen. Fish, chicken, red meat, nuts, seeds, wheat germ, and eggs and dairy products (milk, yogurt, cheese, etc.) are good sources for L-arginine. The meat-based sources listed above are also good for L-carnitine. And again, supplements can be another route for obtaining both of these amino acids.

Proper penis function is important for men hoping to increase semen volume, and that means penis health is a priority – so daily application of a first class penis health creme (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) is essential. Some of the ingredients previously mentioned, including L-arginine and L-carnitine, are found in the best of these cremes. In addition to the advantages previously cited, L-arginine plays a major role in producing nitric oxide which in turns helps penis blood vessels to open and expand as needed. And L-carnitine also contains neuroprotective properties which help maintain a good degree of penis sensation even when the organ undergoes rough handling.

Penis Function Issue: About Retrograde Ejaculation

When penis function is fine, a man’s sex life is so much easier. Every guy wants his penis function to always hum along smoothly like a well-tended motor. But occasionally there can be a few penis health hiccups along the way, a few things that may impede proper function. One of the more unusual such penis function issues is known as retrograde ejaculation.

What is retrograde ejaculation?

Most men are already familiar with the term (and the experience of) ejaculation – that is, the expulsion of semen (usually in a rather forceful and pleasurable manner) from the penis through the urethra. But what is this retrograde business?

Well, retrograde is defined as “directed or moving backward,” which is kind of what happens with retrograde ejaculation – the ejaculation is directed to move backward out of the penis, rather than upward out of the shaft of the penis. This means that the penis evacuates most or all of the semen into the bladder instead.

When a man has retrograde ejaculation, he still experiences orgasm, often as strong and intense as that associated with a traditional penile ejaculation. This is often referred to as a dry orgasm. Often, because the semen is re-routed into the bladder, a man may notice that his urine is cloudy, especially soon after an ejaculation.

What causes it?

Why would such a thing as retrograde ejaculation happen in the first place?

Various components of semen are mixed together in the prostate before expulsion. When it leaves the prostate to get into the urethra, it passes by the opening to the bladder. There is a muscle – the bladder neck muscle – that closes tightly to prevent semen from escaping into the bladder. If the bladder neck muscle is weakened or damaged, it may not close completely – or at all. (When a man really needs to urinate but is not in a position where he can do that, it’s the bladder neck muscle that squeezes shut to keep urine in the bladder until a more appropriate time for release.)

Generally, a weakening of this muscle is a result of surgery or a side effect of certain medications. In some cases, medical conditions that cause nerve damage (such as diabetes, Parkinson’s or multiple sclerosis) may interfere with the muscle’s proper function.

Penis function

As noted, most men still experience satisfying orgasms with retrograde ejaculation. However, if the semen is going into the bladder rather than being released through the penis, it can create serious issues for couples wishing to conceive.

Men who experience dry orgasms and are interested in becoming fathers should consult with a physician to determine if retrograde ejaculations are the issue; there may be other semen production problems at play instead.

If retrograde ejaculation is the issue, the doctor will try to determine the cause. If it is likely a side effect of a medication, switching medications may be all that is required. In some cases, it may be treated with other medications. And in some cases, especially those in which surgery has resulted in the condition, there may be little that can be done to correct the problem.

Retrograde ejaculation is an extreme penis function issue; often helping maintain proper penis health can be useful with some penis function issues. To this end, use a top-drawer penis health creme (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) regularly. The best crèmes will contain both L-arginine and L-carnitine. The former is an amino acid that helps keep penile blood vessels expanding properly by boosting nitric oxide production. The latter helps fight nerve damage caused by friction and compression, which can result in diminished sensation in the penis.

Delayed Ejaculation: Handling This Penis Function Issue

Mention premature ejaculation in a group of guys and someone is almost bound to jokingly claim that he has just the opposite penis health problem. In fact, delayed ejaculation (sometimes called retarded ejaculation or prolonged ejaculation or impaired ejaculation) can be a very legitimate penis function problem – and one that can be frustrating both to those who suffer from it and their sexual partners.

