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The BMG Channel with Dr Jim Sears

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Episode #3 – Conditions Associated with ED

In the third episode of With Dr. Jim Sears, we get a closer look at the causes and conditions associated with erectile dysfunction. We learn that there is more happening in the backstage than we expect, while Dr. Sears tells us about the relationship between several other medical conditions that can increase or initiate erectile dysfunction symptoms.

Dr. Sears will discuss Boston Medical Group’s various treatments for ED, Low-T, and more. He provides information about numerous treatments for men’s performance issues.

To watch the full episode go to The BMG Channel with Dr. Jim Sears

Fitness = Wellness = Good Sex

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Are You Fit Enough for Sex?

The Harvard Health Publishing reports that “Sexual health refers to a state of well-being that lets a man fully participate in and enjoy sexual activity. A range of physical, psychological, interpersonal, and social factors influence a man’s sexual health.

Optimal male sexual health includes sexual desire (libido) and the ability to get and sustain an erection (erectile function). Although physiology can affect both the desire for sex and the ability to have sex, mental health and emotional factors also play important roles.

Male sexual health isn’t merely the absence of disease. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability to get an erection or to maintain it long enough for satisfying sexual activity. Many things can cause ED, including stress, depression, relationship issues, abnormally low testosterone, damage from urological surgery, and even cholesterol-clogged arteries. In fact, it is often an early warning sign for heart disease. ED can be treated with pills, injections into the penis, or devices.  Men can also experience difficulties related to ejaculation, including premature ejaculation, delayed ejaculation, or the inability to experience orgasm upon ejaculation (anorgasmia).”*

Being fit is an integral part of good health. The Boston Method® and its associated network of local physician offices provides treatment options for men’s health issues. Erectile dysfunction and other sexual performance problems often have underlying contributing factors.

A healthy diet, along with exercise is a crucial part of a satisfying life. Harmful foods abound. And sedentary, non-active habits are hard to break. Both can lead to a serious state of un-wellness.

Through examination and testing, the doctors at BMG look to identify these problem areas and their potential influences on overall patient health. Treatment programs are made available to patients, such as: dietary changes, exercise regiments, excessive smoking and alcohol behavioral recommendations, and more.

A Key to Better Sex: Kegels not Kegs

 

“You know that working out is good for your health. But did you know that hitting the gym could also help you have better sex? Working out three to four times a week can do a lot to help your sexual technique, flexibility, and endurance,” says Pete McCall, MS, an exercise physiologist and personal trainer for the American Council on Exercise (ACE).”

“Doing Kegels is considered a good sex exercise for men because these exercises can help endurance and control by toning the pubococcygeus (PC) muscles — the ones that let you stop the flow of urine mid-stream. Named after Los Angeles physician Arnold Kegel, they strengthen the muscles in your body’s pelvic floor, which can lead to better sex.

Men can use Kegels to delay ejaculation by contracting these muscles just before orgasm,” says McCall. To do Kegels, start by interrupting the flow of urine when going to the bathroom to get familiar with your PC muscles. After that, you can do Kegels anytime and any place by squeezing the PC muscles. Hold for 10 seconds, relax, and do as many reps as you can before tiring.” **

Think of It as Sexercise

You need to perform Kegel exercises, tiny contractions of your pelvic floor’s pubococcygeus (PC) muscles. The exercises—which women often practice to keep things tight and preventing that “hot dog flying down a hallway” feeling—are becoming increasingly popular with well-equipped men across the country. And for good reason: It turns out, Kegels can curb everything from premature ejaculation and, on the flip side, erectile dysfunction to crooked cocks. They can also make orgasms more intense.

“There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t teach Kegels to at least five guys for various conditions,” says Brian L. Steixner, M.D., director of the Institute for Men’s Health at Jersey Urology Group. He explains that the pelvic-floor muscles are a group of tissues that hang out in (you guessed it) your pelvis and act like a sling, holding up your internal organs and intestines. But the different muscles that make up the pelvic floor, most notably the PC muscles, which stretch from your anus to your urinary sphincter, are critical in your penis’s health.

