No Sperm, No Baby, No Problem

 

Women have received a bad rap.  The assumption that most problems associated with the difficulty to conceive and have a baby is the fault of the female partner.  However, let the truth be told, 1\3 are a result of female problems, 1\3 are a male issue, and 1\3 are linked to both male and female problems. 

That’s the bad news.  The good news is that two-thirds of couples treated are ultimately able to conceive.

Part of the issue today is that many women are waiting much later in life to have children.  As women get older they’re going to see more problems trying to conceive. Men are capable of fathering children later in life, certainly into their 40s and 50s. They don’t have the same fertility issues that women have at that age.  That is, the biologic clock of men ticks longer than for women.

Common causes of men’s infertility can be hormonal problems, injuries, illness, medications, or a previous vasectomy. Lifestyle issues like smoking and alcohol use may affect sperm production, but are secondary factors.

A common cause of infertility in men is varicocele, an enlargement of the veins in the scrotum that heats the testicles, affecting the number and shape of sperm.  A varicocle is a common problem and up to 30 percent of all men have a varicocele.

Varicocele can develop in adolescence, and may be discovered by a pediatrician. Because of the long-term effects that can lead to infertility, a pediatric surgeon or urologist may recommend a procedure to correct the problem, depending on the severity. The purpose of the surgery is to seal off the affected vein and route blood flow into normal veins.

Another cause of male infertility is vasectomy.  Men are having a vasectomy, which is a reasonably permanent form of sterilization at an earlier age, and then have a change of heart when they get divorced and then marry a younger partner and want to have children and start a second family.  A vasectomy reversal is now quite successful and can be done as an outpatient in an ambulatory treatment center.

More recently, the public has been bombarded with advertisements for medications aimed at correcting low testosterone or low T. These popular medications for hormone replacement for low testosterone may affect a man’s future fertility.  Men should talk with their doctors about medications if they are trying or may be planning to achieve a pregnancy in the future.

Bottom line: Infertility is just as much a man’s problem as it is for the woman.  Help is available and the place to start is a semen examination to be sure that the man has all the ammunition he needs to father a child. 

March Madness, Manhood, and Vasectomy

 

What does March Madness and vasectomy have in common?  You probably answered very little.  However, many men who opt for a vasectomy as a permanent form of contraception are making the decision to have their “prime cut” this week or next week so they can watch the Sweet Sixteen and Final Four while recovering from the 15 minute procedure that can be easily done in the doctor’s office without a scalpel or without a needle.

 

Many male basketball fans may be looking for the perfect excuse to lounge in front of the television all week.  Many urologists, including myself, have the perfect solution: Get a vasectomy.

 

There are practices that offer a “3-Point Shot” plan – one vasectomy, one free pizza, and one weekend excuse to watch college basketball.

 

It is common for many men schedule the procedure on a Thursday or Friday so they can have the weekend to relax.  While the NCAA tournament lasts longer than the recovery period for a vasectomy, which is usually 2-3 days, this is a good excuse for basketball aficionados to catch a few games while enjoying uninterrupted viewing of basketball games.

 

So if you want to have a few days to watch the games without interruption, give your urologist a call and arrange an appointment.  For more information, go to my website, www.neilbaum, and watch a video about the procedure and how it can be done without pain or discomfort.

Foods That Function As Aphrodisiacs

There are certain foods that are available to all men that may increase their mood for sexual intimacy. Do they work? I don’t know for sure but as my wise Jewish mother would say, “Neil, they may not help, but they voidn’t hoit!” This blog will cover xxxx foods that might serve as sexual stimulants and enhance sexual desire.

Oysters
Oysters are rich in amino acids that stimulate the release of sex hormones such as testosterone in men and estrogen in women. For best effect, the oysters should be eater raw. It is a historical fact that Casanova, the great lover in the 1880s (?) consumed oysters for breakfast every day.

Asparagus is high in folic acid, which enhances histamine production. This chemical is necessary for orgasm.

Vanilla is a documented herb that significantly reduces anxiety. This particularly important for the interaction between couples who are just getting acquainted and anxiety is certainly at a higher level than in couples already in a relationship.

Avocado is a fruit that is high in vitamin E, which is considered a sex vitamin. The fruit, when bivalved, or cut in two and the seed in the center even looks like a testicle!

Honey is a natural source of boron, which helps metabolize estrogen, and may increase the testosterone level. An elevated testosterone level is known to enhance the sex drive in both men and women.

