All You Wanted to Know About Sex (14 page)

Secondary Impotence

It is a condition in which a male has been able to achieve a normal erection and ejaculation in intercourse, but is not able to repeat the performance. This type of impotence is very common.

Treatment of Impotence

Impotence is treated through a therapeutic process in which the primary objective is that of overcoming the
fear of failure
factor in impotence. The therapy requires the active participation of the sexual partner and the creation of an atmosphere in which the male does not feel any pressure to perform, but instead is allowed to relax and enjoy contact, pleasures and the emotional interaction of love making. The process may involve stimulating the penis to an erection several times without requiring coitus.

Special exercises are given for this purpose under the Masters and Johnson treatment programme.

Chelation Therapy

One solution for impotent men could be chelation therapy. It is a safe and effective way to open clogged arteries and increase blood flow to the area of the body with impaired blood circulation. The chief agent used to clear arteries is a synthetic amino called
Ethylene Diamine Tetracetic Acid (EDTA)
. For this purpose intravenous injections are administered.

Inability to Sustain Erection

The erection process is a physical phenomenon that begins with an increased flow of blood into the penis and ends with the blood slowly returning to the body’s general circulation. Sometimes the blood starts to recede sluggishly while the erection is still in progress because of a contraction of blood vessel valves in the penis. This decreases the hardness of the erection.

A number of medical scientists believe that the erection valves become rigid as part of the aging process and lose the ability to contract or relax. Hardening of the arteries, which often accompanies aging may narrow the erection the penis and producing the degree of hardness a man experienced when he was young.

Thus the main causes of impotence in middle aged men are clogging of blood circulation in the penis, dropping of penile blood pressure, lack of mobility of penile vein valves, and a combination of all these factors.

Many prescription drugs also affect sexual performance, causing impotence, delayed ejaculation, retrograde ejaculation, loss of libido, or even development of female sex characteristics in men.

Infertility

The inability to have children is called infertility. This condition affects one in ten or twelve couples. In 60% of cases female partner is responsible and in 40% of cases male partner is responsible.

Causes of Infertility

Common physical causes in the male are low sperm count, failure to deposit sperm in the vagina and obstruction of the
epididymis, vas deferens
or
ejaculatory duct
.

Causes in the female are failure to produce a sufficient number of healthy eggs, partial or complete obstruction of the fallopian tubes, endometriosis, rejection of the fertilized egg, and pelvic tumours.

There may also be any psychological cause like excessive tension, in either the male or female.

Almost all the newly weds plan to have children. The reason may be psychological or biological. Self worth is often seen in terms of children. People want children to satisfy family and society at large, to achieve personal growth and fulfilment.

It is also required to conform to religious, political or cultural teachings. Children are also a means of rationalizing sexual activities, a demonstration of sexual potency, an affirmation of masculinity or feminity.

There are even reports that in some men the regular wearing of tight underpants or taking long hot baths is associated with infertility. These raise the temperature of the scrotum.

Infertile couples now have two main options if they cannot or do not wish to adopt children or if fertility drugs are not the solution. These are—Artificial Insemination (AI) and In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF).

Artificial Insemination

Artificial insemination involves collecting sperm from the husband or from a donor and introducing it into the uterus at a time when the chances of conceiving are greater. The sperm sample is usually obtained by masturbation. It may be fresh, or it may have been frozen for several months.

If the husband has low sperm count or physically incapable of coitus. It may be necessary for him to make several donations, or his donations maybe supplemented by those of a donor. If his sperms are defective, the sample used for insemination will come from a donor alone.

In-Vitro Fertilisation

This alternative procedure, is used when the woman’s oviducts are irrevocably blocked. An egg is removed from or near the ovary. Then it is mixed with sperm. After a period of development in a glass laboratory dish, it is introduced into the uterus to await implantation. This process is also known as Test Tube Baby. In a number of countries, this technique has proved successful. Attempts to make IVF more widely suitable and available are continuing. The chances of success are 50:50. But various religious institutions have condemned it as immoral. Moreover the cost of this method is very high.

Surrogate Parenting

A woman who takes the place of a sterile wife for the purpose of insemination by the husband is called Surrogate
Mother
. But surrogate motherhood is the subject of legal dispute as to the rights of the surrogate mother over the child she bears.

But this practice of one woman bearing a baby on behalf of another, is now becoming more common. A number of women are willingly coming forward to offer themselves for hire to conceive and bear children for others.

But with these New Age benefits, a terrific hue and cry is also being raised by the religious leaders. They oppose commercialisation of child bearing for others. Even then the emotional investment of the surrogate mother, who surrenders the baby she has been carrying for nine months is easier to imagine. Some women treat it as a business deal. This process is very very costly.

A few women feel that it would be wonderful to keep having babies without the responsibility of raising them. Many men and women are willing to offer surrogate services free of charge.