What it is

Just as premature ejaculation involves a man who ejaculates much earlier than he would like, delayed ejaculation keeps a man from ejaculating. Although there is no one clear definition, it is generally accepted that if a man wishes to ejaculate but requires more than 30 minutes to achieve that goal, he is said to be experiencing delayed ejaculation. (It’s important to note that the man in question desires to ejaculate. A man who engages in sexual activity for longer than 30 minutes but then ejaculates when he is ready is controlling his ejaculation, and so his situation would not be considered delayed ejaculation.) In some cases, a man may “give up” before he reaches ejaculation at all.

It’s not unusual for a man to experience an occasional episode of delayed ejaculation; it is only when the situation is consistent or persistent that it is considered a penis function issue.

Causes

What causes delayed ejaculation? There can be many causes. For example, sometimes it may be psychological and comes about due to depression, anxiety about performance, unexpressed emotions, etc. Some medications, such as certain antidepressants, blood pressure drugs, anti-seizure treatments, or alcohol, might cause delayed ejaculation in some men. There can also be physical issues, such as pelvic injury, thyroid or testosterone decrease, urinary tract infections, or nerve damage. In some cases, rough handling of the penis may result in diminished sensation, which can be a factor.

Treatment

Treating delayed ejaculation depends on pinpointing the cause or causes which have brought it about. If the underlying cause is psychological, seeking help from a mental health professional is advised. If medications are responsible, consulting with a doctor about possible alternatives can be helpful.

When the cause is physical, the specific physical cause will determine treatment. For example, low thyroid or testosterone levels may require hormone treatment. Medicine can help banish a urinary tract infection. And there are some medications which have been used to help fight delayed ejaculation.

In some cases, it may be suggested that a man explore stimulating other erogenous zones., for example, the nipples can provide sensual stimulation. Prostate massage often results in enhanced ejaculation for many men.

Sometimes a man is asked to try to “retrain” his penis. If he typically masturbates in one certain way or on one certain area of the penis, he may be encouraged to switch things up: use his left hand instead of his right, apply different levels of pressure, concentrate on the shaft instead of the glans (or vice versa). This can often help a man to experience ejaculation on a more typical schedule.

Men whose penis function is impaired by delayed ejaculation are well advised to incorporate a first class penis health creme (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) into their daily penis care regimen. A healthy penis is more likely to respond to proper stimulation. Choosing a crème with L-carnitine can be especially valuable. L-carnitine is an amino acid with neuroprotective properties that helps protect the penis from loss of sensation. The crème should ideally also include L-arginine. Another amino acid, L-arginine helps boost nitric oxide production; this in turn enables penile blood vessels to more fully expand when extra blood is needed for the erectile process.

Penis Function and Gout Can Be Linked

It’s no news that we prefer things that work rather than things that don’t work, and so a man is much happier when he is blessed with good penis function rather than faulty penis function. Maintaining a proper level of penis health is one way to help maintain penis function, but sometimes issues arise outside of pen is health which can impact function. For example, health conditions that develop elsewhere in the body may have a secondary effect on the penis. Surprisingly, this can be the case with gout.

About gout

Many people are surprised to learn that gout is even still a “thing” today. Often if a person thinks of gout at all, they think of it as something that used to affect decadent gluttons from centuries past and visualize a bewigged and pomaded nobleman who has overindulged in wine and rich foods, sitting with a bandaged foot raised on a velvet stool.

In fact, gout is not necessarily a “rich person’s disease” at all, and is more common today than one might think. As many as 8 million people in America suffer from gout, a substantial number. And they are by no means all members of the moneyed elite.

Uric acid

Gout is technically a form of arthritis, in that it attacks the joints of the body. While it may appear in the ankles or knees, the majority of gout cases occur in the toes – and almost always in the big toe.

Gout occurs when there is too much uric acid in the body and this acid forms large crystals which then get stuck in the joints. It can be quite painful, sometimes leaving a person unable to walk.

Uric acid is formed as a waste product when the body digests foods containing a substance known as prurine. Usually, the uric acid leaves the body through urination – but if there is too much uric acid, it gets into the bloodstream and there can form the nasty crystals.

