By HENRY OKONKWO and VIVIAN ONYEBUKWA

Every sexually conscious male would like to be viewed as a stud in bed by his woman. An active sex life is one of the attributes that makes a man feel manly. However, for a lot of men, getting an erection is a tough task, and even sustaining the erection to derive enough pleasure and satisfy his partner is another big deal.
Impotence is a hugely common condition round the world. And according to the National Health Service (NHS), 50 per cent of men between the ages of 40 and 70 will have some degree of impotency.
Erectile Dysfunction (ED) occurs when a man is unable to establish or maintain an erection. And this leads to decreased sexual activities. According to urologist, Dr. Festus Olusanya, ED can be triggered by a variety of things including medication, consumption habits and age. “Today, ED is a much broader concept, which has physiological and psychological components, including not being able to sexually satisfy your partner, resulting in a dysfunctional sexual relationship. And things like smoking, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, high lipid levels and lack of physical activity are some common factors that lead to ED”, he says.

Erectile dysfunction on the increase:
Despite increased awareness of the causes and treatments for ED, the topic largely remains taboo with many men too ashamed to discuss it publicly. Experts attest that while it may be embarrassing for some people, the silent stigma and psychological torment surrounding ED makes it an important issue that must be taken seriously by men.
Dr. Olusanya notes that ED is on the rise among Nigerian men and regrets that many of such men hide their problems instead of seeking care. He says many of these patients resort to using sex stimulants and aphrodisiacs from roadside hawkers. “Those who increase their libido by taking those drugs may get addicted and would no longer perform without them. And the addiction would remain until the libido of the addict is completely destroyed.”
Findings by medical experts have shown that in about 95 per cent of cases, sexual problems in men are usually due to psychological factors such as stress, depression and anxiety which could be either economic or domestic. Furthermore, experts have said a man has such a problem, probably because he is not sexually attracted to the woman, as sex typically “is a mind thing.” They say sex is generated from the mind and that is why sex enhancement drugs may not work, if there is no desire for sex.

Manpower everywhere:
The desire of men not to be called a wimp in bed has made many to be hesitant to seek help or even acknowledge that they have erection issues.
Rather, in a bid to rev-up their libido and sex stamina, many resort to sexual performance enhancement drugs or stimulants, often without due prescription from a medical doctor.
Although medical experts have continuously warned against indiscriminate usage of such stimulants, this warning seems to be falling on deaf ears, leading to a boom in the trade.
In recent times, the many streets and filling stations in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and other parts of the country have been flooded with all kinds of sex enhancers and aphrodisiacs. Many of the hawkers come from the northern part of Nigeria, and they go to any length to guarantee rock-hard erection as effects of the potency of the drugs.
What could be most tragic about the indiscriminate sale and consumption of these sex enhancement drugs is that many of the brands on display in these areas are cleverly disguised clones of the original and registered brands. From the popular little blue pill known as Viagra to others such as Cialis and Levitra, less acknowledged brands with lewd and suggestive names such as Bangbros, Super Lione, Long Penis, Hygra, Max Glans, Black Diamond, Se Age, Magic Penis, Mega Desire, Sexuali Indian Capsule and Crocodile Power are also up for grabs. Even local brands known as Osomo, Opa eyin, Wafeku laleyi, Baby O pullover, Alomo Bitters, Erujeje, Ogidiga, Aishetu and Burantashi among others, are not left out.
Some of these drugs also display pornographic pictures on the packets and are sold along the road like sweets and biscuits.
Worse still, many of these drugs that have saturated the streets do not have the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) registration certification of safety and number.
Many of them also come in very high dosage. The registered brands of sildenafil citrate (Viagra) tablets usually recommended by doctors are registered in 25mg, 50mg and 100mg. But the unregistered ones purchased on the streets by Saturday Sun correspondents came in strength of 120mg and 200mg.

