How to Use a Male Condom [VIDEO]

Habits that make you have low sperm count

Low sperm count means that the fluid (semen) you ejaculate during an orgasm contains fewer sperm than normal.

A low sperm count is called oligospermia. A complete absence of sperm is called azoospermia. Your sperm count is considered lower than normal if you have fewer than 15 million sperm per milliliter of semen. Having low sperm count decrease the odd that one of your sperm will fertilize your partner’s egg, resulting in pregnancy. Nonetheless, many men with low sperm count are still able to father a child.

 

The production of sperm is a very complex process and requires normal functioning of the testicles (testes) as well as some organs in the brain (hypothalamus and pituitary glands) that produces hormones that trigger sperm production. Once sperm are produced in the testes, delicate tubes transport them until they mix with semen and are ejaculated out of the penis. Problems with any of these systems can affect sperm production.

The following habits have been identified as the major culprit in men with low sperm count:

 

Overheating the testicles: Frequent use of saunas and hot tubs may temporarily lower your sperm count. Sitting for long periods, wearing tight clothing and underpants or using a laptop on you lap for long period of time also may increase the temperature in your scrotum and reduce sperm production. 

 

Prolonged bicycling:  This is another possible cause of reduced fertility due to overheating the scrotum, especially on a hard seat or poorly adjusted bicycle.

 

Illegal drug use: Anabolic steroids taken to stimulate muscle strength and growth can cause the testicles to shrink and sperm production to decrease. Use of cocaine or marijuana may temporarily reduce the number and quality of your sperm as well.

 

Alcohol use: drinking alcohol can lower testosterone levels and cause decrease sperm production.

 

Tobacco smoking: Men who smoke may have lower sperm count than do those who don’t smoke.

 

Occupation: Certain occupations may increase your risk of infertility, including those associated with extended use of computer or video display monitors, shift work and work related stress. Also, occupation that involves exposure to pesticides and other harmful chemicals, and those that involves wearing tight uniforms, such as the military, has been implicated.

 

Gaining too much weight: Obesity can cause hormonal changes that reduce male fertility.

 

Emotional stress: Severe or prolonged emotional stress, including stress about fertility itself, may interfere with certain hormones needed to produce sperm.

 

Other causes of low sperm count include:

Medical problems – Low sperm count can be caused by a number of health issues and medical treatments. Some of these include:

• Varicocele. This is a swelling of the veins that drain the testicles. This may prevent normal cooling of the testicles, leading to reduced sperm count and fever moving sperm.

• Infection. Some infections can interfere with sperm production and sperm health or can cause scarring that blocks the passage of sperm. These include some sexually transmitted infections, including Chlamydia and gonorrhea; inflammation of the prostate (prostatitis); inflamed testicles due to mumps (mumps orchitis); and other infections of the urinary tract or reproductive organs during orgasm

• Ejaculation problems. Retrograde ejaculation occurs when semen enters the bladder instead of emerging out of the tip of the penis. Various health problems can cause retrograde ejaculation, including diabetes, spinal injuries, and surgery of the bladder, prostate or urethra. Certain medications may also result in retrograde ejaculation, such as blood pressure medications known as alpha blockers. Some men with spinal cord injuries or certain diseases can’t ejaculate semen at all, though they can still produce sperm.

• Tumors. Cancers and nonmalignant tumors can affect the male reproductive organs directly, or can affect the glands that release hormones related to reproduction (such as the pituitary gland), surgery, radiation or chemotherapy to treat tumors can also affect male fertility.

• Undescended testis. During fetal development, one or both testis sometimes fails to descend from the abdomen into the scrotum. Decrease fertility is more likely in men with this condition.

• Certain medications. Testosterone replacement therapy, long term anabolic steroid use, cancer chemotherapy, certain antifungal medications, some ulcer medications and some other medications can impair sperm production and decrease male fertility.

• Other medical problems include – hormonal imbalances, chromosomal abnormalities.

Environmental contaminants – Overexposure to certain environmental elements can affect sperm production or function. Specific causes include:

• Industrial chemicals. Extended exposure to benzenes, toluene, xylene, herbicides, pesticides, organic solvents, painting materials and, lead and other heavy chemicals, may contribute to low sperm counts.

