Why is sexual health important in men?
Wanting to have sex that both you and your partner enjoy is normal. Being sexually healthy is a large part of that. However, men’s sexual health can be affected by problems such as erectile dysfunction, premature or delayed ejaculation, and low sex drive (low libido). In this article, I’ll talk about how and why it’s important to look after your sexual health. This includes reducing your risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
What is good male sexual health?
A healthy sex life means something different to us all. Everyone’s libido or ‘sex drive’ is different. There’s no set amount of sex you should have. The key features of male sexual health are:
- having sexual desire (libido)
- being able to get an erection
- being able to ejaculate
- having an orgasm
What are the main sexual health problems in men?
Sexual health issues can caused by both physical and psychological factors. Below are some common problems with men’s sexual health.
- Erectile dysfunction (ED): when you’re unable to get or keep an erection. ED can have psychological causes. It can also be caused by conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Certain medications can also have side effects that cause ED.
- Premature ejaculation: when you ejaculate sooner than expected during sex. It’s usually due to psychological reasons such as anxiety and stress, but also oversensitivity.
- Delayed ejaculation: when it takes you longer to ejaculate or climax (or are not able to at all). This can be due to psychological causes as well as changes in sensation.
- Low sex drive (libido): you don’t have interest in sex or have any sexual thoughts. This can again be caused by stress, anxiety, or depression at any age. Some medications can reduce your libido too. Your sex drive might also be affected low testosterone levels and well as your general health.
These issues can happen at any age, but may increase as you get older. Help is available, so don't feel embarrassed to see a GP. It’s the first step to getting the right treatment.
Hello, I am Dr Naveen Puri, I am one of the GPs within Bupa Health Clinics.
Today I want to speak to you about embarrassing problems you might have and what we can do if you attend one of our clinics.
I want you to know that many people feel embarrassed or concerned about speaking about certain things with their doctors, but I'm here to reassure you these are the kinds of things we deal with every day.
For me, looking at someone's bottom or their breasts or their genitalia is no different to looking at their nose or elbow.
And that's true for all doctors as we train for many years in these parts of the body and are very used to having these conversations with people just like you.
So what I would encourage you to do if you have any concerns from your perspective, be it a change in your bowel habit, be it a lump, a rash, a swelling. Something on your genitalia or a part of your body you're not particularly familiar with or feel uncomfortable discussing.
Please be assured your doctor has done it all before.
Some of the ways we find patients find it easier to speak to a doctor is to either tell the doctor you feel embarrassed up front. That way a doctor can make extra effort to make sure you feel comfortable.
Or some patients come to us with pieces of paper and will write the problem down and hand it to us. That way we can help with whatever is going on for you as well.
You may also find it helpful to ask for a specific doctor, someone you're familiar with in your practice. Or you might want to ask for a doctor of a specific gender, or background to your liking as well.
I'd also say, doctors do this every day so don't be alarmed if we ask you certain questions around your symptoms. It is purely so we can help you get the best outcome for your enquiry.
And then finally, feel free to use language that suits you as well. We don't expect you to know the medical words for things, or a name for your diagnosis. That's our job to find out for you.
So, take your time, see a doctor, and hopefully we can help put your mind at ease.
What are sexually transmitted infections?
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infections you can catch and pass on when you have unprotected sex without barrier contraception like condoms. This can be through vaginal, anal and oral sex. They can also be spread by sharing sex toys. The most common STI in the UK is chlamydia and is the easiest infection to pass on during unprotected sex. Other common STIs in the UK include:
- genital warts
- gonorrhoea
- genital herpes
- syphilis
Other STIs include hepatitis, HIV, trichomoniasis, mycoplasma, and pubic lice.
It’s important to practice safe sex by wearing a condom when having sex. This can protect you from catching most STIs.
With some STIs, you might not get any symptoms at all. But if you do, they may include:
- discharge – mucus or pus – from your penis
- pain when you pee
- rashes, lumps, or blisters around your genital area
- pain in your testicles
You should visit a sexual health clinic or your GP if you think you might have an STI. Getting treatment can help your symptoms and stop the infection spreading to others.
Even if you don’t have symptoms, it’s worth getting tested for STIs if you’ve recently changed your sexual partner.
How can men look after their sexual health?
There are some things you can’t control such as your age. But there’s lots you can do to improve your sexual health.
- Follow a healthy diet with fruits, vegetables, nuts, and fish, and reduce ultra processed foods. This can help with erections and testosterone levels.
- Maintain a healthy weight. Obesity can raise the risk of erectile dysfunction and infertility.
- Try to avoid or stop smoking and cut back on alcohol. This can be good for your general health as well as your sexual health.
- Stay active. Regular exercise is important for your general health, and may also help your sexual health and boost your mood. Improved blood flow from regular exercise can also help strengthen erections.
- Get enough sleep. Sleep disturbance and sleeping disorders have been linked to erectile dysfunction.
- Practice safe sex. Wear a condom during sex so that you can prevent getting STIs as well as spreading them. Getting tested is also important if you’ve had or plan to have unprotected sex. Both you and your partner should consider getting tested if entering a new relationship.
Your mental health also matters as well. Sex is not just a physical thing, it’s emotional too. So, remember to look after your mental health, for example through mindfulness or breathing exercises.
If you feel your mental health is causing problems in your sex life, see a GP. They can discuss issues such as self-esteem, past experiences or your relationship. Talking to a GP can help you get treatment for any conditions, or you could be referred to psychosexual counselling. There are also mental health charities such as Mind where you can find support and information.
Communicate with your partner about any sexual problems either of you may be having. This can help you to support each other. Your relationship as well as looking after your health is important to have sex that you both enjoy.
Bupa offer a Men’s Sexual Function Plan to support men with symptoms, that are having a negative impact on their sex life (including erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation). Discover more.
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