Infertility Clinic

An Infertility clinic is that place where men and women, who are finding it difficult to start a baby, can go for help and guidance.

Aphrodisiacs and Anaphrodisiacs

Food, drinks and drugs which stimulate sexual desire and activity are called aphrodisiac. But there is no scientific proof that any substance can do this.

Aphrodisiacs

People have been seeking the ultimate aphrodisiac for as long as they have been searching for the formula, to change iron into gold. For thousands of years, people in every part of the world have tried different items, internal and external, to enhance sexual response.

The psychological basis for some aphrodisiacal claim is that when the substance is eaten, drunk or rubbed on the body, it acts on nerve centres in the brain to decrease inhibitions.

Substances considered aphrodisiacs have varied from human breast milk to the powder derived from ground up dried beetles, to cherry pits, which contain stimulants.

These many eatables numbering about 2,000 have been applied as potency aids, sexual stimulators, or the means for getting in the mood.

Modern Western societies have been making aphrodisiacs in laboratories. These artificial substances have included drugs such as
Estrogens
and
Androgens
. The modern aphrodisiacs have replaced the Elixir, Herbs and Amulets of the ancient times.

In reality, till date there is no single love potion for raising the libido.

Effects of Foods and Drinks on Desire and Potency

There are a number of solid and liquid varieties of nourishment calculated to incite sexual desire, intensify sexual pleasure and favour potency or efficiency in the sexual act. A number of sex-manuals describe not only the various dishes which promote sexual stimulation, but their preparation and ingredients. But many of these recipes are obviously fantastic, and recognisable as such at a glance.

Every society believe in some special foods and preparations which have erotic effects and increase potency. There are abundant of foods that excite sexual activitiy and underfeeding inhibits these functions.

It is generally believed that meat is stimulating. Eggs have a reputation for tonic efficacy, both as a stimulant and a restorative after special exertions in coitus. It is believed that an egg diet favours the production of spermatozoa. Fish is also regarded as stimulating.

Vegetarians believe that milk-rice dishes, beetroots, carrots, dates and turnip are said to resemble eggs in quality.

At one time potatoes and tomatoes were looked on as “Love Foods”. Eating them conferred sexual and reproductive bliss. As long as they were exotic and difficult to obtain they kept their mystique. But once in common use, their love enhancing power was discredited. The rarity of truffles today allows them to keep their reputation as aphrodisiacs.

Condiments like saffron, cinnamon, vanila, pepper, peppermint, ginger, fennel, etc. are regarded as stimulating.

The Ancient Hindus mixed fennel juice with milk, honey, sugar and licorice for an aphrodisiac.

Chocolate is also regarded as aphrodisiac.

A European herb licorice with purple flower, spices and a root that contain a sweet substance used in confectionary and medicines is also used as an aphrodisiac. It is taken along with vallerian, clove and nutmeg.

Thyme, a small grey green shrub, that has been the source of medicines and food flavourings is believed to have aphrodisiac quality.

Celery, artichokes, asparagus are used in the Western countries for stimulation purpose.

Honey, dates and milk are also believed to have stimulating qualities. Dry-fruits like almonds, cashewnuts, currant, pistachio are also in the list. Spanishfly, mandrake and yohimibine are also used by people in the west.

Spanishfly

Spanishfly is the common name for a powder made from ground
Cantharis Beetles
, the powder is a powerful irritant which can inflame the skin as well as the lining of the digestive and excretory track. Though it can cause erection, yet there is a price to pay. The erection is usually painful, not pleasurable - a reflex reaction due to pelvic irritation.

Women given spanishfly may begin to moan, but this is a moan of pain, not arousal. It may cause ulcération in the digestive and urinary tract. Therefore spanishfly is not only ineffective as a love potion but also highly dangerous. It is popular in European countries and USA.

Mandrake Roots

Mandrake roots are reputed to be efficacious because of their resemblance to the penis. It is native herb of Northern Africa and Southern Europe. For centuries, it has been used as a narcotic, analgesic, hallucinogen and alleged aphrodisiac.

The active principle in mandrake roots are Atropine and Scopolamine,both of which are sleep-inducing. Mandrake causes mental confusion and hampers respiration.

Yohimibine

Yohimibine is an alkaloid obtained from the bark of yohimbe tree which grows in West Central Africa. It is used as an alleged male aphrodisiac.

Shilajeet

Shilajeet is popular in India as an Ayurvedic aphrodisiac. It is a kind of bitumen which is used with milk.

Sympathetic Medicines

Many folk preparations from around the world come under the heading
Sympathetic Medicines
. Their efficacy comes from their similarity to the body organ or process in question. The horn of Rhinoceros or deer represents a firm, erect penis. Olives represent testes and oysters as vaginal labia. Pepper creates a sensation of heat and cooked okra represent vaginal lubrication.