Your sex problems answered medically

Since I started writing my column, I have been getting a lot of sex-related questions. There’s no malice intended here, just straight medical facts about sex. You ask, I answer:

How much sex is normal for my age? I’m 24 years old.

The normal sex drive for men is related to the surge of testosterone, which starts during puberty, peaks during the early 20s, then slowly declines thereafter.

Dr. Eduardo Gatchalian, a urologist and past president of the Philippine College of Surgeons, candidly says, “At 20, you have sex three times a day. At 30, you have sex three times a night. At 40, you have sex three times a week. At 60, you have sex only thrice a month. At 70, he tries and tries. And at 80, he tries to remember.”

What is the normal erection time for the male organ?

There is no hard-and-fast rule, but the usual range for males is from 45 minutes to an hour. From a medical point of view, the male organ should remain erect as long as the sexual stimulus is present. And it should maintain its erection until it can perform its function, which is to ejaculate and release the sperm.

Why is it that foreigners are more sexually open unlike Filipinos who seem more timid?

We’re not sure which bunch of nice guys and gals you’re hanging out with, but there are a lot of expressive young people right now. Dr. Gatchalian surmises that this apparent shyness of Filipinos is due to our conservative cultural values. “Make no mistake, the sex drive is there, it is just repressed by the environment,” he says.

Impotence

What is the difference between impotence and infertility?

Impotence (also called erectile dysfunction) is the inability to maintain an erection, while infertility refers to the inability to fertilize and produce babies. A man can be sexually potent and yet be shooting blanks (infertile).

What causes impotence?

According to Dr. Rafael Castillo, past president of the Philippine Society of Hypertension, alcohol, cigarette smoking, and diabetes can lead to erectile problems — being not as strong as you once were. Believe it or not, smoking can affect the arteries of the penis and reduce the blood flow needed to maintain a hard erection. Alcohol may increase the sexual desire, but it leads to poor performance in bed. For diabetics, take note that five years of uncontrolled blood sugar can make the person impotent.

I take a long time in sex and have difficulty in ejaculating. What can I do to release faster?

What’s the most sexual organ in the body? Beep, wrong answer. Our most sexual organ is our brains. That is why you need full concentration and the stimulation of all the senses in order to ejaculate faster. A conducive environment means soft music, no mothers-in-law knocking, and no kids crying. Make use of all your senses (sight, smell, hearing, odor, and taste) and the mind, too. I leave this to your imagination.

What drugs can be used to treat impotence?

These prescription drugs are Sildenafil 50 mg. tablet, Tadalafil 20 mg. tablet, and Vardenafil 10 mg. tablet. All drugs are taken 30 minutes to one hour before the sexual act and can only be taken once a day under the supervision of your doctor.

Aside from drugs, what else can be used to treat impotence?

Apart from drugs, there are other medical techniques like 1) pellets inserted in the urethra, 2) penile injections, 3) vacuum therapy, and 4) penile implants.

With vacuum therapy, a cylinder is placed over the penis. Then by withdrawing air, a vacuum is created, mechanically enhancing the flow of blood into the penis. A last resort is the penile implant, which is composed of two inflatable balloons implanted inside the penis. This procedure costs around P150,000. Ask your urologist about these options.

Male Sex Concerns

What is the normal amount of semen released by the male?

According to Dr. Gatchalian, three ml. of seminal fluid or close to a teaspoon is the normal amount of semen. Anything less than 1.5 ml. is considered abnormal and may be a sign of infertility. Just for comparison (and to show the inadequacies of man), a boar can release up to 300 to 500 ml. of ejaculate!

I masturbate daily. Is this bad for my health?

In our interview with Dr. Gatchalian, he says that there is no physical harm in masturbation. There is also no medical risk involved, and it should not be considered a sexual perversion. However, we should be more concerned about the psychological problem that may result because the person may become too self-centered and concerned about his gratification only.

We advise those who are obsessed with masturbation to divert their attention to other things. Engage in sports, have a hobby, and enjoy your work. Try to avoid temptations like movies, magazines, and TV shows that stimulate your sex drive.

One time, I had bleeding of my penis after masturbation. What caused this? Please help!

Very vigorous masturbation can cause injury to the blood vessels of the seminal vesicles (located inside the testes). This is probably what happened to you. Don’t worry, it will heal by itself. Abstain from masturbation for a few days.

What is the normal length of the penis? My friends tease me for being “small.”

Guys, there is no correlation between the size of a relaxed penis and an erect penis. A relaxed penis can indeed look very small but that does not mean you’re inadequate. According to experts, the minimum size of an erect penis is at least three inches, so it can perform its function of copulation. However there are some people who had cancer of the penis and had part of their organ cut. Some proudly claim that even if their penis size is only 1.5 inches, they can still satisfy their partner. As my friend, Dr. Philip Cruz says, “It’s not the size of your pencil that matters. It’s how you write with it.”

How can I make my partner happy?

For women, having sex is not about sex alone. Sounds weird. right? Ladies love to be pampered with innovative gifts from the heart, like giving flowers, frequent “I love you’s,” and the rest of the package. You have to remember her birthday, the anniversary, or you’ll definitely hear about it in the morning. To avoid stress and headaches, buy her a gift. It’s cheaper.

What about guys? How do you make men happy? Simple. It’s just pleasurable sex. This is the fundamental difference between the male and female brain.

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E-mail comments to drwillieong@gmail.com.