Firstmed Blog

You are dancing together in the party, your hands accidentally rubbed through your husbands trousers and you sensed he has got an erection. He says ‘be prepared for tonight’, winking when you looked at him. From that look you know that the night would be one of the many nights when you and your husband like to engage in a sexual escapade.

Sexual escapades like this one are nights full of fun days, for those who will miss the monotonous office work for a dose of sex. The couple abandons all inhibitions and becomes one as if they will never part. Sexual intercourse is only a part and not the whole, as some of us will think. It starts with foreplay, which is an introduction for sexual intercourse. Foreplay brings about mutual sexual gratification by arousing the couple. People engage in this act according to their age, religion and beliefs. Some of the most common acts are deep tongue kissing, touching and massaging erogenous zones, mutual masturbation, oral sex etc.

Foreplay is necessary to increase the emotional comfort level between partners. It also represents the willingness of both partners to be involved in the sexual activity. More specifically, foreplay helps bring an erection in men. In the women, the act of foreplaying results in vaginal lubrication. A man can comfortably move the woman to the heights of enjoyment when her wet vagina is invaded with his hard erect penis.

While many of us will feel fortunate of satisfying the urge of their spouses, there are some men who cannot. The reason is not having a proper erection or an erection that does not last for long. This is a serious problem and is known as Erectile Dysfunction or ED in medical terminology. Erectile dysfunction creates rift in the relationship between the couple, with either the man feeling inferior or the women complaining for not being satisfied.

But medical science has devised a solution for erectile dysfunction. Now one no longer has to feel embarrassed for his failure on bed. With Levitra, the patient can get sufficient erection during the sexual intercourse. This is a prescription drug and works by blocking PDE5. This smoothens the blood flow to the penis and thus creates a natural erection in user. Thanks to this discovery of Levitra, many men who were silently witnessing their relationship with spouse going down the dumps can now ably satisfy them.

In a rare case of technology to the rescue, it has been proposed that erectile dysfunction drugs such as Viagra may have the unintended beneficial side effect of reducing the lethal pressure on declining populations of endangered species around the world. The decimation of some species, such as tigers and rhinos, has been linked to the continuing popularity of centuries-old sexual and other medicinal folk remedies. Traditional medicine has often relied on a bizarre mix of animal parts to cure ailments ranging from gout to erectile dysfunction. Preparations containing tiger bone, tiger penis, crushed sea horse and rhino horn are all processed throughout the world as aphrodisiacs. This folk-medicine industry is known to supply much of the incentive for poachers who are slaughtering animals in places as widely separated as Africa, North America and Asia. But if men switch from traditional remedies to drugs such as Viagra that may be changing, and a wide range of animal species that have traditionally been sought for their virility enhancing properties may be offered a new lease of life.

In Chinese Traditional Medicine, animal parts - known in East Asia as pu foods - are reputed to endow a man with the potency of the animal itself, or with the potency implied by the shape of the appendage, explaining why you never see ‘Hair of gerbal‘ claiming to have virile qualities. Most of the medicines are manufactured in China and are sold in markets worldwide. While the illegal trade in raw products of endangered species is an undisputed problem, some experts are not holding much hope for a Viagra revolution, noting that the animals’ parts are marketed for much more than aphrodisiacs. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), only a “fringe culture” in Asia seeks tiger genitals and rhino horn as aphrodisiacs. Other animal body parts have a variety of uses in legitimate Chinese medicine, particularly tiger bone. They are used as cures for everything from arthritis to pimples.

Others argue that Viagra may be too expensive for Asian and African markets. However, it is important to remember that traditional remedies are expensive aswell. For the small segment of the Asian population that can afford such expensive traditional remedies, Viagra should be comparably cheap. Despite its high price, the demand by Asians for Viagra is considerable, if media reports are to be believed. Impotence has been estimated to affect half the men in Asia aged between 40 and 70. Reportedly, the tablets fetch $300 a piece in China’s black market. Viagra pills smuggled into South Korea cost around $25 a tablet.

The fact is that prior to the commercial availability of Viagra in 1998, no product in any medical tradition had been proven to be an effective and non-intrusive treatment of erectile dysfunction. In this way it has mass appeal across all traditions. Whether this will eventually have a positive impact on endangered animals is as yet interesting speculation.

