Category: Does erectile dysfunction signal more serious health problems?

Sex, Scams, and Science: Why You Deserve a Doc When Dealing with Erectile Dysfunction

Dealing with erectile dysfunction isn’t easy to talk about. Over-the-counter pills, online quick fixes, or even just ignoring it can seem easier than calling a men’s health clinic, especially if the challenge of getting and maintaining an erection is new to you.

We know. We get it. But you and your partner deserve to know what’s going on with your body. A doctor who specializes in erectile dysfunction can decipher the real reasons your penis isn’t performing. And that doesn’t just make the process of finding the right treatment quicker and easier–it could also save your life.

Erectile Dysfunction Can Be a Symptom of More Serious Problems

An erection occurs when the arteries in your penis receive signals from the brain to let more blood flow in. This process involves a lot of important parts of your body including the circulatory system, the nervous system, your pelvic muscles, and even your brain.

This means that when you experience challenges getting or maintaining an erection, the causes could involve many different and critical parts of your body.

That matters to a doctor, and it should matter to you. It matters that erectile dysfunction could signal high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or even diabetes. It matters, too, that you have options for dealing with erectile dysfunction. There are a variety of treatments available which take those underlying issues into account.

A specialist like Dr. Ron Mayer at Toronto men’s health clinic FullMast is trained to identify and treat the causes of erectile dysfunction. That’s good news not only for your sex life, but your well-being in general.

Getting Help for Erectile Dysfunction is Easier Than You Think

An erectile dysfunction specialist is just that: a specialist. Doctors at our men’s health clinic spend all day dealing with erectile dysfunction by talking to men and their partners and treating sexual health issues. That means they’re experts in not only treating ED, but in making sure people are comfortable with the process.

Don’t know anything about erectile dysfunction? We will walk you through any questions you have. Don’t want to take pills? We have great treatments that don’t involve medication. Need support navigating erectile dysfunction with your partner? We know just the person to help.

Going to a doctor for your erectile dysfunction not only helps you to improve your health, it opens up possibilities and resources for dealing with erectile dyfunction that you may not have even known existed before your visit.

Oh…and it works.

Alternatives to a visit to your doctor, like over-the-counter pills, don’t have a great track record. While they may work for some, success can be short-lived. That’s because these band-aid solutions don’t address the core health issues at play with your erectile dysfunction.

Erectile dysfunction is a common issue, and seeking treatment from a specialist is the smartest way to address it. Your sex life, your body, and your health deserve a holistic, informed approach which only an erectile dysfunction specialist can provide.

Schedule your consultation with the FullMast Men’s Health Clinic in Toronto or Vancouver, or call 1-844-500-1177 for more information.

19/08/2016
The One Surprising Question Your Doctor Never Asks But Should
Men should talk to their doctors about their sexual health.

It’s easy enough to say, but following this advice is often a challenge. Both men and their doctors can take steps to make it easier to connect on issues of sexual health. For patients, this involves seeing a family doctor for regular checkups and being honest about personal issues. Meanwhile, your doctor should ask specific questions related to sexual health when conducting checkups. They should also be prepared to offer resources beyond just a prescription for PDE5 inhibitors like Viagra.

We know this is a challenge, but the stakes are high. By having the right conversations early on, men can often resolve issues like erectile dysfunction. They can also identify other health problems like diabetes and heart disease. In this article, I’m breaking down why people don’t talk to doctors about sexual health – and why that needs to change.

Why men don’t go to the doctor – and why they should start.

Going to the doctor is something we know we should do, but we often don’t get around to it. Like going to the gym. Or eating walnuts and avocados. Or going for that walk after dinner.

Men avoiding the doctor’s office is not just a stereotype. A recent Cleveland Clinic survey showed that only three in five men get a yearly physical. Meanwhile, 40 percent of men still don’t get a health issue checked out until it becomes unbearable. On top of that, the majority won’t talk about their health with others.

Look, we’re not saying that men should share personal health issues with everyone. Erectile dysfunction doesn’t make for good water cooler conversation. But your doctor does need to be in the loop about any body part that isn’t working properly. For many men, regular check-ups are a great opportunity to raise these concerns.

What sexual health issues should I discuss with my doctor?

