Category Archives: Andropause

Penile Rehabilitation

September 27, 2014

Effect of Platelet-Rich Plasma on Penile Rehabilitation after Radical Prostatectomy

What is penile rehabilitation?

PenilePenile rehabilitation Procedures (PRPs) are different methods and practices that are used to help patients recover their ability to control eth functioning of their penises. For patients who have lost this important ability, specific methods are used to help them recover and regain it within the shortest time possible.

There are different methods and techniques that are used as part of Penile Rehabilitation Procedures. For instance, special devices that work as pumps may be used on a patient prior to having a sexual experience. Such devices work by altering the flow of blood within the corpora cavernosa region of the penis. By withholding blood in this region, such devices enable a man to have a full erection for he required length of time.

Other forms of procedures are used in this approach as well. For instance, special drugs have been developed for the sole function of altering the flow of blood as well the functioning of nerves in the prostate region. The basic purpose of all the methods and techniques used is to shorten the time that it takes for a man affected from temporary erectile dysfunction to regain the ability to erect.

When is penile rehabilitation needed?

Penile Rehabilitation Procedures are required for patients who have undergone Radical Prostatectomy and, as a result of this, have lost the ability to use their penises. Radical Prostatectomy is a special type of surgery that is usually carried out to remove the prostate in men who have advanced prostate cancer.

The need for the procedure is to deal with this type of cancer once and for all in cases where it has already metastasized and other forms of treatment are not tenable. Therefore, since prostate cancer is a common disease in men of advanced age, the use of this procedure to solve the problem has been and will remain common in the days to come.

Although this procedure is effective in dealing with prostate cancer, its effects on the body of a patient are severe. The most important effect of this procedure is that it leads to major damage of important nerves in the corpus cavernosa region. When the cavernous nerve is injured, the ability to control the penis is lost immediately.

After undergoing the procedure, many men are expected to lose this ability for a year or so. This is the approximated time that it takes for the nerves and tissues to heal completely. However, since many men exhibit the need for sex well in their advanced ages, there is need for the time taken to regain the ability to erect to be reduced. Herein is the need for Penile Rehabilitation Procedures.

What is platelet- rich plasma?

This is a relatively new type of procedure that can be used to treat erectile dysfunction arising from the damage caused by Radical Prostatectomy. The exact effect of this method on the body of a patient is yet to be fully documented but work has proven that the method is quite effective. What happens in this method is that plasma that is rich in platelets and is derived from the body of a patient is used to correct the damage done to the corpus cavernosa region of the penis. It is believed that the healing nature of the cells that are contained in the plasma used in this procedure is effective in repairing the tissues in this region.

How is platelet rich plasma administered?

One advantage of this method as compared to the Other Penile Rehabilitation Procedures is that it does not entail the use of drugs or other devices that may be unpleasant to some people. What happens is that a small sample of blood is drawn form a person. The sample is then subjected to special laboratory treatment so that only the platelets are separated. The separated platelets are then injected back to the body of a person, but this time, at specific locations around the penis. Special local anesthesia is used to ensure that a patient does not experience pain in the course of the procedure. The entire procedure takes less than 30 minutes.

How does platelet rich plasma work?

The procedure works by simply stimulating healing, growth and regeneration in the entire corpus cavernosa region. Naturally, platelets have been known to play a critical role in the healing process. Therefore, their introduction to the damaged region triggers the natural healing process. Furthermore, the platelet-rich plasma that is introduced in the region stimulates the activity of stem cells, another important aspect of natural healing and regeneration.

PenileThe exact process by which Platelet Rich Plasma works to help a person recover the ability to erect is related to the effect that this therapy has on the nerve fibers within the region. Since Radical Prostatectomy damages nerve fibers, this procedure works by restoring the fibers that are necessary for smooth functioning of the nerves in the corpus cavernosa region.

If you have undergone Radical Prostatectomy and have lost your ability to erect as a result, you definitely need to undergo specific Penile Rehabilitation Procedures. We recommend that you visit us at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Centre. We are located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Dr. Dalal Akoury will be ready to work with you on the most appropriate form of Penile Rehabilitation Procedure to undertake.

