Leann Poston, M.D. – Invigor Medical

Can Men Have Periods? Understanding Irritable Male Syndrome (IMS)

February 19, 2022

Cisgender men are not born with a uterus and thus cannot have periods. Therefore, any bleeding a man notices from or around his genitals is abnormal and should be investigated. Periods are a part of the monthly uterine cycle for premenopausal, cisgender women. If an ovulated egg is not fertilized and not implanted in the uterine wall during a woman’s cycle, estrogen and progesterone (female sex hormones) decline, which triggers changes in the blood supply to the inner lining of the uterus, causing...

How to Support Your Partner with Erectile Dysfunction (ED)

February 14, 2022

Erectile dysfunction (ED), or the inability to get and sustain an erection suitable for satisfying sex, has both medical and psychological causes. Lifestyle factors can also worsen ED. ED can affect people at any age, including those in their 20s and 30s, and it has a significant impact on their partners as well — especially long-term partners. Dealing with ED can be isolating for both men and their partners as they each wrestle with their own feelings and perceptions about the cause of ED and...

Is Sex Good for Your Health?

February 10, 2022

Humans express intimacy and pleasure through sex. It is an important part of life for many people. Sex increases the release of chemicals in the brain that can benefit overall health, not just brain health. While an orgasm causes the release of oxytocin, the “love hormone,” touch, sexual talk, feeling close to a partner, and masturbation can all cause neurotransmitters (chemicals in the brain) to be released. Sex has numerous health benefits, including lowering stress and anxiety, improving sleep,...

Which Sexually Transmitted Diseases Cause Erectile Dysfunction?

February 9, 2022

Everything comes with risk, including sex. Sex is good for your health. It strengthens relationships and has many psychological benefits. It does, however, come with risks. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), formerly known as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), are viral or bacterial infections that can be transmitted through sexual contact. STDs are spread via unprotected anal, vaginal, or oral sex. Chlamydia and gonorrhea are two bacteria that infect the urethra. As the bacteria move...

8 Foods That May Help Boost Your Testosterone

February 2, 2022

Low testosterone levels affect up to five million men in the U.S. Unfortunately, aging alone is a major risk factor for declining testosterone. After 30, testosterone levels fall by about 1% per year. Low testosterone, also called hypogonadism, is when testosterone levels fall below 300 nanograms/deciliter (ng/dl). A healthy diet and prioritizing physical activity go a long way towards boosting testosterone levels in both men and women. However, as people age, their metabolic rates decline...

How Does Masturbation Affect Testosterone?

February 1, 2022

You’ve probably heard that masturbation lowers testosterone levels or that abstinence increases it. Small studies led people to draw these conclusions and make recommendations like abstaining from sexual activity prior to competitive sports, but how accurate are these conclusions? Scientific research on sexual behavior is notoriously difficult because it is hard to achieve consistency across studies. There is no evidence that masturbation has any long-lasting effects on testosterone levels, and...

Caffeine and Erectile Dysfunction: How Coffee and Energy Drinks Impact Men’s Sex Life

January 27, 2022

Erectile dysfunction is the inability to get and maintain an erection satisfactory for sexual intercourse. There are numerous potential causes of ED, but when the cause is physical, the common denominator is a lack of blood flow into the penis. Medications such as sildenafil, vardenafil, and tadalafil work by dilating blood vessels and increasing blood flow into the penis. Caffeine is also a vasodilator. Which leads many men to wonder whether caffeine is an effective treatment for ED? Caffeine...

At What Age Does Erectile Dysfunction Start?

January 24, 2022

Erectile dysfunction is the inability to get and maintain an erection firm enough for satisfactory sexual performance. An isolated incident of ED is normal and is common; however, approximately 18 million U.S. men have more persistent symptoms. Though the incidence increases with age and is more common in men over 40, ED can affect men in their 20s and 30s. In fact, researchers found that ED affects 8% of men in their 20s and 11% of men in their 30s. Risk factors, such as poor diet, excessive...

Urologists: Who Are They and What Procedures Do They Offer?

January 20, 2022

Urology is the study of urine. A urologist is a medical doctor and surgical specialist who specializes in diseases and conditions of the urinary tract in men, women, and children and the male reproductive system. What Is a Urologist? A urologist is a physician who has been specially trained to diagnose and treat any condition related to the urinary system and the male reproductive system. A urologist treats conditions related to the urinary system, which is made up of the: bladder urethra ureters kidneys adrenal...

Men’s Health Clinics: What Are They and What Do They Treat?

January 14, 2022

Men’s health clinics provide men with care equivalent to that provided by a gynecologist for women. Men have historically relied on to their primary care provider for help with male-specific health concerns. However, unlike a gynecologist, these specialists are not normally trained to address men’s health issues as specifically as a gynecologist is trained to address women’s sexual health needs. To meet this unmet need, men’s health clinics combine the services of many specialists...