• Radiation or X-rays. Exposure to radiation can reduce sperm production. It can take several years for sperm production t return to normal. With high doses of radiation, sperm production can be permanently reduced.

Infertility cause by low sperm count may be stressful for you and your partner, so it’s better to stop these habits NOW and ask your doctor to evaluate you for any damage already done and treat it as recommended.

I do have problems getting or keeping an erection

"I'm 27yrs old and I been having a hard time getting and keeping an erection, I have this problem whenever I want to have fun with my wife. Please, what can I do?"

Being able to achieve and maintain an erection for satisfying sexual intercourse is something that most men take for granted in their 20s and 30s. However, especially in later years, some men are unable to sustain their erection or may be unable to get an erection at all.
Erection problems like this (erectile dysfunction) are common in older men and can be devastating to a healthy sex life.

Often such problems may be associated with feelings of anxiety or depression and low self-esteem. Occasionally, they may lead to tension between the man and his partner and cause friction in their
relationship.

There are many different causes of erectile dysfunction and most can be treated!

What is erectile dysfunction (ED)?

During sexual stimulation, through seeing, hearing, smelling, touching, or thinking about something that is sexually exciting, the brain sends signals through nerves to the blood vessels in the penis. These signals cause the walls of the blood vessels to widen, causing blood flow into the penis to increase. Because more blood is entering than leaving the penis, the penis becomes engorged with blood, causing it to elongate and stiffen, leading to an erection.

After sexual activity, the blood is allowed to flow out of the penis again and the penis returns to its usual flaccid (soft state). In erectile dysfunction, these events do not occur normally, which leads to difficulty in achieving or maintaining an erection adequate for satisfying sexual activity.

How common is erectile dysfunction?

Very common! It is estimated that in Africa there are more than 11 million men with erectile dysfunction. In a survey of men aged 50-70 years attending primary care clinics in the Western Cape, 7 out of every 10 said that they have some degree of erectile dysfunction.

The chance of having ED increases as a man grows older. A study in America estimated that the incidence of erectile dysfunction in men over 70 is almost double that in men over 40 and that approximately 1 in 20 aged 40 years and 1 in 7 aged 70 years will have complete inability to attain and/or sustain an erection.

It is important to note that erectile dysfunction is not an inevitable consequence of aging and many men do enjoy a satisfying sex life well into their 70s and 80s.

What causes erectile dysfunction?

It used to be thought that the most common cause of erectile dysfunction was psychological. However, anything that interferes with the events that leads to a normal erection – from the ability to become sexually excited, to the normal response of the brain and nerves and proper functioning of the structures in the penis – cause an erection problem. Consequently, we now understand that only a minority of men with ED has a purely psychological cause, and more often, a combination of factors is responsible for ED. Some common causes are listed below:

Possible causes	Examples
Arterial disease	·         Atherosclerosis ·         High blood pressure ·         Diabetes ·         Cigarette smoking ·         Abnormal cholesterol ·         Obesity
Overindulgence in alcohol
Conditions of the nervous system	·         Stroke ·         Alzheimer’s disease ·         Nerve damage due to diabetes ·         Spinal cord injury ·         Nerve injury
Chronic medical conditions	·         Chronic Kidney disease ·         Coronary heart disease
Surgery or radiotherapy to the pelvis	·         Treatment for colon, rectal or prostate cancer
Psychological	·         Stress ·         Strained relationships ·         Anxiety ·         Depression
Medications (prescriptions and over-the-counter	·         Some blood pressure lowering medications ·         Diuretics ·         Some antidepressants ·         Some types of cholesterol-lowering medications ·          Some anti-epileptics

Can erectile dysfunction be cured?

Addressing the underlying cause of the erectile dysfunction may successfully and permanently return sexual function to normal. In some men however, a permanent cure for erectile dysfunction is not possible. Regardless of whether a permanent cure is possible or not, in most men erectile dysfunction can be treated (with tablets or by other means, allowing normal sexual activity).

What treatments are available for erectile dysfunction?

There are various different types of treatments for erectile dysfunction. Some are available only from a doctor, while others are available without a prescription from health shops and pharmacies. You have probably seen many others advertised in newspapers, magazines and on the internet.