Chocolate contains phenylethyl amine, which is considered a love chemical that releases dopamine at the time of orgasm. Dopamine increases the attraction, euphoria as well as excitement.

Bottom Line: Sex and intimacy is the most powerful of attractions between two people. Enhancing that behavior with a culinary aphrodisiac is just one way to make the sexual magnet stronger.

Oh, What a Night

The Super Bowl has come and gone and our city was on the world’s center stage for one week. I am so very proud of our city, our thousands of volunteers who worked so very hard for weeks and months before the event, our citizens who rolled out the red carpet to fans from Baltimore and San Francisco, and our leaders for creating a flawless experience for fans, the teams, the media and for all who were involved in making it possible for everyone to have such a good time.

Yes, we had 34 minutes of dim light in the Dome but that didn’t dampen the sprits of everyone there. Kudos to Doug Thornton and his team who managed the potential crisis with calm and keeping their cool. His team certainly did live by the mantra, “the show must go on!”

Bottom Line: We have handed the Super Bowl baton for Super Bowl LXVIII to New York and New Jersey. We have raised the bar as we proudly sing, “If you can make it here, you just might be able to make it anywhere.” Good luck New York\New Jersey; we are rooting for you.

Dr. Neil Baum
New Orleans, LA

Help For Women With Overactive Bladder-Now Available Without a Prescription

Oxytrol Patch For Overactive Bladder

Millions of women suffer from overactive bladder-when you gotta go right now! In the past there are prescription medications used to make women more comfortable. Now the FDA has approved Oxytrol for Women, the first over-the-counter treatment for overactive bladder.

The condition affects more than 20 million American women, according to Merck, the drug’s manufacturer.
It will still only be available in prescription form for men.

Oxytrol helps relax the overactive bladder muscle that leads to symptoms such as the sudden need to urinate and leaking of urine.
Oxytrol for Women is in the form of a patch, applied to the skin every four days, Merck says.

It is expected to hit store shelves by the fall.

Oxytrol in pill form by prescription will still be available. Oxytrol for Women contains oxybutynin, a drug that helps to relax the bladder muscle. It belongs to a class of drug called anticholinergics. It is the first of this class to go over-the-counter for overactive bladder treatment.
Among side effects reported in the studies were skin irritation at the site of the patch, constipation, and dry mouth. Most women who develop overactive bladder are 45 to 60 years old. Many do not seek professional medical help due to embarrassment.

Many women who suffer with bladder problems wait on average seven years before seeking treatment.

Bottom Line: If you are using the restroom more than 8 times a day or three times a night, see your doctor or at least try over the counter Oxytrol.

Sex and The Senior Man-Help Is Available For Men With ED

It wasn’t too long ago that erectile dysfunction (ED) was believed to be a natural part of aging.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Middle age and older men who are healthy and have an opportunity to have sexual intimacy can expect to be successful in the bedroom. 

 Once taboo, ED has emerged from the shadows, thanks in large part to the widespread media attention give to Viagra, Levitra and Cialis. However, a wide variety of treatment options are now available that provide hope for men of any age suffering from ED symptoms. There simply is no reason to suffer in silence, whatever your age.

 Approximately 30 million men in the U.S. suffer from ED. An estimated 50 percent of men at age 50 experience some ED symptoms, and the percentage jumps 10% with each decade in life.

 Most men certainly aren’t willing to accept a decline in our eyesight with age—we use glasses when needed. In much the same way, ED is more than a minor inconvenience and can seriously impact quality of life for men and their partners.

 Related Health Risks

ED is a medical condition and can be an early warning sign of a much more serious condition, such as diabetes, heart disease, elevated cholesterol levels or disease of the blood vessels to the brain, which could lead to stroke. ED symptoms can also be a manifestation of depression.  This makes it even more important to pay attention to your ED symptoms.

 Aside from these physical symptoms, ED can take a serious toll on your overall well-being and mental health, causing strain on your relationships and unnecessary anguish and stress.

 Talk to Your Doctor

Talking to your doctor about your ED symptoms can feel embarrassing or difficult, but there’s no reason to be ashamed or uncomfortable. An active sex life can be just as important to your overall health as is proper nutrition and exercise.

 When you visit the doctor, tell him/her about other medical conditions you may have so you can determine whether your ED may be the symptom of a greater problem. Make a separate appointment to discuss ED, to make sure you have enough time to discuss your concerns. Ask for a referral to a urologist, a doctor who specializes in men’s urinary and sexual health issues.

