Scientific understanding of aphrodisiacs, sexual life of hyperthyroid patients, and the impact of Behçet's syndrome

206.

Unveiling the Mystery of "Aphrodisiacs"

Due to the influence of traditions throughout history, people have been tirelessly searching for drugs that can enhance libido with great interest from ancient times to the present, but this has been shrouded in mystery.

In fact, aphrodisiacs refer to drugs that can enhance sexual desire; they are also known as sexual stimulants, aphrodisiacs, and spermicides.

However, to date, no true aphrodisiac has been discovered. Only some drugs have a certain therapeutic effect on patients with certain sexual dysfunctions, and those "aphrodisiacs" that are described as having miraculous effects may not actually be so "miraculous" or so effective.

Aphrodisiacs are generally used to treat sexual dysfunctions such as erectile dysfunction. These drugs have strict indications. If sexual function is normal, blindly pursuing aphrodisiacs and abusing them will have the opposite effect.

Therefore, these medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor.

Mainly:

(1) Yohimbine is currently the most widely used and well-established herbal medicine. It can increase parasympathetic nerve activity and reduce sympathetic nerve activity, thereby increasing penile blood flow and reducing penile blood outflow. It is suitable for treating functional sexual dysfunction, diabetic and vascular impotence.

It has side effects such as palpitations and hypersexuality.

Contraindicated in patients with kidney disease, those allergic to the drug, as well as women, pregnant women, children, the elderly, patients with heart disease, and patients with gastric or duodenal ulcers.

(2) Stirling is usually used in combination with yohimbine.

It selectively enhances spinal cord excitability. The therapeutic dose (1 mg) can increase the irritability of spinal cord reflexes, shorten reflex time, and facilitate nerve impulse conduction. It is suitable for patients with impotence such as paralysis and hemiplegia. However, large doses can easily lead to poisoning.

Poisoning can cause tonic-clonic seizures, paroxysmal attacks, opisthotonus, and in severe cases, even respiratory arrest.

(3) Dopamine agonists: Elderly people with Parkinson's disease can improve their sexual function by taking levodopa orally. Another dopamine agonist (bromocriptine) can also promote sexual function. This drug can reduce the blood concentration of prolactin and restore sexual function in patients with high prolactin levels.

Levodopa is contraindicated in the following patients: acute psychosis, hemolytic anemia, pregnant women, angle-closure glaucoma, cardiovascular disease, and severe endocrine disorders.

(4) Androgens: For a small number of patients with low blood testosterone, and erectile dysfunction can be treated with androgens, which can restore libido.

This medication is contraindicated in patients with normal blood testosterone levels.

(5) Aphrodisiac Chinese herbal medicines, such as deer antler, curculigo, epimedium, aconite, morinda root, eucommia bark, cistanche, and cnidium fruit, have the effect of warming and tonifying kidney yang.

Animal experiments have shown that this type of drug can increase blood testosterone levels and has androgen-like effects, and has a certain therapeutic effect on patients with low libido and impotence.

(6) Illegal aphrodisiacs, such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, amyl nitrite, and hallucinogens, most of which have a sexual arousal effect in small doses, but long-term high doses can lead to impotence, anejaculation, etc.

207.

Scientifically arrange the sexual life of hyperthyroid patients

Under normal circumstances, the thyroid gland secretes an appropriate amount of thyroid hormones, which promote metabolism, enhance physical growth and development, improve the efficiency of the nervous system, and strengthen muscle contraction.

Hyperthyroidism is caused by an excess of thyroid hormones in the bloodstream.

Typical symptoms of hyperthyroidism include irritability, extreme excitement, palpitations and sweating, increased appetite, gastrointestinal dysfunction, and physical signs such as goiter, bulging eyes, hand tremors, and increased pulse rate.

Hyperthyroidism can cause various forms of sexual dysfunction and sexual behavior disorders.

Approximately 10% to 20% of patients experience hypersexuality, especially those with mild hyperthyroidism. About 5% of patients have no change in libido, 30% to 40% experience decreased libido, and about 40% experience erectile dysfunction.

The mechanisms that cause sexual dysfunction are not fully understood.

The patient had increased thyroid hormone levels, but the physiological significance of several metabolic changes in androgens and estrogens was unclear.

Regarding sexual activity, patients with mild hyperthyroidism can have normal sexual activity after their condition is controlled with medication; those with moderate hyperthyroidism should restrict or abstain from sexual activity while undergoing treatment; and those with severe hyperthyroidism, who have significant systemic symptoms and whose sexual activity is inherently stressful, emotionally volatile, and physically demanding, should abstain from sexual activity altogether.

