Don't forget to bring back your "sexual happiness" when you go on a business trip; be wary of erectile dysfunction from disuse.

**Article 14**

**Don't forget to bring back your "sexual happiness" from your business trip!**

**Case Study**

**Name: Chen Wei (pseudonym), 38 years old**

**Region: Dalian, Liaoning**

**Occupation: Businessperson**

Chen Wei is a smart and capable businessman. His entire family relies on his business for support, and he excels at both home and work. Chen Wei's business is doing very well. In recent years, he has frequently traveled to other provinces and cities to manage business, and his business is booming. His wife also admires his achievements in his career.

However, Mr. Chen has recently been feeling helpless and distressed physically. He had hoped to enjoy a fulfilling sex life with his loved one after returning home from his business trip, but unexpectedly, his first sexual encounter after six months of absence ended in failure. He not only had difficulty achieving an erection, but also experienced poor hardness and short duration. He was puzzled, as his sex life had been quite harmonious in the past. Why had he become a patient with erectile dysfunction after only six months of business travel?

Professor Wu Tianpeng, Department of Andrology, Wuhan University People's Hospital: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is defined as the persistent inability to achieve and maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual intercourse over the past three months. If erectile dysfunction is infrequent and does not last more than three months, it cannot be arbitrarily diagnosed as ED. In the case of Chen Wei, ED is not present. However, if Chen Wei experiences erectile dysfunction for three months or longer after a six-month business trip, it could be diagnosed as ED.

We have indeed observed some cases of erectile dysfunction in frequent business travelers like Chen Wei. The reasons are multifaceted. Some call it "disuse erectile dysfunction." The human brain is key to controlling sexual desire. When desire arises, stimulation is transferred from the hypothalamus to the pituitary gland, creating an impulse to engage in sexual activity, which in turn sends an "erection" command to the penis. The corpora cavernosa of the penis are rich in smooth muscle and vascular endothelial cells. If there is no blood flow for a long time, these smooth muscles will gradually atrophy, affecting the corpora cavernosa's ability to fill with blood. If one is frequently away on business and has no sexual activity, the deliberate suppression of desire can lead to a sense of unfamiliarity and alienation from the above stimulation patterns. Over time, without exercise, the motor nerves of the penis can become dulled or even degenerate. Prolonged abstinence in normal men first has a negative psychological impact, which can then lead to erectile dysfunction. From a psychological perspective, lack of exercise can also cause panic and a feeling of inadequacy during intercourse, thus requiring a period of adjustment.

Business travelers should maintain a positive mindset and avoid excessive work pressure that could diminish their desire and memories of sex. Regular contact with their spouses is essential for emotional communication and maintaining sexual intimacy. Business trips should not be too long. If a prolonged trip is unavoidable and sexual activity is impossible, moderate masturbation when sexual desire is high is recommended to maintain the function of the sexual organs and release sexual tension.

Male erectile function is affected by physiological factors such as age and weight, with this effect being more pronounced in business travelers. Married men, due to prolonged business trips, experience physical and mental fatigue, coupled with sexual repression, making them more prone to erectile dysfunction. Irregular lifestyles and unbalanced nutrition during business trips also lead to changes in physiological state.

Business trips often involve frequent social engagements and excessive drinking, which can negatively impact sexual function. Alcohol damages multiple organs, including the heart, liver, and nervous system, but its effects are particularly pronounced on the reproductive system. Excessive alcohol consumption can accelerate the breakdown of testosterone in the body, leading to a relative increase in estrogen levels, testicular atrophy, decreased libido, and even erectile dysfunction.

Erectile dysfunction patients who frequently travel for work should receive proper and timely treatment.

First, psychotherapy is necessary. In Chen Wei's case, after several failed sexual experiences, he was confused and anxious, caught in a cycle of self-blame and guilt. At this point, professional medical help or a sex therapist is needed, but many people feel embarrassed and lack the courage to seek help. Coupled with complaints from their partners, this can easily lead to a fear of sex. Treatment for psychogenic erectile dysfunction is best undertaken with the participation of both partners. The goal is to relieve anxiety, improve communication between the couple, enhance their communication skills from verbal to non-verbal, and gradually improve their marital and sexual relationship.

Secondly, there is medication. Western medicine tablets containing PDE5 inhibitors are currently the internationally recognized first-line treatment. As a relatively new type of drug, it works under sexual stimulation through a series of neuroendocrine factors, relaxing the muscles of the corpora cavernosa, allowing arterial blood to flow in while venous blood flow stops, gradually restoring an erection. With a good erection, the patient's confidence increases, and other problems tend to resolve themselves.

In addition, it is important to actively control risk factors and change unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as quitting smoking, abstaining from alcohol, going to bed early and waking up early, exercising, and controlling weight.