Effect of Platelet-Rich Plasma on Penile Rehabilitation after Radical Prostatectomy

 

 

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Testosterone Therapy and Cancer Treatment

September 25, 2014

Testosterone Therapy and Breast Cancer

TestosteroneTestosterone therapy has been in use for treatment of women who have problems with their libido for a long time. Its use, however, has not been without controversy. On one hand has been the concern that using testosterone therapy to treat libido problems in women may actually expose them to the risk of developing breast cancer. On the other, there has been evidence to suggest that using the therapy on women actually helps them by preventing the possible development of breast cancer. In this article, the possible use of testosterone therapy to provide protection against the development of breast cancer is examined.

Use of testosterone therapy for decreased libido

Testosterone therapy has been a popular option for treating women having problems with their libido. Theoretically, there are several problems that may be the root cause of lack of libido in women. For instance, factors arising from the situation in which a woman operates may result to a decline in sexual desire. Highly stressful environments characterized by tension definitely lead to a decline in sexual libido in women. Besides, use of drugs, particularly antidepressant and drugs used to treat mental illnesses such as psychosis, has been strongly associated with low libido in women. Further, other normal body processes that occur after menopause have also been pointed out as possible causes of low libido in women. Menopause -related factors may be as a result of body processes that occur after natural menopause or those induced by surgical menopause.

Since it has been known that such cases low libido in women may actually have an underlying relationship to hormonal imbalances, the use of hormone – based therapies to handle them has been a common practice. In all these cases, testosterone therapy has been used to stimulate the libido of such women. This has been common in women who are past their menopause. In such cases, the therapy has proven effective in restoring the libido of such women, at least in the short term.

Concerns about use of testosterone therapy for decreased libido in women

There have been a number of concerns about the safety of using this therapy on women. Of particular concern has been the role that this therapy plays with regard to the onset and development of breast cancer among the women on whom it is used. Although there has been no strong scientific evidence to prove the case, the safety fears with regard to the use of the therapy have been that the therapy may pose a stimulatory effect on the breast cells which may lead to the development of cancer. The basis of this concern has been that the full effects of testosterone therapy on the physiology of the patients have not been well documented.

The possible way by which the therapy has been feared to lead to breast cancer development has been in two forms. First, there have been fears that testosterone therapy, like general androgens, may directly stimulate the androgen receptor in the breast of the patients, thus creating the right conditions for development of cancer. Secondly, it has been feared that the therapy may lead to production of estrogen within the breast tissue of the patient. This is said to possibly occur via activation of a complex enzyme process within the breast, thus predisposing a patient to breast cancer.

Use of testosterone therapy for decreased development of breast cancer

A lot of studies have been carried out to ascertain the veracity of the fears discussed before. In all these studies, results have indicated that use of testosterone therapy to treat libido problems in post-menopausal women does not expose them to the risk of developing breast cancer; quite the contrary. Strong evidence from several studies has indicated that use of testosterone therapy to treat such women may actually be responsible for providing protection against the development of breast cancer.

Contrary to popular belief that the therapy may trigger the onset of breast cancer either directly or via a complex process of enzyme activation, strong evidence has indicated that indeed, testosterone therapy does the opposite: inhibits the possible development of cancer cells within the breasts. What this means is that testosterone has been found to slow down the rate of growth of the cells found in the breasts thus reducing the possibility of the cells developing into cancerous ones. This mechanism offers inner protection to the breast against the possibility of the onset of cancer.

In a study conducted to determine the effectiveness of testosterone inhibiting the onset and development of cancer, it was found that the hormone is effective in blocking the onset and possible development of several different lines of breast cancer. Therefore, apart from blocking the possible development of cancer cells within the breast, testosterone has been found to limit the possibility of cancer cells developing and multiplying.

Conclusion

From the evidence of different studies presented here, three important conclusions can be drawn with regard to the use of testosterone therapy for treating low libido in post-menopausal women.

TestosteroneThe first one is that the therapy does not have an association with the onset and development of breast cancer. The second conclusion is that testosterone therapy actually provides internal protection to the breast because it prevents the possibility of cancer developing. The third one is that the therapy is useful in breast cancer management in that it has shown the ability to limit the spread of cancer cells within the breast.

Dr. Akoury has built AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina as a leading center for cancer care and treatment. Added to her training, expertise and dedication, the services that we offer at this place have made us one of the best. If you are experiencing low libido and are worried about the possible effects of hormone therapy, you may talk to us and we shall provide all the information required.