Bad news
For many men it is good that these drugs are easily available, but the bad news is that their use often creates more complications for their users.
A middle aged user boasts that: “a 250mg of Indian Capsule can make you go six rounds,” adding that anyone under the drug’s influence would have a sustained erection until its effect is exhausted.
Doctors indeed warn of severe drawbacks of the effects of using these stimulants. “Some of these aphrodisiacs come with a dosage that is quite high. And that is a big danger. When an issue has to do with sex, you don’t know the lifestyle and attitude of the man who want to take these drugs. Somebody might try to cure libido problem and get into more serious problems. These products are clearly an overdose and it has very serious health implications. Misuse and abuse of sex stimulants can result in health problems such as increased blood pressure, stroke, and ulceration of the gastro-intestinal tract,” Dr. Charles Odionye of i-Well Medical Centre discloses.
He cites an incident he witnessed in which a young man took a sex stimulant he bought at the street corner and suffered a painful erection that lasted three days. “He took it to make love to his girlfriend. But he realised that the hard erection he got from the stimulant failed to release him. The hard erection lasted for so long until he was rushed to the hospital when he started screaming out in pain.”
“Priapism is one of the dangers that could occur in the usage of these fake sex stimulants. Priapism, is undesirable sustained erection and it could lead to impotence as a result of circulatory damage. I can tell you it is an extremely painful episode that involves the continuous engorgement of the male sex organ which stays permanently erect because blood doesn’t flow out of the area. If the erection lasts too long, it damages the way blood vessels function, causing permanent damage.”
In similar vein, Mr Chiogo Nweneke, a pharmacist, blames the growing incidences of sudden death in the country on consumption of sex enhancing drugs. “We have all kinds of failure, kidney failure, heart failure, sometimes, we don’t know where people are getting these conditions from. Wicked people are importing these fake drugs into the country, and are smiling to the bank. If care is not taken, we have to import men from other countries, because these drugs are killing the potency of our men.”
He further hints that sex stimulants can cause more harm than good. “These drugs when taken affect every part of the body especially the brain, the heart among others. Some drugs are dangerous. When people have sexual problems such as weak penile erection, quick ejaculation, low libido or low sexual drive, patronising such drugs may even worsen their problems, because these drugs affect every part of their body. Many a time, the drugs are fake. The best thing is for the individuals to seek appropriate care by visiting a doctor to evaluate their problems.

Alternative safe ways of overcoming impotence
Research has shown that regular exercise and proper diet can boost sex drive effectively. Experts also recommend that maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the best sex enhancement therapy. Furthermore, Erectile Dysfunction, ED, can be treated through counselling, oral medication and intrapenile injection therapy.
But, lack of awareness is the biggest obstacle in the treatment of erectile dysfunction, says Dr. Odionye. “ED is completely curable, with higher success rates seen in recent years. Advancing technology and drugs help treat the condition and ensure a better sex life for both men and their sexual partners.
“The very fact that patients approach us is a positive sign that they recognise there is a problem and are willing to seek help. The reality is that far too many people shy away from discussing anything of a sexual nature, and more so when it is the inability to perform sexually. I urge people to acknowledge the problem, because ED is common and the condition is entirely treatable, people should seek professional help.


Lady eaten

Eating to live: Let your food be your medicine…

By KAYODE OSENI

Most people have heard about this ancient famous quote attributed to the father of modern medicine, Hippocrates. By medicine, it is meant a drug or other preparation for the treatment or prevention of disease.
And we all know what food is, we consume it for purpose of nourishment and satisfaction. 
But what most people are not getting is that both food and medicine have been distorted and used wrongly for a long time now. And that is why we are having increasing spades of ill health in our generation.
Health issues that weren’t in existence about a century ago are now becoming pandemic. Obesity, infertility, metabolic diseases, cancers are becoming more common despite our increasing civilization and technological advancements. 
Let us take a look at how and where we are getting it wrong. First, drugs are substances meant to prevent and treat conditions of disharmony in the body. They are supposed to be compatible with the human body and are to be non toxic. But the trend of fast pace associated with improved technology caught up with the drug industries and overwhelmed them.
Now drugs are produced for profit, and thus the first consideration is how to produce more drugs at lesser costs, and at faster rates.
Even the drugs are now mostly becoming poisons because the need to make them easier to take, faster to work, and cheaper to produce has overridden the need to reduce possible side effects and overall safety.
There is now drug for every possible ailments, with at least 3 other drugs available for each   side effects of taking the particular drug. 
It is now so bad that there is a drug for sneezing, another for alcoholic hangover, a different one for too much acid, and yet another for too little acid in stomach. There is a drug for being tired instead of taking a deserved rest, and there is drug to lose control and feel free from responsibilities  ( recreational drugs).
The bad news is that these drugs are killing us rather than healing us. We are now aware of antibiotic resistant strains of bugs, we all know of carcinogenic effects of certain drugs, and we also know of the metabolic anomalies attributable to certain drugs, not to mention those commonly used drugs causing liver and kidney failures. 
The solution?
The solution is in simply going back to the old days when our food served as our drugs. We must go back to those days when we eat not for mere satiation but for nourishment, when we feed our bodies with nature’s nourishment from the earth.
We must not allow the same fate that befell our drugs also befall our foods. Our food industries must stop considering profit over nourishment, and we also must stop choosing junks over food.
The mentality of easy, fast, and cheap must not be allowed to dictate our choice of food.
If we eat healthy wholesome nourishing foods we will have less need of drugs, because our food will thus become our medicine.