Men are often unsure of what sexual health issues would be relevant in a check-up.

Is doing it a bit less than normal a health issue? Possibly not. Is a significant dip in sexual activity worth noting? Probably. Is being physically unable to have sex worth discussing? Absolutely!

Here are some of the common sexual health issues men should raise with a medical professional
- Inability to get or maintain an erection
- Extreme change in libido or stamina
- Decrease in amount of sex or interest in sex
- Unusual discharge from the penis
- Pain, lumps, or other unusual growths on the testicles or penis
- Need for STI protection and testing
While talking about these things with a family doctor can be worthwhile, note that you do not need a doctor’s referral to get support from a specialty clinic dealing with sexual health. For example, a local STI testing center may be worth consulting for infection concerns and an ED-focused clinic like FullMast is the best resource for sexual performance. If you live in the Greater Toronto Area, you can reference our Directory of Toronto Sexual Health Resources to find the best options near you.

Why your doctor should ask about sexual function

The question your doctor should ask is a simple one: Are you having sex on a regular basis in an intimate relationship? There are three reasons to ask this question:
- Sex has many health benefits. Studies show that an active sex life lowers blood pressure, strengthens the immune system, and reduces the risk of heart disease and prostate cancer. While no one should feel forced to have sex by a doctor’s orders, having a bit more could help alleviate some of the psychological and physiological challenges that come with age.
- Erectile dysfunction can signify other health challenges. Erectile dysfunction is often a blood flow issue. Since blood pumps from the heart, this is no small matter. Many people have discovered serious underlying conditions when undergoing testing for ED. In general, if a body part isn’t working like it used to, your doctor should know.
- Intimacy can affect treatment and recovery from illnesses. Studies have shown that people with a healthy sex life with an intimate partner mange and recover from serious illnesses at higher rates. An Italian study, for example, found that men with type 2 diabetes who had a healthy sex life were significantly less likely to suffer from illness-related distress. According to renowned doctor and professor of Sexology Christian Graudaard, “a fulfilling sexual life might reduce morbidity and perhaps even mortality of patients. Sadly, nearly two-thirds of the aforementioned diabetes patients reported that sexuality had not been addressed by any doctor within the past year.”
It’s undeniable: sex makes a big difference in a man’s overall health. That’s why a doctor should ask specific questions on this subject when performing a check-up on an adult man.

Can sexual health issues be resolved by my family doctor?

If talking to a doctor about erectile dysfunction or other sexual health issues makes you nervous, it’s important to remember that it is worth the conversation. The earlier you begin treating something like erectile dysfunction, the more likely you are to completely resolve the issue.

Recent research has made multiple exciting erectile dysfunction treatments available to men. Some of these, such as SONICWAVE, allow for permanent ED treatment without drugs or surgery. There’s just one catch – it works best with early diagnosis. The health issues that often come with ED, like high blood pressure and diabetes, also benefit from early intervention.

Regular sex and healthy relationships are critical to the health of most men, but we rarely speak about this sensitive subject with our family doctor. A conversation about sexual health may not be one we’re comfortable initiating or participating in, but an honest dialogue with a qualified health professional can improve our relationships and sexual wellbeing. A doctor should ask about sexual health not only because it is relevant, but because they can truly improve patients’ lives by understanding how things are going in the bedroom.

“How often are you having sex?” might be the question that leads to big improvements in one’s health.

If you have questions, please call to set up an appointment at FullMast Men’s Health Clinics.
16/06/2016
8 Questions With FullMast’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ron Mayer

1-Hello, Dr. Mayer. Thank you for sitting down with me today. Would you mind discussing the main issues that come up most often in your clinic?

Well, primarily, men come into the FullMast clinic for erectile issues and questions about testosterone therapy. When a man comes into our office, and he’s around 45 years old and he presents with erectile issues, the first thing I have to think about is cardiovascular illness. Men who present with early-onset erectile dysfunction will most often have cardiovascular issues such as hypertension and high cholesterol.

2. As FullMast’s Chief Medical Officer, what are some concerns you’ve noticed when patients come into your office? How have you been able to address these?

