Sex: old myths and new realities

Most men don’t believe the sexual myths of yesteryear, such as “masturbation causes blindness,” but they believe plenty of other sexual urban legends. WebMD listed some sexual truths to help clear the air about common sexual misconceptions:

• We are not our penises. While you may think with your penis, it is certainly not the measure of a man.

• Penis enlargement techniques don’t work. Pumps and creams are not effective and penis enlargement surgery can have disastrous results. Learn how to use what you have.

• Penis size doesn’t matter. We take issue with WebMD on this one. While it’s not necessary to be in the foot-long club, you are definitely at a disadvantage if they call your penis “Thumbelina.”

• The G-spot doesn’t exist. This is debatable. Men with long, powerful fingers can boldly go where no man has gone before.

• Three minutes of sex does not constitute premature ejaculation. Sex experts say that the ideal duration of sex lasts between 3 and 13 minutes.

• Multiple orgasms in men is a myth. Systematic studies of men claiming multiple orgasms show that this is a sexual fish story.

Sex research started with Freud and Masters and Johnson. The area is still an academic backwater because of the American Puritan tradition. Be your own sex therapist. The best advice we can give you is to practice, practice, and practice. (WebMD, April 23, 2008)

When you get old the first thing that goes is your knees: first your left knee, then you’re right knee, and then your weenie. Sexual problems occur in 10 percent of men in their 40s and 80 percent of men in their 80s. Much of this is due to poor metabolism health triggered by cardiovascular disease and poor sleep habits. Sexual problems are common in men with obstructive sleep apnea (frequent breathing disturbances during sleep). Mayo Clinic researchers found that snoring is also linked to sexual problems. They studies more than 800 men (average age 64) who had regular sex partners. Heavy snores were 130 percent more likely to report poor sexual satisfaction than men who didn’t snore. This finding was independent of other factors affecting sexual satisfaction and performance, such as smoking cardiovascular disease, diabetes and depression. Snoring was not related to erectile dysfunction or sex drive. Snoring is a warning sign of sleep disturbances that can cause serious health problems and interfere with sexual performance and satisfaction. See your doctor for a sleep evaluation if you snore, wake up frequently at night or have problems falling asleep. (Journal Sexual Medicine, 5: 898-908, 2008)

Take a woman dancing if you want to turn her on sexually. A University of Texas at Austin study showed that moderate exercise increased genital response to erotic stimuli. Women exercised on a treadmill for 20 minutes and then watched a porno movie. They compared the results with women watched a porno movie without prior exercise. The scientists gauged their sexual response by measuring blood flow to the vagina using a technique called photoplethysmography. They also measured testosterone and alpha-amylase, a measure of general sympathetic nervous system arousal. Exercise increased alpha-amylase, but had no effect on testosterone. They concluded that exercise increased sexual arousal by turning on the nervous system. The take-home message is that you are more likely to get lucky if you take women on a date involving physical activity, such as dancing or hiking. (Journal sexual Medicine, 5: 845-853, 2008)

Erectile dysfunction (ED) affects as many as 50 percent of men over 40 years of age. While ED is frustrating and depressing, it is only the tip of the iceberg for serious health problems. Australian researchers found ED increased the risk of a variety of cardiovascular and metabolic health problems. They examined health and sexual performance in 1,580 men ranging in age from 20 to 99 years. Men with ED increased the risk of high blood pressure by 47 percent, cardiovascular disease and stroke by 80 percent and peripheral blood vessel disease by 85 percent. Diabetes increased the risk of ED by 176 percent. The risk increased by 32 percent if the men also had high blood pressure and abnormal blood fats. ED is an important marker of cardiovascular and metabolic disease. See your doctor if you can’t get it up. (Journal Sexual Medicine, 5: 928-934, 2008)

Prelox, a supplement containing pycnogenol and L-arginine aspartate, improved the capacity for erections and orgasms, increased sex drive and boosted overall sexual satisfaction and performance in middle-aged men according to a study from Bulgaria and Germany. The majority of men in the study experienced improved erectile capacity in one day. The supplement works by increasing nitric oxide levels, a vital chemical that controls blood flow to the penis and blood vessels throughout the body. In other clinical trials of the supplement, men showed increased testosterone levels that probably reflected increased sexual activity. Prelox is widely available in drug stores, health food stores and on the internet. Prelox produced no notable side effects during the study. Viagra and second generation drugs Levitra and Cialis are expensive, require a prescription and can have dangerous or unpleasant side effects. An effective, inexpensive food supplement might br just what the doctor ordered for better sex. (International Journal Impotence Research, 20, 173-180, 2008)

Viagra, and second generation erection promoting drugs such as Cialis and Levitra, helped many aging Romeos get back in the saddle. Unfortunately, Viagra doesn’t work for everyone. 15 to 25 percent of men get no relief from “Big Blue.” Viagra won’t trigger an erection unless you are turned on. Egyptian researchers found that combining Viagra and yohimbine induced firmer erections in rats than either substance by itself. The combination decreased the time between sex and the number of ejaculations per session. The addition of yohimbine to Viagra improved the capacity for erections, but had no effect on the desire for sex. Yohimbine and Viagra might help the previously unhelpable and cause super erections in everyone else. This study used rats, so the results might not apply to humans. (International Journal of Impotence Research, 20:409-417, 2008)

 

