Long-term illnesses, cancer and cancer treatment, aging, life stressors, mental health issues, and relationship problems can all cause or increase sexual dysfunction issues. Many people struggling with sexual dysfunction are too ashamed to reach out for help, or to even ask questions to their doctor at medical visits.

Intimacy and sexual function are a vital part of human existence, and having those questions heard and answered can help the individual to feel empowered, confident, and ready to take on these challenges in therapy.

The following questions are commonly asked about men’s sexual wellness and dysfunction issues.

  • “Is there anything I can do to shrink an enlarged prostate?”
    • An enlarged prostate can cause erection problems and issues with urination and incontinence. The prostate usually swells and enlarges when a backup of semen is trapped, and the bacteria begins to grow from the stagnant liquid. This is called prostatitis. These can disrupt sleep, sexual function, and the entirety of one’s life (NIH). Erectile dysfunction can be caused by an enlarged prostate or other medical issues. These can disrupt sleep, sexual function, and the entirety of one’s life. A prostate massager is a stimulator especially made to reach a male’s prostate. The prostate is comparable to the woman’s pleasure zones, in that pressure and stimulation to the area can trigger pleasure and intense orgasm. The prostate is located just below the bladder at the base of the penis and is the size of a walnut (CDC).
      • Massaging the prostate can bring on powerful, long-lasting feelings of pleasure and the desire to have an intense orgasm and ejaculation. This is a benefit to the body because this helps to flush out the stagnant semen that has built up or become trapped inside of the prostate. Having regular penile stimulation with or without orgasms, with or without ejaculation, is healthy and keeps the entire male reproductive system working.
  • “Chemotherapy has left me with only partial erection ability. How can I still have penetrative intercourse?”
    • There are many ways to maintain an active sex life, including penetrative intercourse, with mid-level erectile dysfunction. Wearable devices and strap-on devices offer support for a flaccid penis to be able to insert into an orifice.  Support extenders and girth enhancers can also help support a half-erect, not-fully-erect penis for activity. Regularly practicing pump therapy can help to rebuild lost muscle tone and cell retention and works to revive cells to remember how to hold blood tightly to create an erection.
      • There are also masturbator sleeve and device options to provide stimulation and pleasure in various ways.
  • “After medical treatment, I lost feeling in my genitals. Is there something I can do to work on restoring feeling?”
    • To help increase nerve function and sensitivity, consider adding vibration or other feeling-sensory action into your routine. Vibration can be beneficial for the body by helping muscles and nerves relax and reduce tension. These same vibrations, when set to certain hertz levels, can stimulate healing, blood flow, and better circulation (NIH). These types of different sensations can also be very stimulating sexually when done in or around the genitals (NIH).
  • “I have complete loss of ability. How can I ever have penetrative sex again?”
    • Erectile dysfunction is always trying to be a thief of sexual pleasure and fun. The truth is that there are a multitude of therapies, devices, medications, surgeries, and options out there to do to work on restoring lost function. There are always options like wearable hollow strap-ons, which allow for a flaccid penis to slide inside with lubrication and proceed with penetrative intercourse with a partner. There are also a multitude of wearables to support varying levels of erection capability.
  • “I have lost feeling in my penis but want to feel sexual pleasure again. I have heard about anal pleasure & plugs but am afraid to try.”
    • Anal pleasure and stimulation can be a great alternative for those men who cannot find or achieve pleasure via penile pleasure. It is okay and normal to want to try this type of stimulation. There are various devices that work best for anal stimulation. Those devices are anal plugs, anal beads, anal probes, anal vibrators, and prostate massagers. These devices are designed to stimulate specific areas where there are hundreds of thousands of pleasure nerves waiting to “wake back up.” If you are using anal devices, be sure to learn about anal sex and stimulation safety, have a quality lubrication, and give yourself patience when beginning.

If you have questions about erection support devices or wearables for men, reach out to our team to get your questions answered.

Citations:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Institutes of Health

ForHims