Infertility may result from a physical condition that is present at birth or develops later in life. The major causes of male infertility include:
- Physiological dysfunctions
- Hormonal imbalances
- Testicular failure
- Lifestyle factors
Sexual dysfunction may be the result of a physical and/or psychological problem.
Physical/medical factors that affect sexual function include:
- Diabetes
- Heart and vascular (blood vessel) disorders
- Hormonal imbalances
- Chronic Diseases (kidney or liver failure)
- Drug and alcohol abuse
- Side effects of some medications (i.e. antidepressants)
Psychological factors that affect sexual function include:
- Work-related stress and anxiety
- Concern about sexual performance
- Marital or relationship problems
- Depression
- Effects of a past sexual trauma
There are four major causes of erectile dysfunction:
- Vascular – Blood must be able to move into the penis and stay there to maintain an erection.
- Neurological – Neurological system must be intact in order for an erection to occur.
- Hormonal – Deficiency in testosterone and thyroid hormones may cause erection problems.
- Psychological – This may be a primary or secondary cause of the problem.
Premature ejaculation is best treated through a combination of interventions. These treatment options include:
- Behavior Modification – Behaviors and techniques that help the patient maintain an erection longer.
- Medical Treatment – Medications that can significantly delay ejaculation or allow a patient to maintain an erection even after ejaculation.
Andropause is a natural emotional and physical change, caused by a decrease in hormones, that occurs as men get older. Medical treatment for andropause is often extremely effective.
Andropause generally has a gradual progression. You might detect the onset of andropause if any or all of these occur:
- Diminished sex drive and erections that are not as strong as they were.
- Nocturnal erections don’t happen as often.
- Mood changes.
- Lean body mass reduces along with muscle mass and strength.
- A loss of body hair.
- Bone density decreases resulting in osteoporosis. (Osteoporosis can lead to the occurrence of bone fractures and breaks.)
- An increase in fat around internal organs.
Understand that these are symptom guidelines. Andropause affects different men in different ways and to different degrees. Some men get one or two of these symptoms, and may just notice the other symptoms occurring minimally or not at all.
One of the best and simplest ways to detect whether you might have andropause is by taking the ADAM Questionnaire on this site. Please note that having some of these symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean you have andropause. It could be some other cause, so a blood test is the best way to make a diagnosis.
Many factors contribute, but the primary reason men get andropause is one that as they get older, their testes don’t work as well. Something called “leydic cells” produce testosterone less frequently and in a lesser quantity. Also, the hormones that produce testosterone don’t create as much of it (and some of that testosterone is being converted to other hormones like estradiol and DHT).
Andropause is usually detected by its symptoms. Therefore, to understand whether or not you fall into this category, you will undergo a few screening procedures to aid in proper diagnosis, including:
- ADAM Questionaire
- Rigi Scan (a simple machine that goes home with the patient to measure the quantity and quality of nocturnal erections)
- Full hormonal panel
- Physical exam
First, know that treatment for andropause is often very effective. The objectives of your treatment include restoration of sexual functioning, increased libido, increased sense of well-being, restoration of muscle strength, improved mental functioning and prevention of osteoporosis.