One in 10 men in Singapore are unhappy with their sex life, with men between the ages of 45 and 49 being the unhappiest of the lot, according to new local data.
To mark International Men's Day, the Society Of Men's Health (Singapore) and pharmaceutical giant Bayer Healthcare conducted a survey on the sexual health of 410 local men between 45 and 64 years old.
The study found that one in 10 men surveyed do not have a sexual life at all. The findings are hardly surprising, since the same survey also found that more than half of the men in this group have some degree of erectile dysfunction (ED).
According to Dr Colin Teo, a consultant urologist at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, sexual health problems like ED and testosterone deficiency typically start from the age of 40, which is one reason why the survey revealed that men in the younger age group (45 to 49 years old) were the most unsatisfied with their sex life.
"Compared to their 30s, this group of men will see a marked contrast in their erectile performance and libido," said Dr Teo.
Professor Peter Lim, president of the Society Of Men's Health (Singapore), added that insecurities can also hamper the quality of sex life. "These men are beginning to feel the pangs of ageing, and hence fear losing the magic of their yesteryears," he said.
Commenting on the findings, Prof Lim said a healthy sex life is an important indicator of a man's health and well-being.
ED may be the first sign of other medical conditions linked to poor blood flow and circulation, such as diabetes, high blood cholesterol and heart disease.
The survey's findings point to a need to help local men improve their sexual health, said Prof Lim, who advised men to discuss treatment options with their doctor.
"In today's context, there are many solutions and therapies to reverse the medical causes of poor sexual health," added Dr Teo.
Treatment options
According to the doctors, the first line of ED treatment is typically the use of PDE5 inhibitors which come in the form of oral tablets such as Levitra, Viagra or Cialis. These are taken on demand, before sexual activity.
Last month, a new daily low-dose ED pill, called Tadalafil Once-A-Day, was launched here. This new treatment is targeted at men who respond to PDE5 inhibitor therapy and participate in sexual activity at least twice a week.
PDE5 inhibitors work by relaxing muscles in the penis, thus increasing blood flow to the area and helping to provide firmer erections during sexual activity.
Dr Teo said they are generally safe for most men, except for those who are taking nitrate medications for cardiac conditions.
"Of course, the man also needs a certain level of cardiac fitness to handle sex, an activity which stresses the hearts. If these men do not respond well to ED drugs, they may be using the pills inappropriately, or they may also have testosterone deficiency syndrome where a minimal level of testosterone is required for erection and a healthy libido," explained Dr Teo.
For men who do not respond well to medications, other treatments include injection therapy - administered using very fine needles - vacuum devices or surgical implants as a last resort for older men, said Prof Lim. Eveline Gan
source
To mark International Men's Day, the Society Of Men's Health (Singapore) and pharmaceutical giant Bayer Healthcare conducted a survey on the sexual health of 410 local men between 45 and 64 years old.
The study found that one in 10 men surveyed do not have a sexual life at all. The findings are hardly surprising, since the same survey also found that more than half of the men in this group have some degree of erectile dysfunction (ED).
According to Dr Colin Teo, a consultant urologist at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, sexual health problems like ED and testosterone deficiency typically start from the age of 40, which is one reason why the survey revealed that men in the younger age group (45 to 49 years old) were the most unsatisfied with their sex life.
"Compared to their 30s, this group of men will see a marked contrast in their erectile performance and libido," said Dr Teo.
Professor Peter Lim, president of the Society Of Men's Health (Singapore), added that insecurities can also hamper the quality of sex life. "These men are beginning to feel the pangs of ageing, and hence fear losing the magic of their yesteryears," he said.
Commenting on the findings, Prof Lim said a healthy sex life is an important indicator of a man's health and well-being.
ED may be the first sign of other medical conditions linked to poor blood flow and circulation, such as diabetes, high blood cholesterol and heart disease.
The survey's findings point to a need to help local men improve their sexual health, said Prof Lim, who advised men to discuss treatment options with their doctor.
"In today's context, there are many solutions and therapies to reverse the medical causes of poor sexual health," added Dr Teo.
Treatment options
According to the doctors, the first line of ED treatment is typically the use of PDE5 inhibitors which come in the form of oral tablets such as Levitra, Viagra or Cialis. These are taken on demand, before sexual activity.
Last month, a new daily low-dose ED pill, called Tadalafil Once-A-Day, was launched here. This new treatment is targeted at men who respond to PDE5 inhibitor therapy and participate in sexual activity at least twice a week.
PDE5 inhibitors work by relaxing muscles in the penis, thus increasing blood flow to the area and helping to provide firmer erections during sexual activity.
Dr Teo said they are generally safe for most men, except for those who are taking nitrate medications for cardiac conditions.
"Of course, the man also needs a certain level of cardiac fitness to handle sex, an activity which stresses the hearts. If these men do not respond well to ED drugs, they may be using the pills inappropriately, or they may also have testosterone deficiency syndrome where a minimal level of testosterone is required for erection and a healthy libido," explained Dr Teo.
For men who do not respond well to medications, other treatments include injection therapy - administered using very fine needles - vacuum devices or surgical implants as a last resort for older men, said Prof Lim. Eveline Gan
source
