Pituitary gland and sexual dysfunction, the effect of age on sexual function and sexual problems in older men

218.

Pituitary gland and male sexual dysfunction

The pituitary gland is located in the brain and is divided into the anterior pituitary gland and the neuropituitary gland. The normal function of the anterior pituitary gland is crucial for maintaining normal male sexual function.

The anterior pituitary gland secretes seven hormones, including: growth hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone, melanocyte-stimulating hormone, gonadotropins, and prolactin.

Among them, gonadotropins have the most important and direct relationship with the maintenance of male sexual function.

Gonadotropins include follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Only when these two substances act on the testes can the testes develop and maintain normal function.

Therefore, if a young male loses pituitary function, his testes and accessory sex glands cannot develop to maturity and remain immature.

In adults, if pituitary function is lost, the testes atrophy and cannot produce sperm; the accessory sex organs also atrophy.

Symptoms include decreased or absent libido, impotence, and loss of facial, armpit, and pubic hair.

The function of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is to promote the secretion of adrenal cortex hormones. The relationship between adrenal cortex hormones and male sexual function has been explained in the previous question.

Other prolactin and thyroid-stimulating hormone also have direct or indirect effects on male sexual function, and can also cause decreased libido and erectile dysfunction.

219.

The effect of age on male sexual function

The extent to which men can maintain sexual function during the natural aging process varies greatly from person to person. Some men stop having sex at 50 or 60, while others still have normal libido and sexual ability at 80 or even over 100, and can even have children. Therefore, it is difficult to answer this question accurately.

According to relevant statistics, about 80% of men under the age of 69 still have the ability to have sexual intercourse. Pathological studies have found that the testes of men over 70 years old still have reproductive capacity, and the interstitial cells that secrete male hormones do not show obvious abnormalities. Therefore, it is medically confirmed that most men over 70 years old still have sexual ability.

As Professor Wu Jieping, a renowned urologist in my country, stated in his book "Sexual Medicine," it is important to recognize the significant individual differences among older adults in their sexual attitudes, interests, and abilities. This is certainly true. If a person has good health, maintains a strong sexual interest, and has a spouse with a high level of sexual interest, then it is certain that their sexual interest and abilities can indeed be maintained until the age of 70, 80, or 90.

Therefore, older adults should have confidence in themselves, maintain a positive attitude, and consult a doctor promptly if they have any doubts or questions about sexual issues in order to maintain their physical and mental health.

220.

Sexual dysfunction problems that may occur in older men

Typical sexual dysfunctions in elderly men include decreased libido, even sexual aversion, ejaculation without erection, failure to ejaculate during orgasm, and impotence caused by hypertension, diabetes, neuropathy, vascular disease, medication, etc.

221.

Mental, psychological, and social factors that cause sexual dysfunction in older men

It is undeniable that male sexual response declines with age. However, the sexual function and behavior of older men vary from person to person, and the greatest influence on their sexual response is not the physical body itself, but rather various psychosocial factors.

(1) Monotonous sexual relationship: It is important for women to remain “feminine” in sexual relationships. If they neglect the necessity of continuing to make efforts in the marital relationship in old age and indulge in social activities, taking care of children, personal careers, or any interests outside of the center of marriage, the result will be that they no longer pay attention to male sexual stimulation, which will undoubtedly affect the sexual interest of elderly men.

(2) Men’s excessive focus on economic or career pursuits: Most men aged 40 to 60 are at the peak of their career competition, which is the harvest season of their lives and the golden years to realize the hopes of their youth. They are constantly pursuing in the competitive world.

They poured their hearts and souls into their work and strived with all their might. However, in the ever-changing competitive world, their interest in sex life was unconsciously interfered with by work factors, leaving them no time to pay attention to their sexual relationship with their spouse. Over time, this led them into a deep sexual crisis.

(3) Mental or physical fatigue: The strong career and money desires of middle-aged and older men make them busy with heavy career and life burdens, often working overtime and overtime until they are mentally exhausted and physically fatigued, resulting in decreased libido and decreased sexual response.

(4) Eating and drinking: Many men try to suppress various tensions by eating and drinking, but the result is the opposite. It not only directly suppresses the sexual tension of older men, but also puts them in a shackle of urgent concern about sexual performance.

(5) Fear of failure: The fear of failure often causes a series of pathological psychological changes, which aggravates the already naturally declining sexual function and causes the elderly to withdraw from sexual life early.

222.

The correct attitude of the elderly towards sex life

Influenced by traditional ideas, people believe that they should not have sex when they get old. Even if they have such desires, they are afraid of being ridiculed by others and often take a suppressive attitude.

Now, with the development of science and technology, the progress of civilization, and the improvement of their own quality, the elderly must also have a correct understanding of their sex life and sexual needs.

(1) It is an objective understanding that sexual life is a natural phenomenon of organisms and a requirement of healthy physiology, and is not something like "old womanizer" or "old lewd". This kind of understanding is wrong and is also the reason for sexual dysfunction in a considerable number of elderly people.

(2) Elderly men should clearly and correctly understand and deal with the natural changes in their sexual physiological reactions that occur with age, and properly adjust and adapt to these changes. They should not blindly pursue strong sexual stimulation, and they should also make their spouses aware of this, so as to understand, respect and cooperate with each other, thereby achieving a happy sex life in their later years.

(3) Maintain a relatively high level of sexual activity. If older men can maintain a high level of sexual activity from their youth and are not interfered with by acute or chronic physical defects, then even if they reach 70 or even 80 years old, they can maintain some form of active sexual expression without being affected by the "limited sexual energy theory".

(4) If there is sexual dysfunction, you can ask a doctor for guidance on treatment, such as behavioral training and psychotherapy. If necessary, some auxiliary tools can be used to help elderly men solve sexual problems when they do not have a sexual partner, such as the use of artificial vaginas, massagers, etc. These are currently sold in sex shops in large, medium and small cities in my country and can be selected.