Couch

Helping the Narcissist overcome his obsession (1)

Dr. Maymunah,  I have been a divorcee for the past nine months and the issue was mainly from my husband. I was married for 15 years and I have four children, two boys and girls each. My husband doesn’t trust people, he has such an inflated ego, he completely lacks empathy for anyone, he monopolizes all of our conversations, belittles me anywhere and looks down on people and above all, he beats me for any slightest reason. I’m sure people will say, “didn’t you see all these before marrying him”… Yes, I did, but didn’t pay attention to details. Two years ago, I moved out of the house so that I can heal myself and manage the crisis. After much begging from family, friends and church involvement, I came back. …My greatest mistake ever. After settling in for about two weeks, the routine started.
Ok, Doc, to cut the long story short… He was made to see a doctor who then referred him to see a Psychiatrist, and this doctor made a diagnosis of Narcissistic personality disorder …..That was when it hit me and I went into a research. All that I read fit so well.
Dr. Maymunah, even if we are no longer together, what can I do to help him since he is the father of my children. What are the chances that my children will not inherit it? What are the treatments available for him? Will he be on medications? And can this illness be prevented?
IB, Lagos.
Thank you IB for your mail. I must say your husband being diagnosed with Narcissistic personality disorder, NPD is a rare case. This is because people may have the traits, but the disorder is rare. That aside, NPD is a mental disorder in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance, a deep need for admiration and a lack of empathy for others. But behind this mask of ultraconfidence lies a fragile self-esteem that’s vulnerable to the slightest criticism.
A narcissistic personality disorder causes problems in many areas of life, such as relationships, work, school or financial affairs.  Generally, personality disorders are conditions in which people have traits that cause them to feel and behave in socially distressing ways, limiting their ability to function in relationships and other areas of their life, such as work or school. So, it is not a shock to know he behaves this way.
Yes, one of the symptoms of a person with NPD is that he has trouble handling anything that may be perceived as criticism. Psychologically, it’s known that they may have secret feelings of insecurity, shame, vulnerability and humiliation. So, to feel better, he may react with rage or contempt and try to belittle the other person to make himself appear superior. Or he may feel depressed and moody because he has fallen short of perfection.
Some other features to look out for in a person with NPD are:
Having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
Expecting to be recognized as superior even without achievements that warrant it.
Exaggerating your achievements and talents
Being preoccupied with fantasies about success, power, brilliance, beauty or the perfect mate
Believing that you are superior and can only be understood by or associate with equally special people
Requiring constant admiration
Having a sense of entitlement
Expecting special favours and unquestioning compliance with your expectations
Taking advantage of others to get what you want
Having an inability or unwillingness to recognise the needs and feelings of others
Being envious of others and believing others envy you
Behaving in an arrogant or haughty manner.


Love

For Adam: Testosterone therapy may improve sexual function in older men

For older men who have lost their sexual drive or suffer erectile dysfunction , replenishing their Testosterone  might be the answer to maintaining sexual function, a new study in the United States strongly indicates.
Testosterone, the principal male sex hormone, is vital for sperm production, erectile function, and maintaining sexual drive. As men age, testosterone levels naturally decrease.
Hypogonadism – a reduction or absence of hormones secreted by the testes – is thought to affect 40 per cent of men over the age of 45.
For the past 70 years, testosterone replacement therapy has been used in individuals with testosterone deficiency, whether due to disease or aging.
Although this treatment has a long history, testosterone therapy’s effectiveness on sexual dysfunction in older men has not be investigated in sufficient depth.
Research has shown that testosterone treatment helps improve sexual function in younger men who have lower androgen levels due to problems with the testes, hypothalamus, or pituitary.
However, despite its widespread adoption in the aging population, there is scant evidence as to how testosterone treatment might help in the treatment of sexual dysfunction in older men. Previous studies have been limited in size and delivered contradictory or inconclusive results.
However, a comprehensive investigation, the largest placebo-controlled trial to study the effects of testosterone on sexual dysfunction in older males was recently conducted in the US. It is part of the so-called Testosterone Trials, a series of seven studies looking into hormone therapy in men over 65 years of age.
The study set out to investigate the effectiveness of testosterone therapy in increasing sexual desire and function. Led by Dr. Glenn R. Cunningham, of Baylor College of Medicine and Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center in Houston, TX, the study used data from 470 men.
All participants were at least 65 years old and reported having a low libido. They all had a heterosexual partner who was willing to have sexual intercourse at least twice a month. Additionally, each individual had low testosterone levels, as demonstrated by multiple measurements.
The study was conducted over a 12-month period. The men either received testosterone gel – the most common form of testosterone therapy – or a placebo gel. Each participant answered a questionnaire about sexual function at the start of the study and every three months until the end of the trial.
Testosterone therapy effective
Once analyzed, the results of the study published in Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and reported online by Tim Newman showed that of the 12 sexuality measurements in the questionnaire, 10 were significantly improved for men in the testosterone group. These measures included frequency of intercourse, nighttime erections, and masturbation.
The only two measures that did not show any change were “flirting by others” and “day spontaneous erections.”
In comparison, the men in the placebo group showed no change across the year. As the authors conclude:
“Our findings indicate low testosterone is one cause contributing to reduced libido and erectile dysfunction in older men. Men experiencing these symptoms should be evaluated for testosterone deficiency.”
The researchers also investigated whether other factors influenced the positive results, such as body mass index (BMI),diabetes, or alcohol use. None were found to have a significant impact.
The results infer that a low testosterone level is at least one cause of a reduced libido and erectile dysfunction in older men. Also, testosterone therapy improves multiple measures of sexual dysfunction. As ever, the more information that medical science has regarding the issue, the more it can do to intervene and rectify the situation.
Source: Medical News Today


