1. The
"G - Spot"
2. Prostate
Cancer
3. Stress
Management
4. What
you can do to keep yourself healthy
5.
Aphrodisiacs
The
"G-Spot"
Many people have heard all sorts of stories
about the mysterious G-spot and its supposedly magical effects
on women and their orgasms. The reality, alas, is a little more
down-to-earth.
Drs. John Perry and Beverly Whipple named
the "G-spot" in honour of Ernst Grafenberg, a German
physician who, in the 1950s, wrote an article that mentioned
"an erotic zone on the anterior wall of the vagina along
the course of the urethra that would swell during sexual stimulation."
However, the G-spot was cited as far back as the 1700s, when
a Dutch anatomist spoke of "the substance called, quite
aptly, 'the female prostate.'" This anatomist was also
the first person to write about "female ejaculation,"
a phenomenon that is often - incorrectly - associated exclusively
with G-spot stimulation.
So what is all this talk really about? The
G-spot is simply a small area located on the upper wall of the
vagina, toward the belly button, about 5 to 8 centimetres from
the vaginal opening. Although many women have not had success
finding their G-spots, in a recent study its presence was confirmed
in all of the women examined. Whilst this may mean that the
G-Spot is more than just a fantasy, it does not mean, however,
that all women find stimulation of this area pleasurable.
One of the reasons this spot can be hard
to locate is that it is a region of "differential engorgement."
Under normal circumstances, the G-spot is about the size of
a pea; it can grow to the size of a walnut when stimulated.
It can also be difficult for a woman to reach by herself, unless
she is in a squatting or sitting position.
Reaching the G-spot. If you want to try
to locate your partner's G-spot, you should insert one or two
lubricated fingers into the vagina. the G-spot will be toward
the "twelve-o-clock" position. Crook your fingers
upward toward your stomach and make a "come hither"
motion. The exact location will vary somewhat from woman to
woman, but the G-spot is generally midway between the opening
of the vagina and the cervix.
Certain positions will make it easier to
reach this spot. Most women say that being on top during intercourse
works best, because the woman has much better control of the
speed and depth of penetration. Some women, though, swear by
rear-entry as the best way to hit the G-spot. Interestingly,
because of its location, a shorter, smaller penis may actually
be more effective at reaching the G-spot.
Many women say they feel a sudden urge to
urinate when they hit the right spot. This is because swelling
of the G-spot puts pressure on the urethra. Many women stop
stimulation at this point. However, the urge to pee will usually
subside and, if stimulation is continued, will often be replaced
by intensely erotic feelings.
Many women report that they can have an
orgasm from stimulation of the G-spot alone. Others say they
prefer simultaneous stimulation of the G-spot and the clitoris.
Some women also report that orgasms arising from G-spot stimulation
are more intense, deeper -- more "whole body." A few
women even say they ejaculate. On the other hand, some women
say that they feel nothing when this area is stimulated, or
worse, a downright unpleasant sensation.
Most importantly… Your partner need
not be worried if stimulation of this area is not everything
they have imagined it to be or heard about. What is most important
is that you and your partner are comfortable with your bodies
and to enjoy your own sexuality. Whilst there may not be a "magic
button" that will do that for you, spend the time that
you have set aside for loving being open and expressive about
what makes you feel good, and what doesn't.
Mens Clinic International
has clinics around South Africa, and offers a helpline on 0860
362867 or +27 11 523 5100.
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Prostate
Cancer
Prostate cancer is a malignancy that develops
in the prostate gland, a gland that is important for the proper
function of the male reproductive tract.
Cancer of the prostate is the most common
cancer among American men affecting about one in five men during
the course of a lifetime. Although incidence increases with
age, this cancer can occur in younger men as well. This form
of cancer very often occurs even without symptoms.
What is the prostate?
The prostate is a walnut-shaped gland located just below the
bladder and just in front of the rectum. The prostate secretes
fluids and enzymes that make up approximately one third of the
spermatic fluid leaving the body during ejaculation.
The sperm in the ejaculate is made in the
testicles and transported through a tube called the vas deferens.
This tube also passes through and receives contributions from
the prostate before reaching the urethra. The urethra is the
tube inside the penis through which urine and ejaculate pass.