Prurine is found in many foods, including red meat, beer, dried beans, organ meats, and some kinds of seafood. Consuming too much of these may cause uric acid to build up, but some people have a genetic predisposition toward developing uric acid. Pother people may have medical conditions, such as diabetes, or lifestyle issues, such as obesity, which can also increase the risk of developing gout.

Gout and penis function

So how does a problem in the big toe potentially affect penis function? It has to do with blood vessels.

The lining of blood vessels is called endothelium, and the stronger the endothelium, the stronger the blood vessel. Penile blood vessels especially need to be strong, as it is their ability to accommodate increased blood flow that influences erect penis function. But as uric acid travels throughout the bloodstream, it can cause damage to the endothelium. When uric acid levels are high, as with gout, the potential to damage the endothelium increase substantially.

Men with gout, or who suspect that they may be inclined toward gout, should consult with a doctor to discuss options for lowering uric acid levels and maintaining them at an acceptable level.

Whether penis function is impacted by gout or by other factors, it stands to reason that the healthier the penis, the more resistant to issues it can be. Therefore, men should regularly apply a top drawer penis health creme (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). It’s especially important to select a crème that contains both L-arginine and vitamin C. L-arginine is an amino acid which helps boost nitric oxide production, which enables penile blood vessels to more properly expand as needed. And vitamin C also aids in proper penile blood flow, buttressing the efforts of L-arginine.

Penis Function Issues: Dealing with Premature Ejaculation

There are hundreds of reasons to focus on penis health, but one reason why men make it a priority is because a healthy penis is generally in a better position to perform better sexually. Almost every man worries at some point about penis function and how an issue in this area could impact his sex life. One of the more common penis function challenges involves premature ejaculation.

Guys don’t like to talk about premature ejaculation, much less admit that they suffer from it, but it is actually a fairly common predicament. There have been numerous studies which have tried to determine exactly how common, with most finding that between 20% and 70% of men reported experiencing premature ejaculation at some time in their lives. One of the reasons for the wide variance in percentages is that until recently there was no solid definition for premature ejaculation. (In recent years, an accepted definition includes ejaculating within one minute or less of vaginal penetration.)

However, while the definition is valuable for research studies, the fact remains that if a man considers himself a premature ejaculator, even if his ejaculation release time is much longer than one minute, then he is going to wish to be able to extend his release time.

Tips

So if a man considers himself a premature ejaculator, what are some strategies he can employ to try to last longer in bed?

- Talk about it. First, it pays to know whether a partner or partners share a man’s assessment. They may be perfectly satisfied with sex the way it is and see no need for him to try to prolong his release time. If this is the case, the man may wish to reconsider his plans.

- Change positions. Different sex positions can stimulate the penis in different ways – so trying a new position may allow a man to last longer.

- Wear a condom. Sometimes having an extra layer on the penis diminishes sensitivity enough that a man can prolong his bed game.

- Edge. Edging is bringing the penis to the point at which it almost ejaculates and then stopping – and repeating several times. Many men employ edging when masturbating as a way of learning how to delay ejaculation while having partner sex. It is recommended a guy try this alone for a while, then discuss a partner-based version – that is, having sex, but withdrawing when ejaculation approaches, letting it subside a little, and then starting up again.

- Masturbate first. It can often help to masturbate before a date, so that when sex is available a few hours later, the penis may be less prone to releasing early.

- Work the penis muscles. Actually, the PC muscle – with PC standing for pubbococcygeus. This is the same muscle a man uses when he is urinating and needs to stop the urine from coming out. And it can play a similar role in preventing ejaculation. Squeezing and releasing that muscle helps to exercise it. One way to do so is to squeeze and release 20 times and then hold it on the last one for 15 or 20 seconds. Repeat this two or three times a day, then move on up to 25 or 30 squeezes, etc.

Premature ejaculation is nothing to be ashamed of – and many men who release quickly are able to continue engaging in sexual activities that please their partners tremendously.