Oral Therapies

The newest treatments for erectile dysfunction are oral tablets that are very effective in restoring a normal erectile response. Taking the tablets itself does not cause an erection, but helps to improve blood flow to the penis. After taking the tablet, sexual stimulation is still required for an erection to occur and the erection will go down again later as normal. Oral tablets are useful for most types of erection problems and are convenient to take. They are usually well tolerated and potential side effects are generally mild and self-limiting.

While most of the tablets are effective within a short time after they ate taken (usually within thirty minutes), they do vary in length of time for which they are effective. Some tablets are effective for only a few hours after being taken, while others can be effective for as long as 36 hours after one tablet. This means that, with sexual stimulation, an erection may be achieved at any time during a 36 hour period after taking the tablet. Furthermore, there are tablets that may be taken on a daily basis, meaning that erectile function is restored for a whole day, every day.

Non-Oral Therapies

Other treatments for erectile dysfunction include medications that are injected into the penis. Although they can reliably lead to an erection, many men do not like the idea of injecting themselves with a needle. Side effects include pain and uncomfortable prolonged erections.

Vacuum devices are cylinders that are placed over the penis, which pump out air and allow the penis to fill with blood. A tight ring is placed around the base of the penis to maintain the erection.

With both injection and vacuum devices, erection can be achieved without sexual stimulation.

Surgical implants of semi-rigid rods or inflatable tubes are sometimes used in men for whom other treatments have not been successful.

With medications that restore normal erectile function for a shorter periods of time. Or non-oral treatments, being able to get an erection is dependent on using the treatment shortly before intercourse.

However, some men and their partners may feel that having to have sexual intercourse within a few hours after taking the treatment puts them under pressure, or makes them feel uncomfortable. Many other things also contribute to setting the mood for sexual intimacy and the time des not always feel right.

Tablets that restores the normal erectile response for longer periods (up to 36 hours or all day, every day), give a couple the freedom to choose the moment that is right for them for sexual intimacy. These types of treatments allow more time for intimacy and free the couple from the worry of having to plan intimacy.

However, it is very important that whatever method you choose, you must discuss with your doctor first!

There are 4 very important reasons for this:

• Erectile dysfunction can often be the symptom of another underlying problem (e.g. Diabetes, Cardiovascular disease or depression) that requires a completely different type of treatment. In this case, treating the underlying medical condition may treat the erectile dysfunction as well, in other words you need a proper diagnosis of what is actually wrong before embarking on a treatment.

• Some types of medications may cause erectile dysfunction as a side effect. You need to tell your doctor about all other medications (prescription and over-the-counter) that you have taken recently.

• Not everything that is advertised as a treatment for erection problems has been adequately clinically tested and proven to be effective and safe. Some so-called treatments at the best do nothing, while, at worst, they may have unpleasant side effects and actually cause damage to the body and penis.

• Not all men are the same and not all cases of erectile dysfunction are the same. Treatments need to be personalized to each individual. That can only be done with a full assessment by your doctor.

If you are not sure about a treatment, ask your doctor!

Risk of cardiovascular disease in men with erectile dysfunction

Arterial disease is a common cause of erectile dysfunction, and erectile dysfunction may be the first sign that a man already has significant arterial disease. Consequently, a man with erectile dysfunction may be at a greater risk of having a heart attack and a stroke (cardiovascular disease).

The same risk factors that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease also increase the risk of erectile dysfunction. These include smoking, obesity, abnormal cholesterol levels, high blood pressure and diabetes.

Controlling these risk factors (e.g. stopping smoking, exercising and maintaining a healthy diet) can not only reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, but may also help to improve erectile function. Furthermore, it is important that if you have erectile dysfunction, you should see a healthcare professional who can determine whether you are at significant risk for cardiovascular disease.

For further information, you can speak to your doctor.

Prolonged TV viewing linked to lower sperm count

Men who do little exercise and spend much of their spare time watching TV have lower sperm counts than more active men, a study suggests. 

Clocking up 20 hours a week of TV time appears to be detrimental, the US authors from Harvard say in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Yet 15 hours or more of exercise a week boosts semen quality, according to the results in nearly 200 college students.

The researchers said more studies were needed to explore the possible causes.

And some experts say men wanting to conceive need to be selective about the sport they do as some types may harm sperm.

