Sad Banana 2

Medical Observer recently highlighted the increasing issue of Erectile Dysfunction amongst males and specifically made some points that I think we can all be in agreement about:

  1. Initiate the discussion – the more comfortable the practitioner is in asking about this issue, the more comfortable male patients will be in sharing their problems & the less likely they will be to buy dangerous meds etc. online (DIY medicine) which is becoming increasingly common
  2. Don’t treat without proper assessment first – erectile dysfunction (ED) is potentially a warning sign of serious co-morbidities e.g. diabetes, HBP, cardiovascular dx, treating without thorough investigation is essentially shooting the messenger
  3. Investigation should encompass:
    • Medical history including medications esp. antidepressants and specific attention paid to any cardiovascular risks
    • Drug and alcohol use
    • Physical trauma to the reproductive area which can include things such as cycling, or working in hot environments
    • Discussion pertaining to the sexual health of partners & psychosocial impact or context
    • Physical examination should include blood pressure, heart rate, abdominal aortic aneurysm, carotid bruits, foot pulses, and an assessment of body weight. 
    • “Examination of the penis and testes is mandatory.”  How many GPs do you know of who do this?  Not our job but interesting to know that it is theirs!
    • Pathology testing should include:
      • Fasting lipids, glucose & morning fasting testosterone (don’t forget about  asking for Calculated Free Testosterone or the Free Androgen Index instead which is regarded as more reliable)
  4. Offer simple solutions first – don’t reach for PDE5 inhibitors but think more holistically all about the factors playing into this presentation & all the ways we might need to support

Following on from my Men’s Health tour earlier this year I have had so much incredible feedback from practitioners about what they’ve discovered about their male patients since starting to a) have the conversation about sexual health & b) knowing how to thoroughly investigate men’s hormonal health…with this new insight comes more targeted treatment options and ultimately better patient outcomes.  Sounds like doctors and integrative health professionals are on the same page with this one at least! 🙂

If you missed the Men’s Hormones Seminars – you can now purchase the 3hr DVD with the notes direct from our website