For instance, Kegels are a mainstay treatment option for both ED and premature ejaculation. After all, by working the pelvic-floor muscles, you not only strengthen the muscle that support erections, but you also improve blood flow to the penis (as Steixner notes, “ED is really just a heart attack of the penis”). In one BJU International study of men ages 20 and older, 40 percent kicked ED completely by performing Kegels for six months. Another 35.5 percent significantly improved their symptoms.


What’s more, when you are erect, you’ll look, well, more erect. “Some research shows that Kegel exercises can make erections point further up in men whose penises tend to point down or straight forward when erect,” says urologist Darius A. Paduch, M.D., Ph.D., a male sexual medicine specialist at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center.

As far as premature ejaculation goes, Kegels work largely by strengthening the urinary sphincter and other muscles that control ejaculation. In a 2014 Therapeutic Advances in Urology study, 82 percent of men who had suffered with lifelong premature ejaculation increased their latency time after just 12 weeks of Kegels.

You can also perform Kegels during your sexploits to delay the inevitable, Paduch says. That’s because, when you squeeze your PC muscles, you are telling your brain that you want to pee (don’t worry, you won’t!). And since your penis has only one urethra, it puts a hold on ejaculation, he explains. When you are getting close, perform five quick Kegels and you should be good to go. Steixner notes that pulling this trick also makes you experience “a longer buildup and stronger orgasms.”***

Naturally, exercise and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a good diet and avoiding excessive use of alcohol and recreational drugs, are essential for enjoying a good sex life.

However, E.D. can occur anyway. About 90% of cases of ED are caused by certain physical factors, classified as vascular (related to blood flow) and non-vascular diseases. It is estimated that 70% of all ED cases may be attributable to vascular diseases alone. (http://www.bostonmedicalgroup.com/erectile-dysfunction/what-is-erectile-dysfunction)

Boston Medical Group has tried and true medication-based remedies. New treatment options include Rejuvapulse™, BostonPRP™, BostonStemCell™ and Testosterone Therapy.

E.D. has many causes. Some genetic. Some age-related. Those that are self-induced, such as obesity can be solved in numerous ways. E.D. is more than just a sexual problem. A fulfilling sex life can lead a greater sense of self-esteem and confidence.

 

* https://www.health.harvard.edu/topics/mens-sexual-health

* https://www.everydayhealth.com/mens-health/exercises-to-improve-your-sex-life.aspx

*** https://www.gq.com/story/kegel-exercises-for-better-sex-men

 

Bigger Isn’t Always Better

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When Sex Is a Weighty Matter

It’s widely known being overweight can have serious health consequences. And in many cases, it can have deleterious effects on a guy’s sex life. According to the CDC, one third of all Americans are obese. That is a lot of Americans.

“Many men suffering from obesity also suffer from erectile dysfunction (E.D.).” According to Ira Sharlip, MD, spokesperson for the American Urological Association, “Fifty-three percent of men between the ages of 40-70 have some degree of erectile dysfunction.” There are many risk factors for erectile dysfunction including:

  • Age
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • High blood pressure
  • Low testosterone
  • Smoking and diabetes, along with a poor diet and sedentary lifestyle

With many conflicting studies, it is unclear whether a high body mass index (BMI) and obesity cause erectile dysfunction or are just tied to the associated risk factors, however, it is clear that obesity is a contributing factor. With significant health and lifestyle changes, erectile dysfunction can be significantly improved.

Simply with increased age alone, there is an associated natural decline in erectile function. If there are other diseases present, there is a greater risk. E.D. and sexual performance are great sources of anxiety and concern for all men. Poorly perceived performance leads to worsening performance and depression for even the most confident of men! Obesity can bring on these diseases and also magnify these psychological concerns.”*

Obviously, for seriously obese men, action should be taken to gain control and seek remedies to lose weight. Nevertheless, E.D. treatment options abound.

When Sex Becomes A Belly Flop

Belly fat is nothing to joke about. Find out what causes belly fat, the health risks it poses for men and what you can do to lose the extra pounds.

If you’re carrying a few extra pounds, you’re not alone. But this is one case where following the crowd isn’t a good idea. Carrying extra weight — especially belly fat — can be risky.

