Archive for March, 2010

Is there a relationship between Erectile Difficulties and Low Sex Drive?

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

Erectile dysfunction (ED) and a low sex drive or libido, are both forms of sexual dysfunction. But, you cannot draw a link between the two. The fact that you are suffering from erection problems doesn’t mean that you also suffer from low sex drive.

A person suffering from ED can have a normal sex drive
If you have a problem in experiencing an erection or sustaining it for a long period of time, it’s could be because the blood flow to your penis is restricted for some reason or the other. It’s not because you are not sexually aroused enough. You might have as much of a desire to have sex as the next man, but problems with the process of erection make it difficult for you to have satisfying sex.

A person suffering from low sex drive can have some degree of ED
There is a chance that if you are suffering from low sex drive, you might face a degree of erection problems. But more often than not, it’s a result of the fact that you aren’t getting sexually stimulated enough. It’s important to understand that men who suffer from low sex drive have very little, if anything, wrong with their penile functioning. They can experience an erection. What they don’t experience is a desire to have sex.

Treating the condition
There is also no link between the treatments available for ED and low sex drive. There are some people who have an erroneous belief that prescription medications like Levitra, Viagra, and Cialis can also help treat low sex drive. But they do nothing of the sort. Treatment for low sex drive concentrates on offering counseling to those suffering from the condition. If there is some psychological reason behind low sex drive, it is specifically addressed during these counseling sessions.

Source of information: http://www.6thsenselondon.com/general/is-there-a-relationship-between-erectile-difficulties-and-low-sex-drive/

Male Pattern Hair Loss and Hormones - How are they linked?

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

Also known as androgenetic alopecia, male pattern hair loss is one of the most common causes of male baldness. It is caused by the action of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the male hormone on genetically vulnerable hair follicles in the scalp. These sensitive hair follicles are largely present in the crown, front and top of the head and produce an easily identifiable and characteristic pattern. The mechanism used by DHT to accomplish hair loss has not yet been completely understood, but it is believed to be caused by the process of miniaturization in hair follicles. In the scalps of genetically prone men, DHT causes the width of hair shafts to decrease progressively until the scalp hair looks like vellus hair or disappears altogether.

Pattern of hair loss
The onset of male pattern hair loss can begin at the end of puberty and is usually genetically determined. Many men start losing their hair during their 20s or early 30s. Hair loss usually begins with a receding hairline and gradually progresses to thinning hair at the top of the head. Eventually both balding areas converge to form a U shape around the sides and back of the head. The remaining hair, if any, becomes thinner and finer in texture and the rate of growth slows down. Mild or moderate hair los due to hormonal causes affects about 50% of men by age 50. This hormonal condition is thought to be hereditary in nature.

Male pattern baldness treatment
There is no known cure for male pattern hair loss, but there are a number of products and therapies that can treat or camouflage it to a certain extent. You can opt for surgical methods such as hair transplants, scalp reduction or flap surgery to restore the lost hair. Or you can ask your doctor to recommend prescription medications, which can be very effective too. Hair pieces or volumizing shampoos can be used if nothing else works.