 Be sure to discuss the all the possible issues surrounding your ED, the hurdles you face in all areas of sexual function, including your ability to get and keep an erection, sensitivity and other issues that may help pinpoint the root cause.

 Treatment Options

For many men, oral medications are not only very safe, but also quite effective. Pills such as Viagra, Levitra and Cialis are effective for about 70% of men. But for those with other health factors, such as cardiac disease, diabetes, oral medication may not be an option, or they may become less effective over time. For these men, there are a number of other treatment options available, including:

• Vacuum pump therapy, which requires the use of a small pump to mechanically enhance blood flow and create an erection. These devices are totally noninvasive, but they can be somewhat awkward to use and not conducive to spontaneity.
• Transurethral suppositories are tiny pellets of medication inserted into the urethra opening – a minimally invasive treatment, but still somewhat uncomfortable. This also requires some advance preparation.
• Injection therapy, while the concept is disturbing to most men at the start, involves the use of a very fine needle to inject medication to produce an erection. Because of both the psychological and physical discomfort, in spite of high levels of effectiveness, many men do not find this to be a long-term solution. About 50% of men who try injections, do not continue their use.
• Penile prosthetic implants are surgical devices concealed within the body that restore erectile function to as near natural as possible and still allow for spontaneity. While the concept itself is nothing new, the devices and implantation procedures have evolved considerably to make the procedure quicker and easier on the patient. While implants carry the same risks associated with any surgery, implant procedures generally have extremely high success rates and provide an effective solution for many men. Implants may not be for everyone, but they are a viable option to restore erectile function for most men over the age of 50, and they carry a very high satisfaction rate among patients and partners.

 Choosing a treatment that’s right for you depends on a number of factors, including your relationship status, the importance and level of physical intimacy required, and other health issues. Ask your doctor about the success rate and risks with each option and about what you can reasonably expect in the form of results. It’s unlikely that any treatment will restore erectile function back to the way it was in your younger years, especially with advanced age, but ED treatment can allow all men to enjoy and active and satisfying sex life well into their golden years.

 No matter what your age, it’s important to take that first step and talk to your doctor about ED symptoms. It’s never “normal” at any age to not have normal sexual function. With the wide variety of treatment options available, there’s no longer any reason to ignore the problem as a fact of life.

Bottom Line: ED is not a natural consequence of aging.  Help is available and no one needs to suffer the tragedy of the bedroom.

 

Modified article by Gerald Brock. By Healthy Aging Admin Published 09/16/2010 Health News

10 New Years Resolutions You Can “Live” With

New Years resolutions are made and many are aborted in days or weeks after January 1. Here are 10 suggestions for better health that you can probably keep. If you do, you will probably have a longer and happier life.

1. Celebrate with a friend
People with social connections with family and friends are less likely to experience a decline in ability to reason and remember. Social activity may help preserve your ability to perform your day-to-day activities as you age.

2. Get a pet
People who own pets have healthier hearts and make fewer visits to the doctor. Dogs make better exercise partners than birds, as they want to go for a daily walk.

3. Chew some chocolate
Chocolate is now considered the darling of the heart healthy diet family. Dark chocolate contains flavonoids, which is a natural anti-oxidant that helps the body’s cells resist damage that may contribute to cancer.

4. Embrace your cup of coffee
Regular or decaf coffee appears to lower the risk of dying from chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and pneumonia. Coffee also protects against skin cancer, liver damage, diabetes and Parkinson’s disease. One study purported that three cups of coffee a day may protect against Alzheimer’s disease or delay its onset.

5. Wine is wonderful
A glass of either red or white wine is heart-healthy. Even beer is good for the heart. The key to drinking either wine or beer is moderation-one glass a day for women; two glass a day for men.
6. Sex-A little is good, more is better
The damaging myth about older adults is that aging means putting your sex life on the back burner. Sex is good for you regardless of your age if it is safe sex. Sex causes the brain to release endorphins, the feel-good chemicals that act as painkillers and reduce anxiety. Sex also bolsters the immune system. More sex is also associated lower levels of depression.

7. Music is medicinal
Music boosts mood and reduces anxiety and even makes it possible to get a good nights sleep. Studies show that people feel less pain and need less pain medications after surgery if they listen to music while recuperating.

8. Nap like a baby
A mid afternoon nap can improve mood, memory alertness and learning. A 20 minute nap improves alertness and performance without leaving you feeling groggy. Sipping a cup of coffee before closing your eyes will help you wake up alert. It takes about 20 minutes for caffeine to enter the blood stream, so its effects start to kick in when you wake up.