Belly fat is a more dangerous fat. The trouble with belly fat is that it’s not limited to the extra layer of padding located just below the skin (subcutaneous fat). It also includes visceral fat — which lies deep inside your abdomen, surrounding your internal organs. Regardless of your overall weight, having a large amount of belly fat increases your risk of:

  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes
  • Colorectal cancer
  • Sleep apnea
  • Premature death from any cause
  • High blood pressure

Age and genetics may contribute to gaining belly fat. Your weight is largely determined by three main factors:

  • How many calories you consume during the day
  • How many calories you burn off through daily exercise
  • Your age

A Measured Approach To A Better Sex Life.

“If you eat too much and exercise too little, you’re likely to pack on excess pounds, including belly fat.

Getting older plays a role too. As you age, you lose muscle — especially if you’re not physically active. Loss of muscle mass decreases how quickly your body uses calories, which can make it more challenging to maintain a healthy weight. According to the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, men in their 50s need about 200 fewer calories daily than they do in their 30s due to this muscle loss.

Your genes also can contribute to your chances of being overweight or obese, as well as play a role in where you store fat. However, balancing the calories you consume with activity can help prevent weight gain, despite your age and genetics.

Alcohol’s calories contribute to beer belly. Drinking excess alcohol can give you a beer belly, but beer alone isn’t to blame. Drinking too much alcohol of any kind can increase belly fat, because alcohol contains calories. If you drink alcohol, do so only in moderation.

For men age 65 and younger, moderation means up to two drinks a day. For men older than age 65, it means up to one drink a day. The less you drink, the fewer calories you’ll consume and the less likely you’ll be to gain belly fat.” **

Love Handles Aren’t Always So Lovable.

3d rendered, medically accurate illustration of an obese man

  “Overweight/obesity can cause E.D. by damaging the blood vessels, decreasing testosterone and causing a state of generalized inflammation in the body. Obesity can cause damage to blood vessels due to the associated hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia and inflammation.

It is proposed that the increased state of inflammation may cause free radicals in the body that cause oxidative damage to tissues. The harmful effects of hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia are well studied, published and accepted.

Men who are affected by obesity may have elevated cholesterol, hypertension and high blood pressure and diabetes, all of which contribute to erectile dysfunction. “If you are affected by obesity, the risk of developing diabetes is two to three times more likely than for someone who is not affected by obesity,” says Elizabeth Selvin, PhD, MPH, assistant professor and epidemiologist at John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Additionally, she says, “More than 50 percent of men with diabetes suffer from erectile dysfunction.”

It is well studied and accepted that obesity often leads to diabetes as well as atherosclerosis-related hypertension and cardiovascular disease, which can cause E.D. We do not know exactly why, but obesity appears to damage the inner lining of the vessels (the endothelium) and when this lining is damaged the penis cannot get enough blood flow to produce and sustain an erection.

‘An erection is basically a cardiovascular event, and if blood flow cannot increase because the blood vessels can’t dilate normally, then there is a decrease in erectile function,’ says Robert A Kloner, MD, a cardiologist and professor of medicine at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine. A fatty diet and lack of exercise that contribute to obesity and cardiovascular disease can cause narrowing and hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis), which can slow blood flow as well.” *

E.D. has many causes. Some genetic. Some age-related. Those that are  self-induced, such as obesity can be solved in numerous ways.

About 90% of cases of ED are caused by physical factors, classified as vascular (related to blood flow) and non-vascular diseases. It is estimated that 70% of all ED cases may be attributable to vascular diseases alone.

ED is more than just a sexual problem. A fulfilling sex life can lead to a greater sense of self-esteem and confidence.

 

***https://www.obesityaction.org/community/article-library/men-is-obesity-affecting-your-sex-life

**https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/mens-health/in-depth/belly-fat/art-20045685

Sexual Dysfunction. The Blame Game.

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Every relationship has its ups and downs. But when it comes to sexual matters, what’s up and what’s down can be a problem, both figuratively and literally. This is especially true if erectile dysfunction enters the picture.

Sure, partners can disagree or blame each other for all sorts of problems they encounter, including matters large and small. But loving bonds can sometimes be stretched to the breaking point when it comes to bedroom issues.

Relationships that work best are those in which couples can search for solutions together. Often that entails facing facts that might be difficult to confront. Who is to blame for the flame that flickers or worse that’s been extinguished? Is the romance gone cold? Or is it simply a physical thing.

Can sexual dysfunction be fixed? If it’s E.D., treatment options abound.