Working penis function to improve premature ejaculation is easier if the penis is in good shape, so regular use of a first class penis health creme (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) is an excellent idea. Find a crème that contains L-arginine, an amino acid that can help to keep penile blood vessels open and expanded when necessary. The creme should also include vitamin C, which helps give penis skin elasticity and also improves blood flow.

Penis Function and Medications That Increase Prolactin

Penis health and penis function are often linked, with a healthy penis usually more likely to have fewer issues with penis function. However, there can be factors which impede penis function which come about even when a man is taking every step possible to ensure the health of his favorite organ. For example, sometimes medications taken for health issues unrelated to the penis may still have some impact on the manhood. This can be the case with medications which, directly or indirectly, increase the amount of prolactin in the body.

What is prolactin?

Sometimes called luteotropoin, prolactin is a naturally occurring hormone. It occurs in both men and women, but it generally appears in much lower doses in men than in women. One of its primary purposes is to enable women to produce milk for babies. It also can serve to help balance levels of testosterone and estrogen in both sexes.

In men, a certain level of prolactin is therefore a good thing. But if prolactin levels are raised too high, a situation known as hyperprolactinemia results. And that’s not so good. If a man has too much prolactin, it is likely to cause the body to stop producing as much testosterone. Diminished testosterone levels are often associated with a diminished sex drive. Sometimes they can also negatively impact erectile function.

However, when too much prolactin is the factor behind this testosterone decrease, the effects may be more nuanced. Many men in this situation complain that they still have an interest in sex, but that when they engage in the activity, their penis is not as hard as it needs to be. This often leads to sexual situations without ejaculation, which can be frustrating, or to needing extra stimulation in order to reach an orgasm.

Hyperprolactinemia also can result in gynecomastia, in which male breast growth is increased substantially.

Medications

Excess prolactin can come about rom several causes. It often is a side effect of medications being used to treat other conditions.

Risperidone, which is used for treating autism or for helping to control disruptive behavior, was found in one study to raise prolactin levels in 49% of patients taking it. Metoclopromide, which is commonly used for gastrointestinal disorders, including gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), also has been associated with raised prolactin levels.

Phenothiazine (aka PTZ) is an organic compound, derivatives of which are used in several medications. They are most prominently used to treat psychotic conditions. (It also used to be popularly used as an insecticide.)

Treatment

If a man believes that he has hyperprolactinemia, he should raise the possibility with his doctor and have his levels checked. If prolactin levels are significantly raised, the physician should the n determine if the increase is likely due to medication. If so, the patient and doctor should discuss the pros and cons of possible alternative medications. There also are some medications which are used to lower prolactin levels; if these medications are safe to use in conjunction with the medication which is raising prolactin levels, this may be a viable route to take.

Excess prolactin may be the cause of penis function issues, but it’s possible that a healthy penis may be somewhat less affected. Therefore, daily use of a first rate penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which has been clinically proven safe and mild for skin) makes sense. A man should take his time and select only the best such crème. For example, since prolactin may cause some diminishment of penis sensation, use of a crème with ;l-carnitine may be beneficial. L-carnitine is an amino acid with neuroprotective qualities which can help maintain proper penis sensitivity. The best crème will also include a range of important vitamins, including A, B5, C, D and E, to help boost penis health.

Iron Overload Can Impact Penis Function

When penis health is good, penis function is more likely to be good as well. But sometimes there are conditions which indirectly affect penis function. One such example may occur when a man suffers from iron overload, that is, an excess amount of iron in his system.

Iron is basically good

Now, as any boy who is told to eat his spinach or take his vitamins knows, the body needs iron. In most cases, iron is a good thing. This mineral is an essential component of hemoglobin, which takes iron out of the lungs and transports it around the body to the tissues which need it to thrive and work properly. It also plays a role in growth and development, as well as in cellular function.

Sometimes a person has too little iron and can develop anemia, a situation in which not enough oxygen is transported around the body. This leaves a person feeling tired and fatigued and can have long term health consequences.