What Is Toxic Masculinity and How Does It Affect You?

December 30, 2021

Toxic masculinity describes the cultural pressure placed on men and boys to behave in a “masculine” way. Not just masculine, instead, a narrow definition of masculinity that punishes anyone who doesn’t meet the standard. A definition of masculinity that requires men to earn their masculinity, even at the expense of women, men, children, and society as a whole. It is used to describe men with the following personality traits: violent, domineering, aggressive, misogynist, and homophobic. The Good...

Acts of Intimacy Outside of Sex

December 24, 2021

Intimacy and sex are frequently used interchangeably, but they are very different. Sex, along with hugging, hand-holding, and other physical touches, can help build intimacy. But intimacy does not have to be physical. Emotional intimacy is also important when making a connection with another human. Intimacy is a closeness between two people. It is a way for any two people to connect whether or not they are in a sexual relationship. Intimacy in a relationship is a sense of being close, connected,...

Can Marijuana Cause ED?

December 22, 2021

Marijuana is legal for adult use in 18 states and the District of Columbia. In 36 states, medical marijuana is legally used to treat a variety of medical concerns. However, marijuana remains a Schedule 1 substance at the federal level, which means it has a high potential for dependency and no accepted medical use. This designation makes it difficult for researchers to study whether marijuana can cause erectile dysfunction or have any other sexual effects. However, there is emerging evidence that...

Signs of Sex Addiction and How to Treat It

December 19, 2021

Sex addiction is defined as the compulsive need to engage in sexual behaviors. It leads to relationship problems, mental health issues, risk-taking behaviors, a compulsive need to masturbate, view pornography, and engage in both partnered and unpartnered sex. Sex Addiction: A Challenging Diagnosis The diagnosis of sex addiction is controversial since it has been excluded from the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). However, the International Statistical...

Is Masturbation Healthy?

December 13, 2021

Masturbation refers to a person self-stimulating their own genitals to become sexually aroused. The topic has been widely researched and is still poorly understood. One reason is that it is not well-defined. When 500 plus people were surveyed online, a wide range of definitions for masturbation was proposed. There was not a significant difference between men and women. However, two characteristics were consistent: only a single person is involved, and the goal is orgasm. Masturbation is a difficult...

Does Alcohol Cause Erectile Dysfunction?

December 2, 2021

It’s a long-held belief that alcohol use increases sexual desire while inhibiting sexual performance. Alcohol affects the brain by decreasing inhibitions which may increase sexual desire. Increasing amounts of alcohol depress the activity of the brain. The effect of alcohol on erectile dysfunction seems to parallel what is known about its effects on heart disease. A little may be beneficial, much more than that is harmful. This should not be a surprise because there are many parallels between...

How to Naturally Boost Your Testosterone

November 30, 2021

Commonly referred to as the male sex hormone, testosterone is important to the health of both men and women. Testosterone production begins during puberty and declines at a rate of about 1% per year after age 30. Many of the physical changes associated with aging in men can be at least partially attributed to a decline in testosterone. Testosterone promotes muscle mass and strength, bone density and strength, normal fat distribution, red blood cell production, and sex drive in both men and women. While...

What Is the Best Medicine for Erectile Dysfunction (ED)?

November 23, 2021

Erectile dysfunction is treatable and there are numerous treatment options, including pills, injectables, surgical procedures, and alternative treatments. Each man and his needs will determine the best ED medicine. The first step in evaluating any medical condition is a thorough history and physical exam. Uncovering the underlying cause of ED sets up the potential for curing it instead of treating the symptoms. Read More: Is There a Cure for Erectile Dysfunction (ED)? Some causes of ED are...

The Link Between Free Testosterone and Your Health

November 22, 2021

Testosterone, one of the “sex hormones,” has both anabolic and androgenic properties. Testosterone is produced by the testes and adrenal glands in the male and the ovaries and adrenal glands in the female. It travels through the bloodstream and binds to androgen receptors, affecting almost every organ in the body, especially muscle, bone, fat cells, and reproductive organs. Testosterone can travel through the bloodstream bound to the proteins, albumin, and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG),...

Is There a Cure for Erectile Dysfunction (ED)?

November 9, 2021

Erectile dysfunction is a condition that makes it difficult to achieve or maintain an erection that is firm enough for satisfactory sexual intercourse. There are many causes of erectile dysfunction, some of which are reversible, some treatable, some partially treatable, and some that are difficult to treat. When blood flows into the penis and is trapped in spaces called the corpora cavernosum, an erection results. Pressure builds as blood fills these chambers, which causes the penis to stiffen....

Author: Leann Poston, M.D.