The seminal vesicles are glands that lie
right behind and slightly above the prostate. These glands also
secrete fluids, which are added to the ejaculate. Because of
the proximity and direct physical connection to the prostate,
cancer can sometimes spread to the seminal vesicles or the prostate
capsule (fibrous capsule that surrounds the prostate). If this
occurs, surgery is usually unable to remove the entirety of
the cancer.
Because the prostate is situated immediately
in front of the rectum, the doctor can feel the contour of the
prostate when he or she performs a rectal examination. A normal
prostate gland is smooth and firm, but not hard.
Who Gets Prostate Cancer?
The cause of prostate cancer is not yet known. However, doctors
do know that certain factors increase the risk of getting the
cancer. One factor is a family history of prostate cancer.
If the patient has a father or brother with
the disease, his chances of developing prostate cancer are two
times greater. Older men are also at greater risk. Three quarters
of all reported cases occur in men age 65 and older.
There is evidence that suggests that prostate
cancer may be related to male hormone levels. Eunuchs (men that
have been castrated) do not get the disease, suggesting that
the male hormones produced by the testicles influence the development
of prostate cancer. Men with severe liver disease leading to
increased blood levels of estrogen (the female sex hormone)
have a decreased risk in prostate cancer.
What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?
In its early stages, and when limited to the prostate gland
alone, prostate cancer rarely causes any symptoms. An annual
checkup, for men over the age of 50, is advised and in cases
where there are known risks factors for the condition, even
earlier in life. If the cancer has grown to involve the urethra
or bladder outlet it may cause a change in urination patterns
affecting the force, urgency or frequency of urination. Never
ignore these symptoms, and ensure that you make your doctor
aware of any changes in your urine flow pattern.
Mens Clinic International
has clinics around South Africa, and offers a helpline on 0860
362867 or +27 11 523 5100.
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Stress
Management
Other than a pounding headache, stress can
affect almost every part of your body, and with significant
short and long term effects.
Stress as a condition, is the reaction of
the mind and body to a stressor. Stress is any event, which
is powerful enough to affect the way you normally function from
a deadline at work to the death of a friend.
It is essential to follow a comprehensive
stress management routine.
Stress disorders may be classified as shown
below - if you recognise any of these syndromes in your own
situation, you should discuss it with your doctor:
Acute Stress Disorders occur when a person
is exposed to a severe stressor causing intense fear, helplessness
or horror and experiences recurrent thoughts with symptoms of
anxiety lasting for one month after the traumatic event.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is diagnosed
when such exposure to a severe stressor is associated with distressing
recollections of the event and severe anxiety, lasting for more
then one month.
Intermittent Stress is when a person regularly
experiences stressors, leading to episodes of anxiety, and begins
to feel that their life is "spinning out of control."
Chronic Stress develops when ongoing exposure
to anxiety-causing stressors over a sustained period of time
leads to feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness, and even
thoughts of suicide.
Stress Management Techniques
Exercise makes the body better able to cope with the physiological
effects of stress. It improves circulation, loosens up muscles
stiffened by tension and has a profound impact on your mental
health - there is strong evidence that exercise helps fight
off one of the most unpleasant mental effects of stress - depression.
Good Nutrition: your body and mind can't
cope with stress if you are not getting the nutrients they need
to operate. Try to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables
a day. You need to get a mix of vegetables to get the best nutrition,
- dark green vegetables, orange coloured vegetables and cruciform
vegetables such as cauliflower and broccoli.
Reduce Stress at Work. Take a long hard
look at how you operate at work, and change it if necessary.
Effective time management is essential. Organise and prioritise!
Learn to delegate. Resolve to say "no" if you feel
you are being overburdened. Communication is vital.
Relaxation Techniques: As mentioned, stress
management embraces a wide range of strategies and actions which
address every aspect of our lives and it can be very useful
to incorporate one or more of the following techniques into
your regular activities:
· Deep Breathing
· Muscle relaxation
· Meditation
· Massage therapy
Mens Clinic International
has clinics around South Africa, and offers a helpline on 0860
362867 or +27 11 523 5100.
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What
you can do to keep yourself healthy
The following steps are recommended to help
you live longer and live better:
1. Understand the "male approach"
to health.