Sexuality and reproduction are fundamental elements in human interaction and society worldwide. Accordingly, most religions have seen a need to address the question of a “proper” role for sexuality in human interactions. Different religions have different codes of sexual morality, which regulate sexual activity or assign normative values to certain sexually charged actions or thoughts. The views of religions and religious believers range widely, from holding that sex and the flesh are evil to the belief that sex is the highest expression of the divine. Some religions distinguish between sexual activities that are practiced for biological reproduction (sometimes allowed only when in formal marital status and at a certain age), and other activities practiced for sexual pleasure. Some religions view certain types of sexuality as “immoral” such as homosexuality. In light of the fact that sexuality is such an integral part of religious discussion, where does the issue of erectile dysfunction treatments such as Viagra, fall in relation to religious belief and doctrine. This article looks at the impact the issue of Viagra has had in relation to some of the major religions of our time.

While more liberal branches of religious organisations have adapted perspectives more consistent with contemporary general secular culture. Many religions still share the idea that human sexuality was created with the twin purposes of procreation and intimacy and erectile dysfunction treatments are therefore only acceptable once they are taken within a marriage. For example, Christianity teaches that sexual intercourse must take place exclusively within marriage. Outside of marriage it always constitutes grave sin and excludes one from sacramental Communion. Therefore, because sex outside of marriage is immoral, then the use of Viagra — a drug specifically used to assist males to be able to have sexual intercourse — would most naturally be condemned as immoral if used by single men. Within marriage the use of drugs such as Viagra to help overcome pathological conditions can certainly not be immoral.

Similiarly, according to Islamic teachings impotency is a disease and should be dealt with as any disease. To seek a cure for a disease is advised by Prophet Mohammed (P) who said that “God has created no disease unless he created a cure for it as well, except old age”. Islam also warns of several social problems in the use of Viagra indiscriminately, claiming it may lead to more sexual promiscuity and infidelity. Islam forbids celibacy as a form of religious practice, and considers the natural state for humans to be married.

Interestingly the Catholic Church, whose teachings forbid contraception has approved of the use of Viagra. The difference between use of such drugs and artificial contraceptives is that contraceptives do not help overcome a pathological condition. Being fertile is not a pathology. Viagra does not go against nature — it assists nature. Artificial contraception does not assist nature — it goes against nature. One interferes with God’s will, but apparently the other does not.

Judaism also prohibits sexual relations outside of heterosexual marriage, so if Viagra is taken within marriage then is is deemed acceptable. However, the drug was previously prohibited because its coating was considered not kosher, inedible over Passover, when contact with everyday ingredients, known as hametz, is forbidden under Jewish law. A leading Israeli rabbi reversed the ban in 2005,saying that the pill can be swallowed if it is encased in a special soluble kosher capsule first. Viagra’s Israeli manufacturer, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals-Israel, said swallowing the capsule does not breach Jewish law because the Viagra would not come into direct contact with the body.

One religion where Viagra can never hope to secure a foothold is Buddhism. Buddhist monks and nuns of most traditions are expected to refrain from all sexual activity (Japanese Buddhism being a notable exception). A core teaching of Buddha’s foundational first sermon is that “one should not pursue sensual pleasure (kama-sukha), which is low, vulgar, coarse, ignoble and unbeneficial. This is reinforced in many passages of the Sutta Pitaka, such as the Simile of the Quail, where Buddha teaches that sensual pleasures are “filthy, coarse, and ignoble” and “should not be pursued, developed, or cultivated; they should be feared.” In addition, the second of the Four Noble Truths states that the ultimate cause of all suffering is attachment and desire (tanha), and the third states that the way to eliminate suffering is to eliminate attachment and desire. Sexual practices are characterised as both attachment (kama-upadana) and desire (kama-tanha). Sensual desire must be eradicated if one is to progress spiritually.

Condom maker Futura Medical are releasing a new condom that apparently helps men have firmer and bigger erections, as well as a longer-lasting sexual experience. The rubber works like Viagra — but also protects against sexually transmitted infections. Futura boss James Barder said: “We expect to get regulatory EU approval later this year and then it is a question of launching the product soon after.”