9 Say hello to nature
Being around nature for as little as five minutes a day can boost your mood and sense of well-being.

10. Select a healthy soap
Soaps that contain antibacterial triclosan, which are no more effective than plain soaps, may be harmful. Washing your hands in warm water with plain soap for 20 seconds will be just as effective as using expensive antibacterial soaps.

Bottom Line: Ponce de Leon scoured the coast of Florida for what he hoped was the legendary fountain of youth. Five centuries later, no one has found the fountain of youth, but we can add youth to our aging process by just adhering to these 10 health resolutions. Happy New Year to all of my friends, family, and followers.

Sweets Are Bad For More Than Your Teeth- May Raise Prostate Cancer Risk

 

A recent report showed that sugary soft drinks may increase men’s risk for prostate cancer, according to the results of a study from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Researchers at Lund University in Sweden said they followed over 8,000 men aged 45 to 73 for an average of 15 years and found that those who drank one can of a soft drink a day were 40 percent more likely to develop more serious forms of prostate cancer.  In addition, the study team found that those whose diet was heavy on rice and pasta increased their risk of getting milder forms of prostate cancer, which often required no treatment, by 31 percent, and those whose intake of sugary breakfast cereals was high had a 38-percent increased risk for milder forms of the cancer.

 

Bottom Line: In addition to red meat which has been demonstrated to increase the risk of prostate cancer, this study suggests it is also prudent to reduce your consumption of sugary soft drinks and sugary breakfast cereals.

Don’t Mix Viagra and Grapefruit

wwltv.com
Posted on December 19, 2012 at 9:31 PM
Updated Wednesday, Dec 19 at 9:46 PM
Meg Farris / Eyewitness News
Email: mfarris@wwltv.com | Twitter: @megfarriswwl
NEW ORLEANS — You may remember a few weeks ago, doctors expanded the list of the number of medications that can have serious interactions with grapefruit or its juice.
It went from 17 medications to 43.
And few people know the most popular pill for men should also be on that list.
It’s been called the most popular drug in the world, the little blue pill Viagra. And while most men know they should not take Viagra if they are also using a nitrate drug for chest pain or heart problems, you may not know about this.
“Viagra, which is used for treating erectile dysfunction, when combined with grapefruit juice can reach toxic levels that result in men having hot flushes. It can also significantly lower their blood pressure and it can produce unwanted side effects,” explained Dr. Neil Baum, a urologist and men’s hormone expert at Touro.
Dr. Baum said a little as one grapefruit or an eight ounce glass of juice can cause a change in absorption for 24 hours.
“The grapefruit juice in the small intestine where pills are absorbed, prevents the breakdown of the medication. So when it’s absorbed, it’s absorbed in larger quantities and can reach toxic levels,” said Dr. Baum.
The reason Viagra should not be taken with a nitrate medicine is because it can cause a serious drop in blood pressure. For that reason, doctors say men who become dizzy, nauseated, or have pain, numbness or tingling in the chest, arm, neck, or jaw, should get medical attention right away. And taking Viagra in the same day as grapefruit can have a similar effect.
“It can drop a man’s blood pressure. It can cause a man to feel hot and warmed and flushed and so taking away the enjoyment that sexual intimacy is supposed to create. It can subtract from that and can make the man quite uncomfortable,” Dr. Baum added.
Some other fruits can also have the same effect. They are Seville oranges, limes, and pomelos, but sweet oranges do not cause this interaction.

Trouble Getting An Erection?-Your Waist Size May Be The Cause

Obesity May Contribute To Your ED

For the first time in a comprehensive way, researchers have associated obesity in men, particularly large waist circumference (WC), with sexual dysfunction.

A study from Cornell College in New York divided men into 3 groups based on WCs of less <36 inches; 36 – 39 inches;  and more 39 to determine whether WC could be a simple measure  to predict erectile dysfunction or impotence.

The prevalence of ED increased from 32.1% to 74.5% as WC increased.

 The findings demonstrate that obesity in men — part of a growing global epidemic — affects their well-being in profound ways.  What we eat can have devastating consequences on more than just our hearts. Quality of life issues, such as sexual health, can be affected as well.

Bottom Line:  Waist circumference may represent an easy diagnostic tool to identify men who are at risk for erectile dysfunction or impotence.  If your waist size reflects obesity, you have just found another reason to go on a diet. Also, if you want to see your penis become longer, lose a few pounds and it will “appear” to grow longer and you’ll see your toes once again!

BJUI. 2012;110:540-545. Abstract