Raffles Health News - Raffles Medical Group

Raffles HealthNews Feature 1530 to 60 thrusts). Women, on the otherhand, require at least seven minutes.“Premature ejaculation is defined as theinability to control ejaculation to satisfya partner 50% of the time,” explainedDr Fong, “this is very subjective with noexact time guideline.”In general, relaxing and practising can helpyou deal with the problem. You can distractyourself by thinking non-sexual thoughts toavoid becoming excited too soon.“Treatment options usually begin withpsychosexual counselling which hasbeen proven to work for some couples,”said Dr Fong, “Those who need theextra help will then be prescribedtopical and oral medications.”3Are We There Yet?Retarded ejaculation is a medical conditionin which the man is unable to ejaculate,either during intercourse or with manualstimulation in the presence of a partner.Most men ejaculate within two to fourminutes after onset of active thrusting inintercourse. Men with retarded ejaculationmay be entirely unable to ejaculate in somecircumstances, or to ejaculate only withgreat effort and after prolonged intercourse(for example 30 to 45 minutes).According to Dr Eng Soo Kiang, FamilyPhysician, Raffles HealthScreeners, “Themost common causes for retardedejaculation are psychological, such asfear, anger or stress. Making love understress or fear can result in problems withejaculation.”Other causes for retarded ejaculationinclude drugs and neurological disease.Depending on the cause, doctors wouldthen recommend therapy, hypnosis orchanging of medications.Marital stress, sexual dissatisfaction,inhibited sexual desire, and avoidance ofsexual contact may result if the problemis not addressed and remedied.Healthy attitudes toward sexuality canhelp prevent retarded ejaculation.To prevent retarded ejaculation, Dr Engadvised that couples should enjoy themoment of pleasure rather than to beconcerned about ejaculation. Partnersshould also support by providing arelaxed atmosphere, free of pressure. Anopen discussion of any fears or anxietiesis also beneficial.Chinese MedicineWhen one talks about erectile dysfunction,Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is notusually the first thing that comes to mind.As Mr Wu Yue, TCM Physician of RafflesChinese Medicine shared, “Many of myfirst-time patients assume that TCMwould be a painful alternative to Westerntreatments. But it really is a safe andeffective option with few side effects.”According to TCM, erectile dysfunction iscaused by one of the following:• Intemperance of sexual life and declineof fire in ‘mingmen’ (gate of life)• Stress or anxiety that impairs the heartand spleen and leads to blockage• Downward migration of damp-heatin the liver and kidney that leads toflaccidity of the genitalia.Treatments that TCM physiciansemploy include acupuncture withmoxibustion and herbs and pills. Witha holistic approach towards erectiledysfunction, Mr Wu pointed out thatunderlying causes of the dysfunction, suchas diabetes, anxiety, or hypertension, canalso be treated at the same time.“In this way, the patients’ general health andwell being would also see improvement,”he said.Rev It UpPatients who receive help for their sexualhealth do not just have better sex. Theyfeel better and generally lead a betterquality of life.Speak to your doctorif you are not satisfiedwith your performance.Be it to regain your manlyconfidence or to alleviateyour concerns, an improvedsexual life can give you abetter quality of life. HNDid You Know?Over-indulgencein sexual life inevitablyconsumes renal essence,impairs primordial ‘qi’ andcould lead to erectiledysfunction.Lifestyle Changes toEnhance Your LibidoLose weightOverweight persons will find that losingeven a few kilos can stimulate sexhormones.Eat rightChoose nutritious food which controlcholesterol and blood sugar levels.Heart friendly foods such as grains,fruits, nuts, vegetables, and leansources of dairy and protein can helptoo.Exercise regularlyBuild up endurance and your heartby adding a few high-intensity boutsto your fitness routine. Also considerstrength training for shapely muscle,keep your body fit for your daily activities(including sex).Rest and relaxGet in the mood for love by havingample rest. Sex is usually thrown out ofthe window if you’re exhausted.Think positiveWhatever your body shape or size,accept yourself and see its potentialfor sensuality.Raffles HealthNews • 15