Too much time riding a bike or doing long-distance running in tight clothing may not be good, other studies suggest.

Similarly, wearing tight underwear rather than boxer shorts has been linked with lower sperm levels.

In the latest study, the researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health asked 189 young men who were students at a university in New York to record how many hours they had been spending doing physical activity and watching TV in a typical week.

The volunteers, all aged between 18 and 22, were also asked to provide a sperm sample for lab analysis.
When the researchers compared the survey findings with the sperm test results they found the link between sedentary lifestyle and low sperm count.

Men who were the most physically active, doing 15 hours or more of moderate to vigorous exercise each week by playing football, baseball or basketball for example, had sperm counts which were 73% higher than those who were least physically active.

Those who spent lots of time watching TV or DVDs - at least 20 hours a week - had a sperm count that was 44% lower than men who spent little time in front of the box.

None of the men had sperm counts so low that doctors would classify them as sub-fertile.

Sperm motility (how well it swims) and shape were unaffected.

The researchers say their findings are not conclusive but suggest that men who want to improve their fertility might want to look at increasing the amount of physical exercise they do if they currently do little.

It is not clear why sitting on the sofa watching TV might lower sperm count. It might be down to temperature - sperm prefer cooler conditions and production halts if the scrotum gets too hot.

Obesity may also affect fertility - although most of the men were not overweight.

Dr Audrey Jane Gaskins and colleagues say more studies are needed to confirm and explore the possible causes behind their findings.

Dr Allan Pacey, senior lecturer in andrology at the University of Sheffield, said: "It remains to be seen if coaxing a TV-watching couch potato into doing some regular exercise could actually improve his sperm count. Or whether there exists an unknown fundamental difference between men who like exercise and those who do not which might account for the findings.

"This should be a relatively easy study to perform, but before all worried men hunt for their sports bag it's important to note that other research suggests that doing too much exercise can be harmful to sperm production.

"My advice would be everything in moderation - and that includes time in the gym as well as watching TV."

SOURCE: BBC News

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Food Supplements That Enhances Your Sexual Function

Sexual dysfunction is defined as the inability to fully enjoy sexual intercourse. Women experience it as loss of libido (sexual drive) and/or difficulty in achieving orgasm. While men experience it as erectile dysfunction (impotence).

Normal blood circulation to the genitals is essential to normal sexual function in both men and women and in men it is been found that insufficient blood flow is the underlying cause of incomplete erection in men. Higher blood flow makes clitoral and vaginal tissues more sensitive and responsive to sexual stimulation.

Many food supplements contain arginine, a precursor of Nitric oxide (NO) which is formed in-vivo from L-Arginine with the reaction controlled by the enzyme nitric oxide synthase . Nitric oxide is a vasodilator that dilates the vessels thereby improving adequate blood flow to the genitals for sexual enhancement. This has proven to be a safe and effective pro-sexual nutrient for men and women. Low levels of nitric oxide reduce blood flow to the genitals.

In post menopausal women, supplementation­ with L-arginine made them to experience heightened sexual response. Also women of all ages also reap the benefits of supplementation­ of L –arginine which include greater sexual satisfaction, heightened desire and clitoral sensation, frequency of intercourse and orgasm and less vaginal dryness.

Men on L –arginine supplementation­ had a significant improvement in their sexual performance and this is most effective in men with sexual dysfunction not related to an underlying disease and with low levels of nitric oxide.

Arginine also reduces the risk of blood clots and strokes,improve­s vascular function in patients with angina and helps prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases.

Zinc and magnesium deficiencies are major causes of unexplained infertility, pregnancy complications, loss of libido and vaginal dryness. Zinc supplementation­ reduces symptoms experienced by women on progesterones which include endometrial atrophy, vaginal dryness and dyspareunia.

Ask your pharmacist about common amino acid preparations that contains arginine,histid­ine and zinc to help boost your immunity and improves sexual health.

How to Get Pregnant With A Baby Boy: The Easy Way

A lot of couples are finding it difficulty having a baby boy. They just keep trying with no success even after visiting a fertility clinic.

If you are trying to get pregnant with a baby boy, this article will teach you natural ways you can use to accomplish your goal without spending money going to an expensive gender clinic.