The first step is to learn about common male feelings of fear,
embarrassment, and above all, invincibility. Educate yourself
about male health problems. Before you can help yourself you
need to learn about male specific health concerns.
2. Share what you learn with your partner.
The fact is, some men need to be prodded along to pay attention
to their health. If your partner is well educated regarding
male health issues they will help to remind you of areas of
concern. A partner can talk more openly with you regarding your
health, pass along an article or book, or give you the number
of a hot line.
3. Watch for signs and symptoms.
If a flashing red light goes off in a man's car, chances are
he will take it in for service right away. But when a warning
sign goes off in his body, he may well ignore it. You can help
yourself by knowing which symptoms are flashing red lights and
having them checked out right away.
4. Talk about it.
Many men have trouble telling a doctor or a partner about a
health symptom. A woman reported that she asked her husband
where it hurt. He just said, "It hurts all over."
He didn't have a vocabulary for expressing what was happening
with his body.
5. Find out when men need to have a check-up.
While most men know the mainenance schedule for their cars,
few know how often they should visit the doctor at various ages.
Also, few men know how to do self-examinations for cancers.
For example, few men know that they should examine themselves
each month for testicular cancer, the most common cancer in
men under 40. A survey showed that 97 percent of college students
were unaware of this test. When a group of college students
was instructed in the simple examination, six months later,
79 percent were doing it regularly.
6. Take your partner with you to the doctor.
A woman likes for the man to deal with the service department
at the garage or the car dealership. And men don't mind. They're
comfortable at the garage. But they aren't experienced with
dealing with doctors. Women, however, have tremendous experience
dealing with physicians and can help the man get the most from
the visit.
7. Write a list of questions for the doctor.
The average woman asks four questions during a doctor appointment;
the average man asks none. Try to think of all the possible
questions and write them down before visiting your doctor. It
is also a good idea to get your partner involved in compiling
this list.
8. Work on a problem together.
Many health challenges are best handled by the couple together.
For example, weak erections is a male problem that can be most
effectively dealt with when the man and woman come in together.
The same goes for other sexual dysfunctions like premature ejaculation,
depression and stress. Especially when surgery is involved,
it has been observed that men whose partners are actively involved
tend to recover more quickly.
9. Keep a health diary.
In our current healthcare system, people change providers frequently.
Since the only constant is the patient, a health file is important.
We recommend that you keep a health diary of when you had your
last check-up, what the doctor recommended, etc.
10. Compile your family's health history.
Ask your parents about their health problems, because you may
inherit them. Doctors are discovering many links between inheritance
and the risk of disease. They are urging people to compile a
history of the diseases that run in the family so that the proper
preventive steps can be taken. Compiling your family's health
history will help you and your doctor identify your health priorities.
11. Exercise and follow a healthy diet together.
Changes in diet and exercise are often most lasting when a couple
adopts them together. Often your partner is the one doing the
grocery shopping and involving them in a healthy eating plan
is important.
12. Talk with other men.
Find out how your problems affect other men. If you have a certain
problem, find other men who you can talk to with the same problem.
Talking with another man who shares the same health problem
has enormous impact. Possible sources are support groups and
health organisations. Your doctor can also perhaps explore other
male patients to see if they might contact you to share experiences.
Mens Clinic International
has clinics around South Africa, and offers a helpline on 0860
362867 or +27 11 523 5100.
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Aphrodisiacs
Aphrodisiacs are substances that arouse
sexual desire or enhance sexual performance. For many centuries
there has been a search for substances that could increase a
person's sexual powers or desire. Among the many substances
that have been claimed to have such an effect are oysters, ginseng
root, powdered rhinoceros horn, animal testicles, and turtles'
eggs. There is no evidence that an actual aphrodisiac response
occurs with these or any other substances.
Just how certain foods or other substances
come to be seen as aphrodisiacs is typically a matter of folklore
rather than fact. In some cases the newness or rarity of a food
or chemical invite people to endow it with magical powers of
a sexual nature. In other instances, sexual strength is assumed
to come from eating foods resembling a sex organ, such as bananas
and oysters because of their vague resemblance to the penis
and testicles. While the notion that the shape of an unrelated
object should qualify it as an aphrodisiac seems absurd to most,
people continue to view some foods as aphrodisiacs. In the case
of oysters, probably the classic among the alleged aphrodisiacs,
chemical analysis shows that it consists of water, protein and
carbohydrates, plus small amounts of fat, sugar and minerals.
