Conditions
Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder
Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) refers to person’s chronic or ongoing lack of interest in sex, to the point of personal or relationship distress. HSDD affects both men and women, however it is most common in women.
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Could Testosterone Therapy Be a Key to Weight Loss?
Testosterone therapy might lead to weight loss in obese men with low testosterone (hypogonadism), researchers have reported.
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Overweight/Obese Women Likely to Have Sexual Difficulties
Women who are overweight or obese are less likely to be sexually active, report the authors of a recent Journal of Sexual Medicine study.
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New Details on Oral Testosterone
Men in the United States have had the option of taking an oral form of testosterone for about a year and a half now. Recently, scientists published more of their research results.
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Sexual Issues Need Attention in Female Childhood Cancer Survivors
About 1 in 5 female survivors of childhood cancer experience sexual problems as adults, according to new research in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.
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Taking Testosterone? Watch for Polycythemia and Sleep Apnea, Experts Warn
Men undergoing testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) should be aware of links between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and polycythemia, an abnormal amount of circulating red blood cells in the bloodstr...
About Half of Breast Cancer Survivors Seek Help for Sexual Issues
Why do some breast cancer survivors seek help for sexual problems while others don’t?
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After Childhood Cancer, Sexual Dysfunction More Common in Women
When female pediatric cancer survivors reach adulthood, they are more likely to have sexual problems than their male counterparts, according to new research in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.
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Study: Antidepressant Lurasidone Has Fewer Sexual Side Effects
People with a certain form of depression might benefit from a drug called lurasidone, which has fewer sexual side effects than other depression medications, according to a recent clinical trial.
Depr...
For Women, Placebo Effect Might Explain Improvement in Sexual Function
Treatments for female sexual dysfunction are “minimally superior to placebo,” according to new research in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Researchers reached this conclusion after analyz...
Childhood Sexual Abuse Linked to Sexual Problems in Women
Women who have been sexually abused as children develop more sexual problems than their non-abused peers, according to a recent review of medical literature by American scientists.
In an effort to un...
Inhibition May Hinder Women’s Orgasms
Sexual inhibition can lead to orgasm issues in women, new research suggests.
Problems with orgasms are common in women, with an estimated 10% to 40% of women reporting difficulty. Some women never re...
PTSD Linked to Sexual Problems in Midlife Women
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a history of personal violence is linked to menopause-related sexual dysfunction in midlife women, according to recent research.
While these factors do affect...
Low Desire Common in Midlife Women
Many women lose interest in sex at midlife, and doctors should consider addressing the problem, experts say.
In a recent study of 2,020 Australian women between the ages of 40 and 65, almost 70% had ...
For Breast Cancer Survivors, Sexual Concerns May Last Years
For breast cancer survivors, sexual problems related to treatment may last for several years, according to a recent study in BMC Cancer.
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Poor Health and Lack of Communication Related to Low Sexual Interest, Study Says
Why might people lose interest in sex? Recently, scientists provided their insights in the journal BMJ Open, and their findings differed somewhat for British men and women.
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Study Addresses Psychological Aspects of Female Sexual Problems
When treating sexual problems in women, healthcare providers should consider mental health, according to new research in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.
Women’s sexual response can be quite complex. ...
Body Image, Binge Eating, and Sexual Dysfunction in Women
Poor body image esteem and binge-eating tendencies in women are linked to sexual distress and dysfunction, according to new research in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.
Body esteem and dissociation du...
Can Disclosing a Sexual Assault Help a Woman’s Sexual Functioning?
It’s not uncommon for women to have sexual problems after a sexual assault. However, new research suggests disclosing the assault to someone might alleviate those problems to some extent.
Experts est...
Women’s Sexuality Affected by Body Image and Relationship Quality, Study Says
A woman’s acceptance of her body and the quality of her relationship with her sex partner may influence her overall sexual function, according to a new study.
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Love, Sex, and Antidepressants
Antidepressants seem to affect men and women differently in terms of love and sex, Italian researchers have found.
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Exercise Helps Women With Antidepressant-Induced Sexual Side Effects
Exercising, especially right before sexual activity, seems to help women with sexual side effects caused by antidepressants, American scientists report.
Past research has shown that 96% of women taki...
Sex Health Blog
Is It “Normal” for Libido to Vary Over Time?
Libido, often referred to as one’s sexual desire or drive, is a complex aspect of human sexuality that can fluctuate throughout life. Questions are often raised about what is considered “normal” regar...
HSDD: I Have No Sexual Desire, What Can I Do About It?
Do you find yourself with a lack of sexual desire, which is bothersome to you? This could be a symptom of HSDD.
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What Are Some Ways a Person Can Enhance Sexual Desire?
A person’s sexual desire will naturally fluctuate over the course of their lifetime, increasing in some periods and decreasing in others. However, if an individual finds that they are consistently lac...
Enlarged Prostate Treatment and Your Sex Life
Getting older? If you’re a man, the size of your prostate might become a concern.
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Female Cancer Survivors and Sex Health Issues
If you’re a woman going through cancer treatment, you’ve probably had to adapt to a lot of changes in your life. You might have seen some dramatic changes in your sex life, too – changes you might not...
Did You Know?
Mindfulness Meditation May Reduce Sexual Stress
Have you or your partner ever experienced racing thoughts during sex? Not just fleeting thoughts here and there, but thoughts that take your whole attention away from what you’re doing?