Testosterone Therapy and Breast Cancer

 

 

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September 24, 2014

The Effect of Testosterone Level On Risk Of Prostate Cancer


TestosteroneIntroduction In this article, we shall examine the effect of testosterone level on the risk of prostate cancer. This has remained a subject of great controversy because of the divergent views that have been fronted. Basically the argument has been that using testosterone therapy on men who have been treated of prostate cancer in the past exposes them to the risk of developing the cancer afresh. The reason given for this has been that the therapy could reawaken sleeping cancer cells in the body of the patient, thus triggering a new and aggressive attack. On the other end of the spectrum has been the argument that testosterone therapy is not necessarily associated with cancer recurrence. And there have been studies to support this. We shall look at both sets of arguments in detail.

Testosterone therapy

This is a common form of therapy that is widely used to treat a number of complications in aging men. With the process of aging comes a sustained decline in the amount of testosterone in the body of men. A decline in the amount of testosterone in the body is associated with a number of problems. For instance, men at advanced ages usually experience decreased libido. This effect can be attributed to a complex interplay of hormones within the body which is triggered by a reduction in the amount of testosterone. In the same manner, symptoms such as general fatigue and even other forms of sexual dysfunction (apart from the low libido mentioned) have been treated by use of testosterone therapy. Prostate cancer Prostate cancer is a common form of disease in men of advanced age. Although studies have indicated that the disease is able to affect men of even lower ages, it has been common for the disease to be associated with advanced age. The complex interaction between different factors in the body of men at advanced ages has been studies and the results have indicated that the risk of development of prostate cancer in men increases rapidly as they advance in age. So, with a decrease in the amount of testosterone, which automatically occurs with an increase in age, comes a rise in the risk for developing prostate cancer. Although this is true, it is worthwhile to mention that currently, studies are being conducted to determine whether the relationship is as a result of decline in testosterone levels in the prostate alone or the body as a whole.

Testosterone and treatment of prostate cancer

For men who develop prostate cancer, the standard treatment procedure has been a radical reduction of the hormones in the body. This procedure has been used in many cases in which prostate cancer has developed and metastasized fully. However, studies have indicated that in some cases, prostate cancer is able to withstand such a treatment and recur in the future, if triggered by existence of the right conditions. The manner in which this occurs has been attributed to the ability of prostate cells to produce testosterone at a much higher level than before the hormone-reducing therapy was administered. What this means is that even if the amount of testosterone in the body of a patient is dramatically reduced by the procedure, the amount in the prostate remains the same, thus compensating for the loss. Therefore, when the right conditions are created, the cells that produce excess testosterone may develop into cancer cells.

Testosterone therapy and prostate cancer

Standard procedure for tackling prostate cancer in men has been through surgery, chemotherapy and even immunotherapy. However, history and studies have indicated that when men who have been successfully treated of prostate cancer are exposed to testosterone therapy later in their lives, the possibility of the prostate cancer reoccurring is highly increased. If this is so, then testosterone therapy becomes dangerous for men who have been successfully treated of prostate cancer before. However, there have been arguments to the contrary. Since a lot of studies have been conducted on this matter, we summarize the most important points here as follows. First, although some studies have indicated that giving the therapy to men who have been successfully treated of prostate cancer exposes them to the risk of developing the disease afresh, the degree of risk remains minimal, at the best. Since the association has not been firmly established, the balance of probability has been that whether or not to administer the treatment to such patients depends on the judgment of the specialist. It is safe to say that the outcome of using testosterone therapy in men who have undergone successful treatment of prostate cancer cannot be predicted with certainty. Second, there has been evidence to suggest that men with low levels of testosterone are at a higher risk of developing prostate cancer compared to those having normal testosterone levels. Therefore, if such men seek testosterone therapy in the future the risk of developing the cancer remains. This is so because testosterone therapy is not used as a prostate cancer treatment method.

TestosteroneConcluding remarks

AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center has been established as a leading center for cancer treatment. We offer our clients a wide range of services in relation to cancer diagnosis, treatment and general management. Feel free to contact Dr. Dalal Akoury, a leading specialist in alternative and complementary treatment of cancer, for an appointment.