Sex on the beach can land you in the slammer

Many people fantasize about having sex on the beach or in other public places. Famous movie scenes, such as in “From Here to Eternity,” show couples getting it on as the waves break over them. Don’t get caught doing that in Dubai! Beach sex can get you six years in prison, with a minimum of three months behind bars. The sentence is even worse for unmarried, drunken sex. Traveling poontang is a rite of passage for many young men. Remember, you are subject to the laws of the host country. Stuff that’s perfectly acceptable (or at least tolerated) in the United States can have serious legal repercussions in other countries. Good advice for guys on the make overseas is to know the local laws and customs, learn a little of the language, and check out the party scene before you get there. Plenty of internet sites will give you the low-down. (ABC News, July 10, 2008)

Erectile dysfunction is an occupational hazard in police officers who ride bikes at work. Cycling puts constant pressure on the nerves and circulation supplying the penis, which eventually causes erection problems in most bike cops. The traditional bicycle saddle has a long nose in the front that puts pressure on the nerves and blood vessels supplying the penis. Studies found a strong link between cycling time and the incidence of erection problems. That’s bad news for bike cops because most ride 25 hours per week or more on the job. The solution might be as simple as changing bike seats. Scientists from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in Cincinnati, in a six month study, found that switching to no-nose saddles caused a 66 percent decrease in groin contact pressure and improved penis health in 82 percent of the officers. They also reported increased sensitivity and sexual enjoyment. Cycling is a wonderful form of exercise, but it can ruin your sex life it you use the wrong type of bicycle seat. (Journal Sexual Medicine, in press; published online May 7, 2008)

The G-spot is a myth

Most sex books give detained instructions on locating and stimulating the female G-spot. While this tiny button of pleasure has found a solid place in the vocabulary of sex therapists, most anatomists claim there is no G-spot. Proof of its existence was based on unsubstantiated observations in 12 women. Detailed nerve studies of the vagina failed to find this orgasmic Garden of Eden (Am J Obstet Gynecol, 185: 359-362, 2001). Science be damned! Eighty-four percent of believe they have a G-spot and many want a larger one. Physicians are making a fortune injecting silicon into the vaginal walls of orgasmic ally crazed women. French researchers measured blood flow to various parts of the vagina during finger stimulation and sexual intercourse. In both cases, blood flow increased to the clitoris but not to the front wall of the vagina, the so-called location of the G-spot. The researchers speculated that during sexual activity, sensations coming from the clitoris could be mistaken for those from other parts of the vagina. They concluded caused by the clitoris. (Journal Sexual Medicine, 5:155, 200; paper presented at International Society for the Study of Women’s Health annual meeting, 2008)

The anti-science bias in the United States news media and population at large is coming back to haunt us once again. The press is clamoring to put Viagra on the banned substance list for Olympic sports. Researchers from Stanford University led by Dr. Anne Friedlander found that Viagra improved cardiovascular capacity during exercise at a simulated altitude of 12,710 feet, but not at sea level (Journal Applied Physiology, 100: 2031-2040, 2006). Viagra increased cardiac output (blood pumped by the heart per minute), stroke volume (blood pumped by the heart per beat) and oxygen saturation (percent of red blood cells carrying oxygen). Cycling performance at altitude improved by 15 percent. Many athletes and the news media misinterpreted the results of the study. They promoted the idea that Viagra is a performance-enhancing drug at sea level that should be banned in sport, but no credible scientific evidence supports this. The news media is in a feeding frenzy over sports doping. Viagra is a non-starter as a sports drug except in the sexual Olympics. (London daily Mail, June, 2008)

Igamus ogamus, women are monogamous; ogamus igamus, men are polygamous. Most people agree with this old ditty. It’s no secret that men and women have different sexual mindsets. Women are sexual beings just like men, but their motivations and goals are different. Men see sexual activity as a worthy goal in itself, while women integrate sex with love, emotional intimacy and involvement. Philip Weis explored the hypocrisy of what people say and what they actually do. Many men secretly envied New York governor Eliot Spitzer’s sexual liaisons with drop-dead gorgeous $5,000 hookers, but would never admit it in public. Weis contends that our perception of morality is changing rapidly. For example, gay sex was a serious crime in most of the United States. Now, we are moving to state-recognized gay marriage. For the moment, monogamy has a hallowed place in America. He contends that the male sex drive is so powerful and natural that the urge is so irresistible. However, our puritan heritage keeps it in check. This is not true in other cultures where sexuality is more open and less uptight. Women, too, often have strong sexual urges but they are more severely punished by society when they transgress. Television shows and media reports on polygamy and open marriage thrust the concept of multiple sex partners into the limelight. Will the trend continue or will Americans stay in the closet and continue having affairs? (New York Magazine, May 18, 2008)

Premature ejaculation (PE) is the most significant sexual problem in men. It is most prevalent in men aged 18 to 40. Korean scientists found that injecting the head of the penis with hyaluronic acid gel (the stuff they inject into creaky knee joints) decreased sensitivity of the penis and improved sexual satisfaction. Five years after the treatment, 76 percent of the men and 63 percent of their partners were still satisfied. Factors increasing the risk of premature ejaculation include past history of sexually transmitted diseases or urinary tract infections, poor health, emotional stress, loss of income, past history of same-sex activity, history of sexual harassment and childhood abuse. Factors decreasing the risk include daily alcohol consumption, circumcision and greater sexual experience. Men with strict religious backgrounds who view sex as a sin or lack attraction for their partners also have an increased risk of PE. Premature ejaculation is a significant problem for many men, but science is coming to the rescue. (International Journal of Impotence research, 20, 425-428, 2008)