Here are some tips on how to get pregnant with a baby boy:

• Female (X) chromosome are slower but stronger than a male (Y) chromosome. A male chromosome however, are faster but die quicker than female chromosomes. To make the male chromosome last longer and get a higher chance to get pregnant with a baby boy, you need to condition your body into having a low pH environment for your male chromosomes because they easily die in a high pH level body. To do this, you need to eat certain foods that are high in potassium and sodium like nuts, figs, raisins and apricots. Avoid foods high in calcium like cheese and yogurt. To make your vagina basic or alkalytic it would also be a good idea to consume a lot of vegetables with the exception of corn.

• To become pregnant with a baby boy, you need to have sex during the time of ovulation. Normally ovulation should take place between day 12 and 14 of a 28 day menstrual cycle.Because male sperms' life expectancy are short, if you have intercourse earlier than the aforementioned ovulation days the male sperm won't survive.

• During copulation, use positions that allow deep penetration to place the sperm very close to the egg such as rear entry or missionary position with the legs all the way up. Because the male sperm die quick, you need to make the sperms' travel short for their survival and may lead to being pregnant with a baby boy.

• After ejaculation, keep your legs up with the help of a pillow underneath your lower back. This also help the male sperm travel faster to the egg. If you want to become pregnant with a baby boy, this technique will sure increase your chance.

Tips & Warnings

• Be patient

• Check your ovulation calendar and use pH level strip if necessary to check body's pH level

• Remember that not only women should do their part. Men must avoid smoking and drinking since it decreases sperm count.

• If all else fails, consult a gender specialist.

Penis Health – Washing and Cleanliness

It’s the body part that guys arguably value the most, so you owe it to your penis to often maintain it clean and healthy, and fit for purpose. Give it the care it deserves and you could not be the only one to benefit: your partner will likely be grateful too.

It’s seriously surprising how quite a few males do not clean their underneath their foreskin.

Gently wash the penis with warm water each day when you are getting a shower or bath. If you have a foreskin, pull it back gently and wash underneath. You can use soap lather for the purpose.

For those who don’t wash underneath the foreskin correctly, a cheesy-looking substance referred to as smegma may possibly start to collect. Smegma is actually a natural lubricant that keeps the penis moist. It is found on the head with the penis and below the foreskin. If smegma builds below the foreskin up inside the foreskin, it can start out to smell, cease you effortlessly pulling your foreskin back and turn out to be a breeding ground for bacteria. This can trigger redness and swelling of the swelling of the head of your penis known as balanitis.

Does Condom Make Sex Safer?

the first known condom

The earliest known illustration of a man using a condom during sexual intercourse is painted on the wall of a cave in France. It is 12,000-15,000 years old (Parisot, 1987).  According to Planned parenthood federation of America and CDC( center for disease control) ; the condom is advocated for active sexual people as it prevents STIs and unwanted pregnancy ( almost anyone knows and believes that) but more research needs to be conducted to more firmly establish condom efficacy (NIAID et al., 2001).  To read the report, http://www.plannedparenthood.org/files/PPFA/truth_condoms_07-05.pdf 

BUT MY QUESTION ABOUT The Condom—Do They Make Sex Safer

The Condom: For years you've heard people say, "Use a condom every time you have sex." You may think that condoms make sex safe, but research shows that's not the case. Condoms used to prevent pregnancy fail in about 14% of couples during the first year of use. Even if used always, condoms just reduce your risk of getting a sexually transmitted infection (STI); they don't eliminate it.

The truth is, even if you use a condom every time you have sex, you're still at risk for both pregnancy and STIs. How serious is your risk? Keep reading.

Each year, there are about 19 million new infections; half of these are in people under 25. Many of these STIs have no cure. Untreated STIs can cause infertility, cancer and even death.

Oral Sex & Condoms: To date, there is no evidence that consistent use of condoms during oral sex reduces your chance of getting most STIs, including HIV. While one study shows decreased risk of gonorrhea with consistent condom use during oral sex, another shows increased risk of HIV.

Anal Sex & Condoms: To date, there is no evidence that consistent condom use reduces your chance of getting most STIs during anal sex. However, there is some evidence that consistent use of condoms for anal sex may cut your chance of getting HIV by up to half.