 

 

The Effect of Testosterone Level on Risk Of Prostate Cancer

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PRP and Nerve Function in Penis

September 23, 2014

 

Using PRP to Preserve Nerve Function in The Penis After Post Radical Prostatectomy

Penis For many patients, undergoing radical prostatectomy, a complex surgical procedure that is meant to remove prostate cancer, means that they lose their penile ability, at least for some time. On average, it has been established that following this procedure, patients have to wait for one to two years before regaining this innate ability. This is so because the nature of the procedure inflicts widespread damage to the sensitive nerves that are responsible for the function. Other factors such as thermal damage and the overall impact of the procedure add to this, thus contributing to the long time that one has to stay without the ability. Although this is the case, the possibility of using Penile Rehabilitation Procedures (PRPs) to help patients has been a subject of discussion. This article is based on how such programs can be effectively used to help patients.

The impact of Radical Prostatectomy on the functioning of the penis

Radical Prostatectomy(RP)is a type of surgery that is used on patients who have prostate cancer. Its effectiveness lies in the fact that such a type of prostate cancer is usually benign, being restricted to the organ of the patient. The impact of the procedure is usually felt on two levels: the nervous and the physiological. On the physiological level, radical prostatectomy causes a number of far – reaching consequences to the patient. For instance, studies have indicated that the flow of blood within the prostate region of patients who have undergone the procedure changes significantly. Such changes in the blood supply, which is technically referred to as venous leakage, interrupt the normal hematological processes of the region, thus leading to erectile dysfunction.

Also, the procedure inevitably leads to destruction of major nerves within the region. Although this has been minimized by adoption of Robot – Assisted Radical Prostatectomy (RARP), the procedure always leads to erectile dysfunction. Studies have indicated that loss of nerve functions within the area is a result of death of the cells that are responsible for the functioning of smooth muscles in the region. This leads to an interference of the amount of fibers found in the smooth muscles, a condition which persists for between one and two years, depending on the patient and other factors.

Use of Penile Rehabilitation Procedures

Since many men continue to experience the desire to have sex well in their old age, it is very important that such men, who may have lost their erectile ability soon after the procedure to remove prostate cancer, find help about the issue. Further, the fact that studies have indicated that over 80% of all patients who undergo the procedure experience erectile dysfunction means that the need for penile rehabilitation procedures remains a reality.

The overall goal of penile rehabilitation procedures is to help a patient regain the ability to initiate and sustain an erection that is strong enough to enable him successfully engage in a sexual act. Theoretically, since it has been pointed out that loss of erection in such patients is a result of disturbance in the flow of blood in the prostate region as well as destruction of the functioning of the cells of the smooth muscles, the procedures seek to reverse these effects. Apart from restoring a normal flow of blood within the penis, the procedures seek to reverse the effect of fibrosis in the penile muscles thus enabling a patient to have normal erections.

Types of Penile Rehabilitation Procedures

There are several types of penile rehabilitation procedures that can be used on patients. Since most of them have specific advantages and disadvantages, the choice of which particular method to be used depends on the opinion of the practitioner and the wishes of the patient.

Use of PDE-Inhibitors

The first method entails use of special drugs that inhibit hormones which have been known to interfere with the chemical process that leads to an erection. Known as PDE-5 inhibitors, these drugs make it easy for blood to flow within the penis tissue by causing the smooth muscles to relax. They are usually taken an hour or so prior to engaging in sexual activity.

Regardless of their ease of use, the success rate of these drugs, particularly in patients who have undergone Radical Prostatectomy remains low. What this means is that although the drugs have been used to effectively treat erectile dysfunction, their success with men who have undergone Radical Prostatectomy remains a matter of concern.

Use of special devices

Special devices can also be used as part of the Penile Rehabilitation Procedures. There are several such special devices that one can use to ensure that he gets and maintains an erection during sexual intercourse. One of them is the venous constriction device which is a small loop that is worn at the base of the penis prior to intercourse. The device works by limiting the amount of blood that flows from the penis through the veins, thus enabling a person to sufficiently maintain a stiff erection.

PenisAnother one is the vacuum constriction device which, as the name suggests, works by sucking blood into the penis thus initiating an erection. The device is usually used minutes to intercourse and its efficiency has been commendable.

Conclusion

Although research has indicated that majority of men who have undergone Radical Prostatectomy lose the ability to initiate and maintain an erection, there is hope: use of Penile Rehabilitation Procedures. If you have this condition, you may consider contacting us at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center for Personalized Penile Rehabilitation Procedures.

