Eye Diseases and problems

 Eye Diseases and problems

 

Some eye problems are minor and fleeting. But some lead to a permanent loss of vision. Common eye problems include

• Cataracts - clouded lenses
• Glaucoma - damage to the optic nerve from too much pressure in the eye
• Retinal disorders - problems with the nerve layer at the back of the eye
• Conjunctivitis - an infection also known as pinkeye

Your best defense is to have regular checkups, because eye diseases do not always have symptoms. Early detection and treatment could prevent vision loss. See an eye care professional right away if you have a sudden change in vision or everything looks dim or if you see flashes of light. Other symptoms that need quick attention are pain, double vision, fluid coming from the eye and inflammation.

NIH: National Eye Institute

 

source:http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/eyediseases.html

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Diabetic Eye Problems or Diabetic retinopathy

 Diabetic Eye Problems  or Diabetic retinopathy 

Do you know what causes the most blindness in U.S. adults? It is an eye problem caused by diabetes, called diabetic retinopathy. Your retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye. You need a healthy retina to see clearly.
Diabetic retinopathy happens when diabetes damages the tiny blood vessels inside your retina. You may not notice at first. Symptoms can include

• Blurry or double vision
• Rings, flashing lights or blank spots
• Dark or floating spots
• Pain or pressure in one or both of your eyes
• Trouble seeing things out of the corners of your eyes

If you have diabetes, you should have a complete eye exam every year. Finding and treating problems early may save your vision. Treatment often includes laser treatment or surgery.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

source:http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/diabeticeyeproblems.html

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Sexual Problems in Women

 Sexual Problems in Women

There are many problems that can keep a woman from enjoying sex. They include

• Lack of sexual desire
• Inability to become aroused
• Lack of orgasm, or sexual climax
• Painful intercourse

These problems may have physical or psychological causes. Physical causes may include conditions like diabetes, heart disease, nerve disorders or hormone problems. Some drugs can also affect desire and function. Psychological causes may include work-related stress and anxiety. They may also include depression or concerns about marriage or relationship problems. For some women, the problem results from past sexual trauma.
Occasional problems with sexual function are common. If problems last more than a few months or cause distress for you or your partner, you should see your healthcare provider.

source:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/sexualproblemsinwomen.html

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Sexual Problems Inhibited sexual desire

 Sexual Problems Inhibited sexual desire

Sexual aversion; Sexual apathy; Hypoactive sexual desire

 

Inhibited sexual desire (ISD) refers to a low level of sexual interest. A person with ISD will not start, or respond to their partner's desire for, sexual activity.
ISD can be primary (in which the person has never felt much sexual desire or interest), or secondary (in which the person used to feel sexual desire, but no longer does).
ISD can also relate to the partner (the person with ISD is interested in other people, but not his or her partner), or it can be general ( the person with ISD isn't sexually interested in anyone). In the extreme form of sexual aversion, the person not only lacks sexual desire, but may find sex repulsive.
Sometimes, the sexual desire is not inhibited. The two partners have different sexual interest levels, even though both of their interest levels are within the normal range.
Someone can claim that his or her partner has ISD, when in fact they have overactive sexual desire and are very demanding sexually.

Causes

ISD is a very common sexual disorder. Often it occurs when one partner does not feel intimate or close to the other.

Communication problems, lack of affection, power struggles and conflicts, and not having enough time alone together are common factors. ISD also can occur in people who've had a very strict upbringing concerning sex, negative attitudes toward sex, or traumatic sexual experiences (such as rape, incest, or sexual abuse).

Illnesses and some medications can also contribute to ISD, especially when they cause fatigue, pain, or general feelings of malaise. A lack of certain hormones can sometimes be involved. Psychological conditions such as depression and excess stress can dampen sexual interest. Hormonal changes can also affect libido.

Commonly overlooked factors include insomnia or lack of sleep, which lead to fatigue. ISD can also be associated with other sexual problems, and sometimes can be caused by them. For example, the woman who is unable to have an orgasm or has pain with intercourse, or the man who has erection problems (impotence) or retarded ejaculation can lose interest in sex because they associate it with failure or it does not feel good.