But in some cases, a person may actually get too much iron. When this happens, there is more iron than the body can properly process. If it is not removed it will travel around the body until it comes to rest in various tissues and organs, such as the heart, brain, liver, pancreas, pituitary gland, etc. This can have a negative effect on the organ; if the iron overload is too severe, it can impair the proper functioning of the organ and in some cases can destroy it.

Penis function

And how does iron overload affect penis function? The main problems are when the heart and/or pituitary gland gets iron overloaded.

Clearly, anything that affects the heart is bad news and cardiac issues can impact a man’s total health. In terms of penis health, impaired cardiac function can affect a man’s stamina so that he may have a more difficult time “keeping going” while having sex. It can also affect the heart’s ability to pump blood at an appropriate level to build and then maintain an erection, leading to erectile dysfunction. Finally, a slower blood rate also means a decrease in oxygen being delivered, which weakens penile tissue.

The pituitary gland is important in penis health because it produces a wide variety of hormones – many of which affect the penis. If the pituitary is impaired, a man’s libido may suffer, his ability to achieve erections may diminish, and in some cases, he may experience shrinkage of the testes.

Causes

Iron overload can sometimes be caused by simply having too much iron in the diet; however, usually there is an outside factor at work. These include hereditary conditions such as hereditary hemochromatosis or thalassemia. Diseases requiring frequent blood transfusions, such as leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, lymphoma, or sickle cell disease, and again including thalassemia, also can result in iron overload.

Typically, iron overload is treated either by phlebotomy or chelation. With phlebotomy, a unit of blood is removed from the body, with the process repeated every few weeks as necessary until iron levels are normal. Chelation involves administering a drug on a daily basis over an extended period of time; the drug will “bind” with the iron and remove it gradually.

Penis function impacted by iron overload will more easily recover if penis health is not otherwise affected, so guys should regularly apply a superior penis health creme (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). Take trouble to select a crème that contains a wide range of necessary vitamins, especially vitamins A, B, C, D, and E. In addition, a penis should be rewarded with a crème containing L-arginine. This ingredient helps to boost the body’s production of nitric oxide; this in turn helps penile blood vessels to expand more readily when there is increased blood flow.

Penis Function and the Impact of Diabetes

More than 30 million Americas – 9.4% of the population – are thought to have diabetes – and about a quarter of them don’t know it. Equally alarming, some 84 million Americans are considered to be in a pre-diabetes condition. This serious medical condition can have a huge impact upon a person’s health – and upon a man’s penis health as well. Knowing how diabetes can affect penis function is valuable information for every man.

Diabetes

Although diabetes affects both men and women, men between the ages of 35 and 55 are twice as likely as women to develop diabetes. That’s alarming, as the likelihood of diabetes continues to increase with age – and since penis function already tends to diminish with age, it means that diabetes may make penis health issues increase that much more.

As many men already know, diabetes is a medical condition that affects the way the body uses glucose (also called blood sugar). Blood sugar provides energy to muscles, tissue and the brain. People with diabetes need help regulating their blood sugar. When it gets too high, it can cause numerous problems, including heart disease, nerve damage (also called neuropathy), vision issues (including blindness), foot problems, and skin conditions. And, of course, there can be penis function and health effects as well.

Penis function and health problems

What are some of the common penis issues related to diabetes? They include:

- Erectile dysfunction. Most men place erectile dysfunction high on the list of problems they dread – so men really need to keep diabetes away if they want to keep their erectile penis function normal. More than half of men with diabetes come down with erectile dysfunction as well, which means they are 3 times as likely to get it. The reasons why are complicated, but it essentially comes down to nerve damage to the penis and to poor circulation issues as well.

- Bent penis. Many men have some slight curvature in their penis; indeed, many people find a degree of curvature aesthetically pleasing. But when the penis is bent to an extreme so that it impedes function and/or causes pain, it means a man has a condition known as Peyronie’s disease. And diabetic men are more likely to develop this bent penis syndrome than men without.

- Thrush. A male yeast infection of the penis is known as thrush – and diabetes increases the risk of thrush occurring. This is because high blood sugar makes for a more hospitable environment for yeast to grow and populate.

