MANAGEMENT OF MEN’S SEXUAL HEALTH

MANAGEMENT OF MEN’S SEXUAL HEALTH
Men's sexual health refers to health issues specific to human male anatomy. These often relate to structures such as male genitals to conditions related/caused by male hormone (Testosterone).
When providing health care to a man, a doctor always has it in his mind that beyond curing men’s illness is the improvement of the quality of their life.
Men’s sexual health has become a major public health issue because of the challenges associated with their health which includes: lack of awareness and understanding of the health issues they face, men not openly discussing their health and how they’re feeling, reluctance to take action when they don’t feel physical or mentally well, men engaging in risky activities that threaten their health, not carrying their partners along, also stigmas surrounding men’s health are also some of the challenges.
Ten common men’s health issues seen in daily clinical practice includes: Erectile dysfunction, low sperm count, zero sperm count, hernia, urethritis, epididymoorchitis, prostatitis, male menopause, bening prostrate enlargement (BPH) and prostate cancer.
Others are premature ejaculations, testicular torsion, and undescended testes.
A patient of mine who was on honey moon had told the wife few days after their wedding that he had to get to the bank, only for him to be in the hospital to complain about inability to have erection.
He got married about five days before coming to the hospital, he said the wife saw her menstrual period on their wedding night ,the sight of blood had affected him that he could not have an erection and this persisted till after the wife menstrual flow ceases on the third day. This is a case of erectile dysfunction.
He was confused and came for consultation. He was counselled, treated and was asked to come for follow up. He was offered medications which was really helpful to him..
The man was called by the hospital staff to remind him of his appointment. He told the staff that the drug is effective and that he will not be honouring the follow up appointment.
Another patient had said the friend told him that such acts of erectile problems during honeymoons are spiritual and that he does not need medical intervention.
Greater percentage of men may be helped via medications even while there is no harm for tackling the problems spiritually via prayers, counselling and support.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) commonly called impotence is defined as the inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance. It often causes serious distress, prompting men to seek medical attention they may not otherwise seek.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the most common sexual problem in men. The incidence increases with age and affects up to one third of men throughout their lives.
It causes a substantial negative impact on intimate relationships, quality of life, and self-esteem. History and physical examination may be sufficient to make a diagnosis of ED in most cases while few may require test.

However, problems affecting men's health extend far beyond erectile dysfunction and other commonly recognized men's illnesses.

About one in 10 men will have an abnormal result on the first Sperm (semen) test but this does not always mean they have a 'true' abnormality. So, if the results of the first semen test are abnormal, the test should be repeated.
Ideally, this repeat test should be done three months after the first, but if it looks as though the sperm count is very low or no sperm at all, it should be repeated as soon as possible.
Another closely related disease is the Sexually Transmitted disease (STD’s), this also affects men adversely as some presented with rashes, sores, warts and wounds on their genitals. This can easily be transferred to the partner with or without symptoms. STD’S can be prevented by being faithful to the partner, abstinence and the use of condoms. The common STD’s that men should  beware of are: Gonorrhoea, HIV, Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatitis C Virus, Syphillis, Herpes and Genital warts, Chlamidia and the newly discovered STD called Mycoplasma Genitalia, They are highly contagious and men with these should be treated without delay.
The import of this piece is to increase the need for men to seek medical care especially in sexual health issues that are specific to men and also to carry their partners along because some forms of therapies may directly or indirectly come from the women folks. .