People who were victims of childhood sexual abuse or rape, and those whose marriages lack emotional intimacy are especially at risk for ISD.

Symptoms

The primary symptom is lack of sexual interest.

Exams and Tests

Most of the time, a medical exam and lab tests will not show a physical cause.

However, testosterone is the hormone that creates sexual desire in both men and women. Testosterone levels may be checked, especially in men who have ISD. Blood for such tests should be drawn before 10:00 a.m., when male hormone levels are at their highest.

Once physical causes have been ruled out, interviews with a sex therapy specialist may be helpful to reveal possible causes.

Treatment

Treatment must be targeted to the factors that may be lowering sexual interest. Often, there may be several such factors.

Some couples will need relationship or marital therapy before focusing on enhancing sexual activity. Some couples will need to be taught how to resolve conflicts and work through differences in nonsexual areas.

Communication training helps couples learn how to talk to one another, show empathy, resolve differences with sensitivity and respect for each other's feelings, learn how to express anger in a positive way, reserve time for activities together, and show affection, in order to encourage sexual desire.

Many couples will also need to focus on their sexual relationship. Through education and couple's assignments, they learn to increase the time they devote to sexual activity. Some couples will also need to focus on how they can sexually approach their partner in more interesting and desirable ways, and how to more gently and tactfully decline a sexual invitation.

Problems with sexual arousal or performance that affect sexual drive will need to be directly addressed. Some doctors recommend treating women with either cream or oral testosterone, often combined with estrogen, but there is no clear cut evidence yet. There are studies underway looking at the possible benefit of testosterone supplementation for women with decreased libido.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Disorders of sexual desire are often difficult to treat. They seem to be even more challenging to treat in men. For help, get a referral to someone who specializes in sex and marital therapy.

Possible Complications

When both partners have low sexual desire, sexual interest level will not be a problem in the relationship. Low sexual desire, however, may be a sign of the health of the relationship.

In other cases where there is an excellent and loving relationship, low sexual desire may cause a partner to feel hurt and rejected. This can lead to feelings of resentment and make the partners feel emotionally distant.

Sex is something that can either bring a relationship closer together, or slowly drive it apart. When one partner is much less interested in sex than the other partner, and this has become a source of conflict, they should get professional help before the relationship becomes further strained.

Prevention

One good way to prevent ISD is to set aside time for nonsexual intimacy. Couples who reserve time each week for talking and for a date alone without the kids will keep a closer relationship and are more likely to feel sexual interest.

Couples should also separate sex and affection, so that they won't be afraid that affection will always be seen as an invitation to have sex.

Reading books or taking courses in couple's communication, or reading books about massage can also encourage feelings of closeness. For some people, reading novels or watching movies with romantic or sexual content also can encourage sexual desire.

Regularly setting aside "prime time," before exhaustion sets in, for both talking and sexual intimacy will improve closeness and sexual desire.

References

Bhasin S, Basson R. Sexual dysfunction in men and women. In: Kronenberg HM, Melmed S, Polonsky KS, Larsen PR, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 19.

Shafer LC. Sexual disorders and sexual dysfunction. In: Stern TA, Rosenbaum JF, Fava M, Biederman J, Rauch SL, eds. Massachusetts General Hospital Comprehensive Clinical Psychiatry. 1st ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2008:chap 36.

Clayton AH, Hamilton DV. Female sexual dysfunction. Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2010;33:323-338.

Heidelbaugh JJ. Management of erectile dysfunction. Am Fam Physician. 2010;81:305-312.

source:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001952.htm

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Sexual Problems Delayed ejaculation

Sexual Problems Delayed ejaculation

Ejaculatory incompetence; Sex - delayed ejaculation; Retarded ejaculation

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Delayed ejaculation is a medical condition in which a male cannot ejaculate, either during intercourse or by manual stimulation with a partner. Ejaculation is when semen is released from the penis.