HPV (Human Papillomavirus): If you use condoms every time you have vaginal sex, you can cut your chance of getting HPV by up to half. HPV is a very common STI in the US. About half of all sexually active 18- to 22-year-old women are infected with it. Most people with HPV have no symptoms. If present, symptoms include genital warts. HPV can cause cervical, penile or anal cancer. In women, cervical cancer causes about the same number of deaths as HIV/AIDS every year.

Genital Herpes: If you use condoms every time you have vaginal sex, you can cut your chance of getting genital herpes in half. Genital herpes infects 1 out of 6 teens and adults. Once you're infected, you have it for life. If you don't stay on medication, sores can keep coming back. Even if you have no symptoms, you can still spread the infection to others. People with herpes are also at greater risk for becoming infected with HIV.

Chlamydia and Gonorrhea: If you use condoms every time you have vaginal sex, you can cut your chance of getting chlamydia or gonorrhea in half. Chlamydia is the most commonly reported STI. Most people with chlamydia or gonorrhea have no symptoms. Even without symptoms you can pass on these infections. If left untreated, both chlamydia and gonorrhea can cause long-term pelvic pain and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID may interfere with your ability to get or stay pregnant.

HIV/AIDS: If you use condoms every time you have vaginal sex, you can cut your chance of getting HIV by 85%. That might sound pretty good, but that still leaves you at risk for infection. Every year, 40,000 Americans get an HIV infection. HIV/AIDS has killed nearly half a million Americans and the number is growing.

Do People Use Condoms All the Time? Only about two-thirds of sexually active 15- to 19-year-old males report having used condoms at their last sexual contact. And, as males get older, fewer use condoms every time they have sex. Even among couples where one partner has HIV, less than half use condoms every time they have sex. And not everyone who uses condoms uses them correctly. And, even if they are used correctly, they sometimes break or slip off.

MY OPINION?... It is widely agreed that as a form of birth control, condoms have a failure rate of about 15% – 14% according to this website. That means they are 86% successful, which sounds good, but when one considers both what is at risk, and other factors, it is not so successful at all.

 Imagine this scenario, you're boarding a jumbo jet for the first time and are not unnaturally a little nervous. “Is a plane this big really safe?” you ask the stewardess. 

 She smiles sweetly as she replies, “Of course, madam, 86% of our planes never crash.”

 Would you still feel a little nervous? Now apply this to sexually transmitted diseases; obviously if condoms are only 86% efficient as a means of birth control they will be no more efficient, probably less, at preventing the transmission of STD. 

 Finally, do a little thought experiment. You are at a party and you meet the woman (or man) of your dreams. You leave arm in arm with this gorgeous creature, you're just about to ask your place or mine? when you heard the strange  words: “I should warn you I have HIV/syphilis --- (fill in the blank) but don't worry, we can use a condom. Will you still be in the mood?

The other thing about condoms is that they lull people into a false sense of security; the same thing happens with road safety. Campaigners had been telling us for years that it is far more dangerous to ride a motorcycle without a crash helmet than with one. Many people swallowed this (well-meaning) propaganda, including the government of the day, and in Britain it has been illegal to ride a motorcycle without a crash helmet since 1973. One young lady thought this law was a  good idea; I came off my bike ( okada . Lol) at 40 mph, she said, and if I hadn't been wearing my helmet, I wouldn't be here now. No, dummy, if you hadn't been wearing a helmet, you wouldn't have been riding so fast. The point is that the false perception of safety changes people's behavior. A bit of how's your father with a floozies may not be quite as exhilarating as a literal bike ride, but every time you have sex using a condom that is another 14% chance of failure.

The Bottom Line: Condoms don't make sex safe, just less risky. Although condoms can reduce your risk for some STIs, they don't eliminate it. You can still get an STI or get pregnant.

To completely reduce your risk for some STIs, you should avoid sexual activity (oral, vaginal or anal sex) until you are faithful to one partner. If you've already had sex, see a doctor about getting checked for STIs.

Waiting to have sex until you are in a faithful, lifelong relationship (such as marriage) is the only certain way to avoid being infected sexually.

that's my opinion.. what is yours 

Credit: Dr. Taiwo Oluwole