If hyperthyroidism is treated surgically, sexual activity is not recommended before the surgery. After the surgery, depending on the condition, sexual activity can be gradually resumed after more than 3 months of stabilization.

208.

The impact of Behçet's syndrome on sexual life

Behçet's syndrome is characterized by oral and external genital ulcers, skin and eye lesions.

Oral ulcers commonly occur on the lips, tip of the tongue, underside of the tongue, floor of the mouth, cheeks, gums, and palate mucosa. In men, genital ulcers commonly occur on the glans penis, coronal sulcus, foreskin, and urethral opening. In women, they commonly occur on the labia majora and minora, vagina, and cervix.

Genital ulcers are larger and deeper than oral ulcers, but are less painful.

Its impact on sexual life manifests in the following aspects:

First, ulcers and pain in the external genitalia, which lead to scarring after healing, can severely affect sexual intercourse and sexual pleasure.

Secondly, patients fear triggering ulcers and try to avoid sexual activity, which can further lead to sexual dysfunction.

Furthermore, the treatment of this disease often involves corticosteroids and immunosuppressants, both of which have adverse effects on sexual function, inhibiting male spermatogenesis and reducing libido.

People with Behçet's syndrome should generally avoid sexual intercourse when they have genital ulcers. Sexual intercourse can only resume after the genital ulcers have healed.

If there are serious complications, comprehensive treatment should be actively pursued. Sexual activity can be resumed after the condition is completely under control.

Because the patient's skin and mucous membranes are extremely sensitive to various stimuli, kissing, hugging, and touching during sexual intercourse can lead to oral ulcers and skin infections.

Therefore, during sexual activity, try to minimize irritation to the skin and mucous membranes, and reduce kissing and hugging.

209.

It is not advisable to have sexual intercourse immediately after meals or bathing.

Traditional Chinese medicine has many warnings about sexual activity, one of which is: "Do not have sex after you are full, and do not have sex after you are full."

This means that you should not have sexual intercourse immediately after a full meal.

In addition, experience tells us that it is not advisable to have sex immediately after taking a shower.

Why is that? After eating, in order to digest food and absorb nutrients, the body will mobilize more blood to the gastrointestinal tract, which suddenly increases the workload of the gastrointestinal tract. After taking a bath, the blood vessels in the skin will fully dilate, so more blood will temporarily accumulate in the dilated blood vessels in the skin.

Therefore, it can be seen that the temporary large-scale mobilization of blood in the body after eating or bathing will result in a relative reduction in the blood allocated to the reproductive organs.

However, when sexually aroused, the most prominent manifestation of penile erection is engorgement, which means that during intercourse, the body also mobilizes a large amount of blood to flow to the sexual organs.

If sexual intercourse occurs immediately after a meal or bath, the sexual organs face an awkward situation where they compete with the blood vessels of the gastrointestinal tract or skin for blood flow. Since the total amount of blood in the body is fixed, insufficient blood supply is inevitable, which will inevitably affect the quality of sexual life.

Even if the sexual organs take the lead in obtaining blood, it can still have adverse effects on the gastrointestinal tract or the body's blood mobilization function.

If you already have coronary heart disease, the situation is even worse. In the "battle" for blood, you are more likely to experience insufficient blood supply to your heart muscle, which can trigger angina or myocardial infarction.

Therefore, it is evident that engaging in sexual activity immediately after meals or bathing is harmful to health.

210.

Treating the sexual needs of people with disabilities properly

Due to the influence of traditional ideas, some people believe that disabled people do not have sexual problems, which is inappropriate.

Although people with disabilities are subject to certain physical limitations, their emotional needs are the same as those of able-bodied people. Physical disability does not represent a loss of function.

However, the relationship between disability and sexual function is complex and cannot be generalized.

First, it is important to understand the nature of the disability: Is it congenital or acquired? Is it physical, mental or psychological, or a combination of both? How does it limit movement, sensation, social interaction, and cognition? Generally speaking, most disabled people have certain sexual desires, and their sexual activity is not as bad as some people imagine. Even paraplegic patients can complete sexual intercourse under certain conditions.

Society should treat him with care, affection, and a scientific attitude.

Sexologists have summarized the following points as a correct answer to this question: urinary incontinence does not mean impotence; lack of sensation does not mean lack of feeling; physical deformity does not mean sexual deficiency; inability to have intercourse does not mean inability to enjoy sex; loss of reproductive capacity does not mean loss of sex.