Causes

Most men ejaculate within a few minutes of starting to thrust during intercourse. Men with delayed ejaculation may be unable to ejaculate (for example, during intercourse), or may only be able to ejaculate with great effort after having intercourse for a long time (for example, 30 to 45 minutes).

Delayed ejaculation can have psychological or physical causes.

Common psychological causes include:

• Religious background that makes the person view sex as sinful
• Lack of attraction for a partner
• Conditioning caused by a habit of unusual masturbation
• Traumatic events (such as being discovered masturbating or having illicit sex, or learning one's partner is having an affair)

Some factors, such as anger toward the partner, may be involved.

Physical causes may include:

• Blockage of the ducts that semen passes through
• Use of certain drugs (such as prozac, mellaril, and guanethidine)
• Nervous system diseases, such as a stroke or nerve damage to the spinal cord or back

Exams and Tests

Stimulating the penis with a vibrator or other device may determine whether you have a physical (often nervous system) problem. A nervous system (neurological) examination may reveal other nerve problems that are associated with delayed ejaculation.

Treatment

If you have never ejaculated through any form of stimulation (such as wet dreams, masturbation, or intercourse), see a urologist to determine if the problem has a physical cause.

If you are able to ejaculate in a reasonable period of time by some form of stimulation, see a therapist who specializes in ejaculation problems. Sex therapy usually includes both partners. The therapist will usually teach you about the sexual response, and how to communicate and guide your partner to provide the right stimulation.

Therapy often involves a series of "homework" assignments. In the privacy of your home, you and your partner engage in sexual activities that reduce performance pressure and focus on pleasure.

Typically, you will not have sexual intercourse for a certain period of time, while you gradually learn to enjoy ejaculation through other types of stimulation.

In cases where there is a problem with the relationship or a lack of sexual desire, you may need therapy to improve your relationship and emotional intimacy.

Sometimes hypnosis may be a helpful addition to therapy, especially if one partner is not willing to participate in therapy. Trying to self-treat this problem is often not successful.

If a medication is believed to be the cause of the problem, discuss other medication options with your health care provider. Never stop taking any medicine without first talking to your health care provider.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Treatment commonly requires about 12 - 18 sessions. The average success rate is 70 - 80%.

You will have a better outcome if:

• You have a past history of satisfying sexual experiences
• The problem has not been occurring for a long time
• You have feelings of sexual desire
• You feel love toward your sexual partner
• You are motivated to get treated
• You do not have serious psychological problems

If medications are causing the problem, your health care provider may recommond switching or stopping the medicine (if possible). A full recovery is possible if this can be done.

Possible Complications

If the problem is not addressed and treated, the following may occur:

• Avoidance of sexual contact
• Inhibited sexual desire
• Marital stress
• Sexual dissatisfaction

If you and your partner are trying to get pregnant, sperm may have to be collected using other methods because of the lack of ejaculation.

Prevention

Having a healthy attitude about your sexuality and genitals helps prevent delayed ejaculation. Realize that you cannot force yourself to have a sexual response, just as you cannot force yourself to go to sleep or to perspire. The harder you try to have a certain sexual response, the harder it becomes to respond.

To reduce the pressure, absorb yourself in the pleasure of the moment. Do not worry about whether or when you will ejaculate. Your partner should create a relaxed atmosphere, and should not pressure you about whether or not you have ejaculated. Openly discuss any fears or anxieties, such as fear of pregnancy or disease, with your partner.

References

Burnett AL. Evaluation and management of erectile dysfunction. In: Wein AJ, ed. Campbell-Walsh Urology. 10th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 24.

Heidelbaugh JJ. Management of erectile dysfunction. Am Fam Physician. 2010;81:305-312.