- Low testosterone. Studies have shown that men with diabetes are more likely to have lower testosterone, although whether this is a result of the diabetes itself or of risk factors for diabetes (such as obesity) is unclear. Low testosterone not only contributes to erectile function issues but tends to be associated with a diminished libido as well.

- Retrograde ejaculation. Although still rare, retrograde ejaculation is a complication associated with diabetes. In this condition, some or all of a man’s semen is waylaid into the bladder rather than ejaculated through the penis.

Treatment

Diabetes is a very serious condition and requires working with a doctor to determine the best course of treatment. Monitoring blood sugar levels regularly is required, and often medication must be administered by the patients themselves to keep blood sugar at the appropriate healthy level.

Penis function can be impacted by diabetes as well as by poor general penis health, so using a superior penis health creme (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) can be beneficial. The best cremes will contain L-arginine, an amino acid which plays a role in the body’s production of nitric oxide. This in turn helps make it possible for penile blood vessels to expand when they need to accommodate increase in blood volume. The crème selected should also include vitamin C, which is also helpful in maintaining appropriate blood flow.

Penis Function and Spinal Cord Injury: 3 Types of Problems

As many readers know, penis health can be a bit complicated. Some of it is easy and directly involves the penis, such as caring for dry penis skin or checking for signs of sexually-transmitted infections. Other times, penis care may relate to parts of the body beyond the organ itself. Such is the case with spinal cord injuries, which have the potential to impact penis health, sometimes significantly.

The spinal cord

The spinal cord is "a long, thin, tubular bundle of nervous tissue and support cells that extends from the medulla oblongata in the brainstem to the lumbar region of the vertebral column. The brain and spinal cord together make up the central nervous system (CNS)." Its primary function is the transmission of nerve signals throughout the body, as well as helping to coordinate the body’s reflexes.

Sexual response depends upon the body’s ability to transmit messages along the spinal cord. So, if the spinal cord gets injured, it can potentially bring about penis issues for a man.

Sexual problems

Most often, the penis issues that can result from a spinal cord injury are erectile dysfunction or ejaculatory problems.

Erections tend to be classified in three categories:

- Psychogenic. This is the kind of erection that comes about from thinking sexually stimulating thoughts or viewing erotic imagery.

- Reflexogenic. This erection occurs when the penis is physically stimulated, as when it is stroked by someone or orally aroused.

- Spontaneous . These erections generally occur due to some internal stimuli, such as having a bladder that is full of urine.

Exactly which part of the spinal cord is damaged and how badly the injury is will determine which type of erection is affected and to what degree. In some cases, erection is not affected, while in others erection is impeded but still possible. In other cases, it is unlikely a man will have erections at all.

In some very rare cases, a spinal cord injury may result in priapism, a situation in which a man experiences a very painful erection that will not deflate.

Some spinal cord injuries bring about a situation called anejaculation, in which a man is unable to ejaculate. Another possible side effect is retrograde ejaculation, in which semen is diverted into the bladder rather than leaving through the urethra.

Treatments

Spinal cord injuries can be very serious and affect many parts of the body. Treatments for sexual issues related to spinal cord injury vary in their effectiveness, depending upon the specifics of the injury. However, here are some of the typical treatment options:

- Oral medication , such as sildenafil, which is frequently used in treating erectile dysfunction in men. In men with spinal cord injuries, there is a good success rate.

- Injections. Some men respond to having medication injected directly into the penis in order to achieve an erection.

- Vacuum pumps. These devices fit snugly around the penis and then create a vacuum, which draws blood into the penis to encourage an erection.

- Implants. Penile prostheses replace parts of the penis with artificial elements which can be easily triggered to expand.

Spinal cord injuries can bring about significant penile challenges for a man. However, no matter the degree to which sexual function may be altered, a man still needs to regularly use a superior penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) to help maintain his overall penis health. The best crèmes will contain ingredients, such as Shea butter and vitamin E, which can help keep the penis skin hydrated and less prone to flakiness. The crème should also contain vitamin A, which has specific antibacterial properties that fight the bacteria responsible for unwanted persistent penis odor.