None of these components is in any way known to affect sex drive
or performance. The psychological impact of believing that oysters,
raw bull's testicles ("prairie oysters", as they are
called), clams, celery, or tomatoes are aphrodisiacs is sometimes
strong enough to produce, at least temporarily, greater sexual
desire or performance. The experience of enhanced arousal or
performance is then falsely attributed to the wonder food, and
this discovery is passed on to the next person wishing to experience
new heights of sexual experience.
Eating certain foods to increase sexual
power, while ineffective, is generally harmless. Other supposed
aphrodisiacs, however, are not so innocuous. Spanish fly (cantharides)
is one such substance. It is made from a beetle found in southern
Europe. The insects are dried and heated until they disintegrate
into a fine powder. When taken internally the substance causes
irritation of the bladder and urethra, accompanied by a swelling
of associated blood vessels, all of which produce a certain
stimulation of the genitals that is interpreted by some men
as a sign of lust. The drug can cause an erection, but usually
without an increase in sexual desire. Furthermore, if taken
in excessive amounts, it can cause violent illness and even
death.
Alcohol is another substance that most people
believe increases their sexual responsiveness. This is partly
because alcohol has a disinhibiting effect -- it lowers the
sexual inhibitions a person may ordinarily have, thus allowing
sexual desire to emerge. Alcohol's reputation as an aphrodisiac
also stems from advertising and cultural myths. Television,
radio and print ads often pair exciting sexual undertones with
the brand of alcohol being advertised, suggesting to consumers
that alcohol will help them create such sexually charged moments.
Cultural myths, often propagated among high school and college-aged
drinkers, suggest that alcohol will ease the way for sexual
encounters to occur. Furthermore, the myths promise that, once
underway, sexual experiences will exceed normal performance
levels, thanks to the presence of alcohol. The fact is that
alcohol acts as a central nervous system depressant, physically
inhibiting the sexual response, including the capacity for erection
and orgasm.
A number of illicit drugs, including LSD,
heroin and morphine, cocaine and amphetamines, and marijuana
have been claimed to increase sexual responsiveness and enhance
the sexual experience. Like alcohol, these drugs break down
inhibitions and act as sexual facilitators in a social sense,
but these drugs are addictive and ultimately have the opposite
effect on sexuality, and cause an array of other very serious
problems.
A drug that is commonly believed not so
much to increase the sex drive as to intensify or prolong the
sensation of orgasm is amyl nitrate (snappers or poppers). Some
people report that inhaling the drug at the instant of orgasm
enhances the pleasure of the experience. This is particularly
popular among homosexual men. Valid scientific data of its effectiveness
as an aphrodisiac are lacking, and its side effects (dizziness,
headaches, fainting) are known to be dangerous.
Yohimbine is a substance derived from the
bark of the African yohimbe tree that has been reputed to have
sexually stimulating properties for men. Studies of yohimbine
have found that it has a tendency to enhance erectile functioning
relative to placebo in men with erectile difficulties. There
have not been consistent reports of yohimbine enhancing sexual
desire or arousal. It is more likely to be used as a treatment
for erectile dysfunction than as a true aphrodisiac.
Though not generally considered an aphrodisiac,
testosterone supplements do affect sexual drive and can be used
effectively in some cases of inhibited desire when endogenous
levels of testosterone are extremely low. There are, however,
negative side effects, and such supplements should only be used
under a doctor's supervision.
Certainly, it seems reasonable to speculate
that various chemicals and other substances might influence
the centers of the brain that control sexual response. To date,
however, about the only effects that drugs appear to have on
sexual behavior are inhibitory rather than enhancing, and most
foods believed to be aphrodisiacs have no physical effect at
all. It would appear that most claims about aphrodisiacs are
based on myth rather than scientific evidence, making their
continued use more a statement about the desperate search for
remedies than a tribute to their effectiveness.
Mens Clinic International
has clinics around South Africa, and offers a helpline on 0860
362867 or +27 11 523 5100.
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