Bhasin S, Basson R. Sexual dysfunction in men and women. In: Kronenberg HM, Melmed S, Polonsky KS, Larsen PR, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 12th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 20.

source:http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001954.htm

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Sexual Problems in Men

 Sexual Problems in Men 

Many men, especially as they age, have sexual problems. These can include

• Erectile dysfunction
• Reduced or lost interest in sex
• Problems with ejaculation
• Failure of the testicles to make the normal amount of male sex hormones

Stress, illness, medications, or emotional problems may also be factors. Talking frankly with your partner and your doctor about sexual problems is the first step towards restoring sexual health.

Dept. of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health

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Sexual Problems :Aging changes in the male reproductive system

Sexual Problems :Aging changes in the male reproductive system

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Andropause; Male reproductive changes

 

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Aging changes in the male reproductive system may include changes in testicular tissue, sperm production, and erectile function. These changes usually occur gradually.

Information

Unlike women, men do not experience a major, rapid (over several months) change in fertility as they age (like menopause). Instead, changes occur gradually during a process that some people call andropause.

Aging changes in the male reproductive system occur primarily in the testes. Testicular tissue mass decreases and the level of the male sex hormone testosterone stays the same or decreases very slightly. There may be problems with erectile function. However, this is a general slowing, rather than a complete lack of function.

Fertility:

The tubes that carry sperm may become less elastic (a process called sclerosis). The testes continue to produce sperm, but the rate of sperm cell production slows. The epididymis, seminal vesicles, and prostate gland lose some of their surface cells but continue to produce the fluid that helps carry sperm.

Urinary function:

The prostate gland enlarges with age as some of the prostate tissue is replaced with a scarlike tissue. This condition, called benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), affects about 50% of men. This may cause problems with slowed urination, as well as with ejaculation.

In both men and women, reproductive system changes are closely related to changes in the urinary system.

EFFECT OF CHANGES

Fertility varies from man to man, and age is not a good predictor of male fertility. Prostate function is not closely related to fertility, and a man can father children even if his prostate gland has been removed. Some fairly old men can (and do) father children.

The volume of fluid ejaculated usually remains the same, but there are fewer living sperm in the fluid.

Decreases in the sex drive (libido) may occur in some men. Sexual responses may become slower and less intense. This may be related to decreased testosterone level, but it may also result from psychological or social changes related to aging (such as the lack of a willing partner), illness, chronic conditions, or medications.

Aging by itself does not prevent a man from being able to enjoy sexual relationships.

COMMON PROBLEMS

Erectile dysfunction (ED) may be a concern for aging men. It is normal for erections to occur less frequently than when a man was younger, and aging men often have less ability to experience repeated ejaculation. However, ED is most often the result of a medical or psychological problem rather than simple aging, and 90% of ED is believed to be of medical rather than psychological origin.

Medications (especially those used to treat hypertension and certain other conditions) can cause some men to be unable to develop or maintain enough of an erection for intercourse. Disorders such as diabetes can also cause ED.

Erectile dysfunction that is caused by medications or illness is often successfully treated. Talk to your primary health care provider or a urologist if you are concerned about this condition.

BPH may eventually interfere with urination. The enlarged prostate partially blocks the tube that drains the urinary bladder (urethra). Changes in the prostate gland make elderly men more likely to have urinary tract infections.

Backup of urine into the kidneys (vesicoureteral reflux) may develop if the bladder is not fully drained. If this is not treated, it can eventually lead to kidney failure.

Prostate gland infections or inflammation ( prostatitis) may also occur.

Prostate cancer becomes more common as men age. It is one of the most frequent causes of cancer death in men. Bladder cancer also becomes more common with age. Testicular cancers are possible, but these occur more often in younger men.

PREVENTION

Many physical age-related changes, such as prostate enlargement or testicular atrophy, are not preventable. Getting treatment for health disorders (such as high blood pressure and diabetes) that lead to changes in urinary and sexual health may prevent later problems with urinary and sexual function.

Changes in sexual response are most often related to factors other than simple aging. Older men are more likely to have good sex if they have continued to have sexual activity during middle age.

References

Minaker KL. Common clinical sequelae of aging. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 24.

source:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/004017.htm

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