What About Sex Therapy?

 “Sex therapy can help some couples, married or dating, address sexual problems together. ED can often be the reason why sex stops in a relationship, causing stress to the relationship or marriage — sex therapy can help with this. ED is usually physical in nature but about 10-15% of cases can be emotionally/psychologically  based.

Sex therapy attempts to understand the couple’s relationship dynamics and sexual script both as a couple and individually, explains Dr. Raymond Zakhari, a psychiatric nurse practitioner in NYC who specializes in sex therapy and men’s health.”

“Sex therapy can help couples:

  • Identify the root causes of ED, alleviating confusion and concern.
  • Understand what works for each partner’s arousal preferences and needs.
  • Improve communication around sex and how they talk about sex as a couple.
  • Learn breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, and/or sexual anatomy.
  • Change how you show desire and affection, beyond sex.”

“Sex therapy for ED may (or may not) include:

  • Investigating body-mind ‘connectedness’ and ‘interoceptive’ awareness
  • Cultivating mind/body skills to manage anxiety and source inside of oneself (and between experiences created with a partner) for arousal and ejaculatory control
  • Evaluating if one is depending on being a viewer of erotic sources for sexual arousal, like pornography
  • Increasing understanding if masturbation habits that shape sexual arousal may not be conducive to arousal or functioning with a partner
  • Assessing whether one is viewing sexuality as a “performance” and is very orgasm-focused, rather than an embodied experience where arousal and erections are free to ebb, flow, wax or wane
  • Identifying relational communication problems.” *

It Takes Two.

“It’s always “someone’s fault” when couples argue – perhaps that’s why arguments begin in the first place. One blames the other for something, the other disagrees and things escalate from there. Add a sex-related issue to the mix and it quickly becomes an emotional situation.

When a relationship is affected by erectile dysfunction it’s easy to wonder whose fault it is; who is to blame for an organ that simply won’t perform, or a sex life that isn’t satisfying?

Erectile dysfunction is thought to be the cause of break ups in around a significant proportion of relationships. Here we explore the concept of blame and how to overcome it.”

Don’t Blame Yourself

“Few things are worse for your self-esteem than realizing you cannot get or maintain an erection. The first hurdle is to avoid blaming yourself.

Just about one third of men seek help or advice when suffering from ED, but you don’t have to be part of the minority. A medical examination can help get to the root of the issue, so before you try to self-diagnose or blame yourself, why not get help?

Your GP can interview you and order testing to help find the root cause of your ED. If recommended, you may need to go for a psychological evaluation as well. Erectile dysfunction can be caused by a combination of factors. Even psychological ED often has an underlying physical cause.

You will want to consider whether you have any habits that could affect your ability to achieve or maintain an erection. Smoking, drinking and illegal drugs are among the factors that can have a detrimental effect on blood flow to the penis.”

It’s not your partner’s fault

“Before receiving a proper diagnosis, some men blame their partners for their inability to perform. Without the right knowledge of possible causes, it can be easy to jump to the conclusion that you’re just not interested in that person anymore; or they are not doing the right things. However, if you still feel attracted and connected to your partner, you can safely assume that lack of interest is not the cause of your ED.

The way your penis responds during intimacy is not a compass for your desire. If you are happy to engage in sexual relations with the person but are unable to achieve an erection, it will be for another reason.” **

Basically, if anyone is to blame, it might just be Mother Nature. About 90% of cases of ED are caused by physical factors, classified as vascular (related to blood flow) and non-vascular diseases. It is estimated that 70% of all ED cases may be attributable to vascular diseases alone.

E.D. is highly age-dependent, as the combined prevalence of moderate to complete erectile dysfunction rises from approximately 22% at age 40, to 49% by age 70. Although less common in younger men, erectile dysfunction still affects 5%-10% of men below the age of 40.

ED is more than just a sexual problem. A fulfilling sex life can lead to greater satisfaction in many other aspects of life, including social, family and work environments.

 

* https://blog.zencare.co/sex-therapy-for-erectile-dysfunction

** https://www.doctorfox.co.uk/news/avoiding-blame-with-erectile-dysfunction

Take the Low Testosterone Quiz

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Answer a few simple questions to get a better gauge of where your testosterone levels are at.

The ED & Low-T Experts