So how does it work? A powerful gel in the condom is absorbed through the skin and opens arteries, boosting blood flow and making the penis enlarge and stay erect. In the latest trials, 108 healthy couples tried the condom. They said it helped men get firmer erections compared with standard condoms, and made sex last longer. The study results underpinned hopes the contraceptive will start generating revenues in 2008. Market research has shown so far that interest in the condom is enormous, Barder said. “Up to 80 percent of existing condom users would be interested in trying the product and, more importantly, 49 percent of non-condom users would be interested in using it as it will help them maintain an erection,” he said.

Barder said global consumption of condoms was around 14 billion per year, of which half are branded condoms that are actually sold, with the rest being condoms distributed to promote safer sex and in developing countries.

Condoms are the only form of contraception that protect against STIs and unplanned pregnancy. Doctors hope it will encourage thousands more men to use condoms — the only protection against diseases like Aids and Chlamydia. Britain is currently facing its highest ever level of Aids infections, while one in ten women has Chlamydia — which can cause infertility.

A recent report in the News of the World indicated that men in the north of England spend more money on purchases of erectile dysfunction treatments, such as Viagra, than anywhere else in the country. While the article is accurate in its findings, I feel that the piece didn’t adequately cover the reasons why this may be the case. It’s not simply that more men in the north of the country suffer from erectile dysfunction but rather, it is a question of a health divide in general.

We at Firstmed felt the tone of the article feeds into regional stereotypes. It seemed almost triumphant in its announcement that Northerners aren’t so ‘hard’ after all and that in truth, it is the so-called ‘Southern Softies’ who are sitting pretty, so to speak.

It is true that NHS figures indicate that the highest spending regions (with the notable exception of the London Borough of Islington) are located in the north. Top spenders are from Knowsley in Merseyside, where GPs hand out £148,000 worth of Viagra every year.

The area spends an average of £1.86 per head on impotence treatments. Still in the north-west, Halton and St Helens, Salford, Blackpool, Manchester and Stockport all feature in the top 10 biggest spenders. In contrast, the list of lowest spenders was found to feature mainly southern areas. The southern regions of Barking and Dagenham, Kingston and Richmond, Havering, and Twickenham all feature in a bottom 10, spending as little as 80p per head on the treatment.

However, the article fails to articulate a possible reason for these findings. The reason is simple. The problem is not simply about erectile dysfunction but about a health divide in general

The increase in the incidence of ED in the north is primarily related to the increased rate of health problems strongly associated with erectile dysfunction, such as obesity, diabetes, smoking and cancer. Northern men are the highest rates of obesity in the country. Northern men’s life expectancy is two years shorter than men in the south. The North West and the North East regions have higher than average death rates from smoking-related diseases.

Although there is a significant psychological element inherent in achieving an erection, ED is not ‘all in the head’ as previously believed. In fact physical conditions are causative in 90% of ED cases. There is a long acknowledged and significant north-south health divide in the UK. If it common knowledge that Northern areas have higher obesity rates, more smoking-related deaths and lower life expectancies, than it can hardly be a surprising revelation that the area spends more on ED medication.

Reading the newspapers I can’t help but wonder why it is that the benefits of sex are rarely discussed in public discourse. It seems that generally sex is only discussed in terms of risk, abuse, addiction, infection, perversion, heartache and failure. It is rarely discussed in terms of how good it is for you and your body. The physical and psychological health benefits of sexual expression are numerous yet they have been almost entirely absent from public discourse. It is important to remember that sex in a loving, intimate relationship has numerous health benefits.

Sexual experience and satisfaction are an important part of life. Sex, if nothing else, is exercise. A vigorous bout burns some 200 calories — about the same as running 15 minutes on a treadmill or playing a spirited game of squash. The pulse rate, in a person aroused, rises from about 70 beats per minute to 150, the same as that of an athlete putting forth maximum effort.

However, it’s not all about erotic exercise; pioneering researchers have demonstrated many of the various health benefits of sexual expression, including its positive physical, intellectual, emotional, and social dimensions. Some of the more interesting ones include; improved sense of smell, better bladder control, pain relief, less frequent colds and flu, better teeth and a happier prostate?

