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Male Sexuality and Sexual Dysfunction

How does male sexual functioning work?

Sexual behavior is a complex psycho physiological experience and there are many factors involved in healthy sexual functioning.

The male sexual response begins when the man becomes aroused and blood flows into the erectile tissue of the penis, causing the penis to swell and become erect.

The male testes will also increase in size and become elevated and the nipples will become erect and sensitive to touch. As excitement increases, there will be a further increase in the size of the glands and the diameter of the penile shaft.

With continued stimulation, the man reaches a peak of sexual pleasure when there is dilation of the prostatic urethra and seminal fluid (sperm) flows into the urethra.


This is accompanied by a sensation of impending orgasm, leading to a rhythmic contraction of the perineal muscles and the pelvic reproductive organs, triggering a forceful ejaculation of semen and sexual release, followed by a state of deep relaxation.

What can go wrong?

Sexual dysfunction may take many forms. The most common problems are Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (low sex drive) and Penile Erectile Dysfunction (difficulties in achieving and maintaining an erection.


While psychological factors can play a big role in sexual problems, studies have suggested that 20 - 50% of men with erectile dysfunction have some organic base for their problem.

The most common organic causes of sexual dysfunction or a low sex drive are:

. Cardiovascular
. Renal or urological
. Nutritional (malnutrition, vitamin deficiency)
. Endocrine (hormonal)
. Neurological
. Pharmacological (alcohol, smoking, recreational and prescription drugs)
. Environmental toxins (lead, herbicides)
. General systemic health problems
. Sexual dysfunction may range from mild (low sex drive, weak erections, lack of       energy, slow and weak ejaculation) to severe (total  inability to achieve erection and complete lack of sexual desire).

What really helps?

There is a great deal of confusion about what really helps to treat sexual dysfunction.
In addition, those men simply wanting to increase sexual desire and performance are literally swamped with emails and other marketing gimmicks promising to make them into sexual mean machines with women simply lining up to meet them!

Medical interventions to treat sexual dysfunction include the following:

Testosterone injections

Penile self injections with vascoactive drugs (to increase blood flow to the penis)

Vacuum constriction devices

Penile prosthetic implants

Microvascular surgery

Medication (vasodilators like Viagra, Vasomax, apomorphine or suppositories)

Are there effective natural treatments?

In many cases, sexual dysfunction or sluggish sexual responses may be caused by poor systemic health, stress, the build up of toxins and unhealthy lifestyles.

In a way, sexual health can be seen as a sort of 'barometer' of overall systemic and psychological health.Men who are healthy, fit and confident about themselves and about life usually report a vigorous and satisfying sex life, no matter what their age.

Practitioners of Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, African herbalists and traditional healers from a wide range of cultures have many centuries of knowledge regarding the use of herbal medicines to treat a wide variety of medical problems and to promote optimum health and functioning.

In this respect, certain herbs have been identified as having strong aphrodisiac properties and the ability to improve sexual functioning and overall systemic health.

Recent studies have shown that many of these herbs have the ability to improve peripheral and systemic blood flow and to act as vasodilators, leading to increased blood flow to the penis and erectile tissue and therefore heightened sexual pleasure and performance.


In the correct dosage, certain herbs have also been shown to stimulate adrenal glands, improve endocrine and male hormonal functioning, boost stamina and vitality, increase libido and improve the health and functioning of the sexual organs, especially the prostate, penis and urethral systems.