I’ve noticed that some patients are reticent to come into a clinic where there are other men who are sitting around in the waiting room. They’re not necessarily ashamed, but there is still stigma around sexual health and erectile issues. In order to combat this, we manage our consultations according to a specific protocol. The consultations are an hour long. When a patient comes in for his consultation, the previous patient has already left. We have one treatment room. Our main concern is the comfort of the patient. We want to ensure privacy and confidentiality as much as possible.

3. What are some questions men should ask their doctors during their annual physical?

Annual physicals are not recommended for men until they’re 50 years old. Before 50 years of age it should be once every two years. During these annual checkups, they should ask for a colonoscopy, a rectal (prostate) exam, which involves the detection of PSA, the prostate-specific antigen. Certainly as a man gets older, he should ask about exercise and weight loss, especially if he is overweight or obese. Most physicians don’t talk to men about those issues. Even a slightly overweight man who doesn’t get that much exercise will present with signs of erectile dysfunction. The most common manifestations of ED are cardiovascular issues, hypertension, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar.

4. Do issues of mental health ever arise during these consultations?

Yes, these issues come up quite often. Men who are low on testosterone often come in slightly blue and with less energy. Sometimes, we have a conversation about the use of antidepressants. As part of the assessment, we also evaluate psychogenic causes of erectile dysfunction especially if the man is in his early thirties. Often times the causes are not organic but psychogenic. But keep in mind, psychogenic causes may also occur in men in their fifties as well.

5. Does fitness or nutrition ever come up during a consultation?

One of the first things we talk about is exercise. I usually ask them, ‘Do you walk?’ Walking is a good way to start becoming active. I recommend they measure the steps they take every day. There are many phone apps out there to help them keep track of the number of steps they take. I would recommend 1,000 steps per day, or 100 steps per minute to get their heart rate up.

Vitamin D is also important especially in the wintertime: 5,000 units per day along with magnesium. A trick I tell them is when to start and when to stop: if they go outside at noontime, and their shadow is longer than their height, take the vitamin D, but if at noontime, their shadow is shorter than height, don’t take it that day. I would also recommend lots of unsaturated fats, which can be found in olive oil, avocado, and walnuts (which contain arginine, a precursor for nitric oxide, which assists in producing a fully erect penis).

6. Do most men who come into your office have some type of support network?

They do, but it’s mostly support from their partner, especially because their partner is equally affected by these erectile challenges. They often come into the clinic with their partners. Men usually don’t like to talk about these issues with other people like friends or family members. Hopefully over time people will see sexual health as being another facet of overall health, but today, many men are still worried about how people perceive their masculinity. They don’t want to be questioned by their buddies or their friends. I’ve noticed men don’t joke about these issues until they’re in their seventies. In the1990s when Viagra come out, men became more open to discussing sexual health. It opened up the lines of communication; the commercials were humorous, and men felt more comfortable talking about it.

7. What age group do you see most often at the clinic?

The range is anywhere between 20-80 years old. Usually, younger patients have erectile issues that stem from psychogenic issues rather than men in their fifties and beyond. Younger men also have concerns with premature ejaculation.

8. Dr. Mayer, thank you for your time today. Before we say goodbye, is there anything else you would like to add?

Oh, that’s not a problem at all. Thank you. Yes, so I have noticed that many therapies nowadays focus on medications such as Viagra and Cialis, but there are many non-medicinal therapies and procedures out there. In fact, medications tend to wear off over time. FullMast has pioneered the first new and Health Canada approved treatment for erectile dysfunction called SONICWAVE, which is a non-surgical, non-medicinal therapy that uses high-frequency vibrations to stimulate nerve function, cell regeneration, and increase blood flow to the penis.

If a man has diabetes or has had prostate surgery or who presents with neurogenic issues, we’re going to recommend both SONICWAVE and Viberect. Viberect is another vibration technology that helps the secretion of nitric oxide. We believe in multimodal therapies so we also recommend pelvic floor exercises to strengthen the muscles that are responsible for maintaining blood flow and rigidity in the penis.

Overall, we’re here to help men handle the sensitive issue of erectile challenges by providing the best care possible at our clinic. We also want to open up the conversation about men’s sexual health and about maintaining sexual activity as men age. Myself and sexologist Dr. Stephen de Wit will be presenting at an upcoming talk on August 2nd to discuss these key topics in men’s sexual health.

10/06/2016