 

Using PRP to Preserve Nerve Function in The Penis After Post Radical Prostatectomy

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Antidepressants and Sexual Desire

September 23, 2014

Use of Antidepressant Drugs And Decreased Sexual Desire In Men And Women

Introduction

AntidepressantFor years, studies have indicated that the use of different types of antidepressant drugs causes high incidence of decreased sexual desire in both men and women who take them. The incidence, intensity and distribution of this condition vary from place to place and largely depend on the specific drug that is being used. In this article, a number of common antidepressant drugs that are responsible for decreased levels of sexual desire in men and women will be examined. This will be followed by a brief description of how this process actually occurs. Lastly, various solutions that are used to treat the condition will be briefly discussed.

Some common antidepressant drugs that cause decreased sexual desire

Before we look at specific antidepressant drugs that are responsible for decreased sexual desire among men and women, it is perhaps important to point out at this stage that there are many types of drugs that when used have been known to cause decline in sexual desire in individuals. Generally, drugs that are meant to be used to cure psychiatric problems may have an effect on the level, frequency and intensity of sexual desire in men and women who use them. Therefore, drugs such as triazolam and diazepam which are used to treat conditions such as insomnia and excessive anxiety have been found to reduce the level of sexual desire in men and women who use them. The same effect has been found for drugs such as sparine which are used in the treatment of general psychotic conditions.

In the case of antidepressants, many of the drugs that are used as first line of treatment for the condition have been shown to cause decreased sexual desire in both sexes. The Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, as they are commonly called, have been found to cause a wide range of problems which generally interfere with the overall sexual desire in men and women who use them. Also, tricyclic antidepressants which are used to treat depression have been found to decrease the level of sexual desire in both sexes.

How use of antidepressant drugs causes decreased sexual desire

The manner in which different antidepressant drugs reduce the level of sexual desire in men and women who are using them is complex and varies with the specific drug that is being used. However, in simple terms, the drugs interfere with the secretion, distribution and effect of special hormones which are associated with sexual drive. The result of this is that a man experiences different sexual issues such as delayed orgasm or failure to initiate an erection. For a woman, the failure to experience orgasm is a common occurrence.

The manner in which Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors cause decreased sexual desire in men and women is fascinating. First, when used, the drugs cause a sudden rise in the level of serotonin in the body. This leads to a decrease in the level of dopamine, an important neurotransmitter, in the body. Following the decrease of dopamine, the amount of cortico-limbic 5-HT is suddenly increased. This condition is what leads to decreased sexual desire in individuals. Of course the manifestation of decreased sexual desire varies with the sexes. Whereas men may fail to erect or take long to ejaculate, women usually experience it in the form of failing to reach an orgasm

What is important is that many different antidepressant drugs cause a decrease in sexual desire by affecting specific aspects of sex. Depending on the way in which they work, the drugs may inhibit orgasm in men and women, mess up with the erection process in men, inhibit lubrication in women and reduce overall libido in men and women.

Solutions to decreased sexual desire resulting from use of antidepressants

There are several strategies that can be used to treat decreased sexual desire resulting from use of antidepressant drugs in men and women. Each of the strategies, though, presents a number of possible challenges which need to be handled. For instance, decreasing the dosage of the antidepressant drugs will definitely reduce the severity of the side effects in the form of decreased sexual desire. However, this may compromise the outcome of the treatment regime being used.

In the same vein, using alternative drugs may help one overcome the effects of the earlier one at least for a while. But since many antidepressant drugs have been known to have different effects on the sexual drive of men and women who use them, it will only be a matter of time before a different set of problems occurs.

Using drugs that directly combat sexual dysfunction may help. But then interactions have been known to occur between such drugs and active ingredients that are found in a wide range of antidepressant drugs. Further, such drugs do present their own side effects over the long term, thus complicating matters further.

AntidepressantThis leaves natural alternatives as the only viable option of handling the issue of decreased sexual desire arising from the effect of antidepressant drugs. There are a wide range of natural methods that can be used to help one regain sexual desire after suffering from the effects of antidepressant drugs. For instance, use of specific diet as well as natural products can help one regain the lost sexual drive without worrying about possible interactions with the drugs that are being used to treat depression.

Therefore, since decreased sexual desire is a highly sensitive issue, you need to see your doctor immediately the issue is detected. Dr. Dalal Akoury of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center can help you regain your libido by use of a wide range of safe and effective natural methods. Contact us today or pay us a visit in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for effective and personalized services.

Use of Antidepressant Drugs And Decreased Sexual Desire In Men And Women

 

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