Love1

For Eve: Douching could double your risk of ovarian cancer

By Bolatito Adebayo

There is a new reason why you have to stop that douching right away; because a new research published in the journal Epidemiology finds that women who douched within 12 months if enrolling in the study were twice as likely to develop ovarian cancer. This course of seven-year study research compared women who had douched and women who haven’t and found out that women who douched were at a greater risk. Regardless, of whether or not they carried genes that predispose them to cancer.
The researchers took a sample of 50,000 women. Although the results didn’t indicate that douching directly caused ovarian cancer, the results showed that it could add up to the odds. The study also points out that the relative risk could be even higher because the researchers only looked at women who’d douched recently.
Over and over again, it has been said that vaginas are self-cleaning, so you don’t have to douche your vagina to have a squeaky clean Vjay.  Also, many studies have shown that douching can cause tons of health issues.
Despite all these, reports form Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in America still stated that, one in every five women uses a device to irrigate her vagina with water or over-the-counter solutions because it makes her feel cleaner or healthier.
If you are still bent on practicing this act, then take a look at this scenario: The CDC estimates that 20,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year, so given that your vagina does a really solid job cleaning itself. Why would you bother to put yourself at risk? We don’t think it’s worth it anyway.

5 Period Symptoms That Warrant a Visit to Doctor
For very few ladies they don’t even notice when their period is around, aside from the blood flow, they are as free as a bird. For some, a little bloat, bearable pains and tummy trouble, then it’s over.  However, there are other times; your period symptom could point to something very serious. Here are five signs your cycle may warrant a visit to the doctor’s office.
You are bleeding a lot
If you use a regular sanitary towel and then suddenly you found your flow heavier, that you need to change to super sanitary towels for heavy flow, then you have to watch it.
Most especially, when you keep changing your pads at every hour for more than a day.  Go check in with your gynecologist. It could be uterine abnormalities like fibroids or polyps, but the biggest fear is the loss of blood. You don’t just ignore it, because it is serious and it can result into fatigue, dizziness and even fainting.
Pain killers aren’t helping
Another sign you shouldn’t ignore is when you have painful cramps that cannot be cured by pain killers. Menstrual pain is usually caused by the chemical prostaglandin and non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs work by blocking the production of more. But if the pain you feel is severe, then you might be dealing with something other than cramps, like endometriosis. You need to go see a doctor because the pain can be quite uncomfortable and may require stronger medication.
You have a Fever
Do your red days make you come down with fever? Well, you might say its malaria. But should you be treating malaria every month?  So, you need to check it out. It could be pelvic inflammatory disease, which can flare up with a period. It is associated with a low grade fever and significant pelvic pain.
You bleed in between Period
While it’s common to have breakthrough bleeding from birth control pills, if you’re not on the pill and keep spotting, tell your doctor. Possible culprits include a polyp in the lining of the uterus or overgrowth of the lining of the uterus. Bleeding after sex can be worrisome, too. This could point to abnormalities such as dysplasia—abnormal cells on the cervix that can progress to cervical cancer if not treated.
Your period is on Vacation
Sometimes, your period might go on holiday due to stress, but when you keep skipping your period when you are not pregnant then go see a doctor for hormonal check. Look out for side symptoms like milk leaking from your breasts. A sign of too much of the hormone prolactin being released from your pituitary gland or changes in hair growth can be linked to polycystic ovarian syndrome.
–Additional Information from Women’s Health Magazine