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Veterans Often Face Further Sexual Difficulties after Military Sexual Trauma
Women veterans who experience military sexual trauma have high rates of sexual dysfunction, according to a new study in Sexual Medicine Reviews.
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Antidepressant Trintellix Has Fewer Sexual Side Effects, Study Finds
Sexual problems – such as low desire, poor arousal, and orgasm difficulties - are common side effects of some antidepressants. However, patients experiencing these effects may have a new alternative.
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For Women, Meditation Could Have Sexual Benefits
New research suggests that women who meditate could have better sexual function than those who don’t.
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A Third of Cervical Cancer Survivors Feel Sexual Distress
For cervical cancer survivors, it can be difficult to adjust to changes in sexuality. Pain, poor lubrication, and anxiety are common issues, and it takes time to feel comfortable with sex again. For s...
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein produced by the prostate. Because PSA levels are often elevated in men with prostate cancer, health care providers use PSA blood measurements to screen for and monitor prostate cancer. For example, if a man is found to have high levels of PSA in his blood, a prostate biopsy may be recommended to determine if prostate cancer is present.
Additionally, there is a higher incidence of prostate cancer among men with low testosterone. Since low testosterone and prostate cancer may occur at the time same time, medical professionals might choose to measure prostate cancer patients’ serum total testosterone levels, even though medical guidelines currently do not include serum testosterone testing as a necessary/required part of prostate cancer assessment.
Given the independent associations of PSA and testosterone levels with prostate cancer, a team of researchers sought to better understand the potential relationship between these two measures in prostate cancer patients. To do so, they collected and analyzed the PSA and serum total testosterone levels of 646 prostate cancer patients in a retrospective study. The mean age of the men included in the study was 61 years.
Regarding PSA levels, the patients were divided into three groups: <2 ng/mL, 2–4 ng/mL, >4 ng/mL. Of the 646 participants, 8% had PSA levels of <2 ng/mL, 17% had between 2–4 ng/mL, and 76% had >4 ng/mL.
The cut-off points for low testosterone and very low testosterone were <10.4 nmol/L (300 ng/dL) and <6.9 nmol/L (200 ng/dL), respectively. A total of 30% of the participants had low testosterone by this definition, and the mean testosterone level overall was 13 nmol/L.
Analysis of the men’s PSA and testosterone levels revealed that PSA levels of <4 ng/mL were a significant predictor of low testosterone in prostate cancer patients like a Gleason score of ≥8. (Gleason score is a measure of the aggressiveness of prostate cancer ranging from about 6-10 with higher numbers indicating a more advanced disease state).
In fact, men with PSA levels of <2 ng/mL were 31 times more likely to have low testosterone and about 40 times more likely to have very low testosterone than the men with PSA levels of >4 ng/mL.
Based on these findings, the researchers suggested that health care professionals should consider measuring a patient’s total testosterone levels when they have been diagnosed with prostate cancer of a high Gleason score (≥8) and a PSA level of <4 ng/mL.
Resources:
- Flores, J.M., Bernie, H.L., Miranda, E., Nascimento, B., Schofield, E., Benfante, N., Carlsson, S., & Mulhall, J.P. (2022). The Relationship Between PSA and Total Testosterone Levels in Men With Prostate Cancer. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 19(3), 471-478. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2022.01.003
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What Is Jelqing, and Does It Actually Work?
The term “jelqing” refers to a set of penis stretching exercises that some believe can make the penis bigger. Although the practice has gained attention and popularity in blogs and internet forums in recent years, there is no scientific evidence that it is an effective way to permanently increase the size of one’s penis. In fact, in some cases, jelqing may actually cause damage to the penis, so it is a good idea to get all the facts before setting off to try it.
What Is Sensate Focus and How Does It Work?
Sensate focus is a technique used to improve intimacy and communication between partners around sex, reduce sexual performance anxiety, and shift away from ingrained, goal-oriented sexual patterns that may not be serving a couple.
What Is the Average Penis Size?
If you have ever wondered how your penis compares to others in terms of size, you are not alone. Many men are curious to know how their penises stack up compared to the average. Unfortunately, general curiosity can sometimes give way to full-on obsession and anxiety about penis size. This can be an unhealthy and often unnecessary fixation, especially because most men who think their penises are too small have perfectly normal-sized penises.
Can Sex Reduce Menstrual Cramps?
The SMSNA periodically receives and publishes ‘guest editorials.’ The current article was submitted by Mia Barnes, a freelance writer and researcher who specializes in women's health, wellness, and healthy living. She is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Body+Mind Magazine.
Having sex while you experience menstrual cramps is healthy and can provide significant benefits. While it might not be the first activity that comes to mind when your PMS or period cramping begins, many people enjoy sex to reduce menstrual cramps, experience increased pleasure and benefit from other advantages. Learn more about having sex while menstrual cramps are happening and how it can help your body.
What Is Edging and Why Do People Do It?
Edging is the practice of stopping sexual stimulation before reaching orgasm to prolong a sexual experience. The term stems from the concept of approaching the metaphorical “edge” of orgasm but stopping before going over the edge.
The Effect of Regular Aerobic Exercise on Erectile Function
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual activity. As men get older, their erectile functioning may naturally decline due to changes in testosterone levels, cardiovascular functioning, and the potential development of other chronic medical conditions that become more common with age.