As everyone is aware the planet is heating up. Global warming is being discussed everywhere I turn these days but we not longer need experts or scientists to tell us that change is afoot. We can see it and feel it for ourselves. Daffodils blooming in November and sweltering summer days that stretch into September. But what affect if any does this have on the average person’s sex life?

The rising temperatures have prompted us to pay more attention to what we throw out, to how often we get on a plane, to what kind of fuel we put in our cars, but should we also paying attention to the effect the heat has on our sexual performance.

Traditionally, hotter weather is considered something of an aphrodisiac in the same way as spicy food, oysters or chocolate. This may have something to do with raised body temperatures and indeed the practise of the midday siesta in hotter climates. It shouldn’t come as a surprise then that Mexicans came in tops in the global survey of sexual satisfaction.

There is a darker side to this story. People should be aware that Doctors have warned that having sex in steamy summer temperatures could be fatal. High temperatures may boost the desire for sex but also increases the risk of heart attacks.

So the next time that a heat-wave alert is issued, those of you who get the urge should wait until the evening hours, when the air gets cooler or alternatively have a cold shower and pray for the next downpour.

Men who smoke during their 30s and 40s double their risk of suffering from erectile dysfunction, the Observer has reported.

In addition to taking three days off work per year through illnesses and other smoking-related complaints, men who are addicted to the habit are more likely to become impotent, according to the newspaper.

It added that it takes eight hours for the nicotine and carbon monoxide levels in a smoker’s blood to reduce by half and for oxygen levels to return to normal after they stop smoking.

Last week, the British Acupuncture Council stated that acupuncture can be “very effective” for those who wish to give up smoking.

Acupuncturist Daniel Maxwell said: “With acupuncture, it helps to reduce the cravings - it doesn’t stop them but it powerfully reduces them.

“It detoxes the body of the nicotine, so that the cold turkey lasts not as long and it also rebalances the body and relaxes you.”

He added that stress is often a trigger for smoking and that acupuncture can reduce that stress.

Impotence can affect a relationship as a healthy sex life is often a “make or break factor” for couples, it has been reported.

According to Amoils essential oils group, a good sexual relationship can result in overall good health, often leading to fewer days off sick from work, lower death rates for men, a better immune system and a reduced risk of prostate cancer in men between the ages of 20 and 50.

It can also ease tension, stress and hostility and decrease the likelihood of painful urination in old age.

Humans are designed to have regular sex as the body and mind can suffer without the frequent combination of exertion and release triggered by sex and orgasms, the report continued, so a low libido or erectile dysfunction can cause further problems.

Medical conditions such as hypertension, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease and diabetes can cause low libido, as can depression, performance anxiety and marital stress.

Low libido is far less common in men than erectile dysfunction but can be caused by the same factors, according to Net Doctor.

In China, a marital agency arranges marriages between people who will not have sex once they are married.

In Changchun city, North oriental province of Jilin, it has been opened a marital agency for marriage without sex.

A woman, daughter of a doctor, realized that a lot of patients came to his father admitting that they have lost their sexual appetite. Right away she discerned a new business “marriage without sex”, because the “sex without marriage” was already invented and it wasn’t a business.
In this way, she decided to open an agency to pair off persons who couldn’t or wouldn’t like to have sex, but anyway they want to form a family or, at least, not be alone.

In the first 20 days 200 people called for information about the service and more than 30 have signed up in this marital agency.

The experience is not so common, at the female surgery more and more women declare that their husbands don’t want to have sexual activity with them for months or even years and moreover don’t accept to take pills for that. In fact, there are men with low level of testosterone that could live without sex. Also it is common the female attitude of acceptation of sexual activity as a charge and not as pleasure.

With the new progress in sexual stimulants by inhalation perhaps this business in the china agency will not be profitable. We are talking about medicines that work directly in the brain generating artificial sexual appetite, but currently there are at an experimental phase in Japan. These medicines have the advantage to be for men and women.

But apart from the preferences of every person, the diversity of the human being and the strong desire of a union, even with against nature formulas, like marriage without sex, is astonish. The slogan of this agency could be: for those who are different but want the same thing like others, not to be alone.