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A big part of keeping yourself sexually healthy is maintaining your sexual health in the first place, and paying attention to your sexual health every day so that you can get a jump on any problems that may crop up.
In general, for sexual health as well as general health, a whole-foods diet, low in saturated fats, with a balance of fiber and complex carbohydrates, proteins and fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as soy proteins, with plenty of fresh, filtered water is highly suggested. Refined sugars, processed foods or beverages, foods treated with chemicals or pesticides, and too much red meat, dairy and refined carbs, and too little fresh, organic raw foods are recipes for poor health overall, and are often major contributors to sexual health problems and general health conditions.
Yeast infections, jock itch and urinary tract or bladder infections can often be prevented by simple nutritional or lifestyle changes. Be sure to drink plenty of water every day. Avoiding refined sugars, simple carbohydrates and processed foods is also of great help with both.
Carbonated beverages (sodas), refined sugars (white sugars, as opposed to natural fruit sugar), processed foods or fried foods (junk foods or fast foods), alcohol, chocolate, caffeine, red meats, and foods which are inorganic and have been treated with chemical pesticides can ALL contribute to candidiasis, UTI or bladder infections and male sexual cancers and disorders. In general, a healthy, mainly organic diet can make a world of difference with your sexual health and general health. When you're eating healthfully and staying hydrated, your immune system can function at its best, helping to keep any sort of infection or illness at bay.
If you need help in finding a regimen that suits you, consult a qualified dietitian or nutritionist who has worked with younger people. If you are under 20, your dietary needs are different from someone who has fully completed their growth.
In addition, your sexual health is supported by other healthy habits, like getting enough exercise, enough sleep and keeping your stress levels as low as possible.
Extra bonus? It's been shown that men who regularly masturbate are at a lower risk of prostate cancer than men who don't. One more good reason not to feel guilty about it!
To keep you healthy, and keep your immune system functioning properly, a whole-foods, organic vitamin supplement should be taken daily. Since most people do not eat an optimum diet with enough vitamins and organic, non-processed foods, a basic supplement is key. The best supplements are found not at grocery stores, but at natural foods stores or vitamin stores.
In addition to a multivitamin, the following extra vitamins, minerals and herbs can specifically aid male sexual and reproductive health:
Selenium: aids in prostate function. There is a naturally high concentration of selenium in healthy testicles.
Cranberry Juice (undiluted, unsweetened, not cranberry juice cocktail) or cranberry tablets w/water, or Uva Ursi (a type of cranberry): There are both a mild diuretic and antiseptic which help to keep the bladder and urinary tract healthy and free of bacteria. CranActin by Solaray is an excellent cranberry supplement.
Acidophilus (or fresh organic yogurt that says it has live cultures): These restore friendly bacteria in your body. Things like yeast infections -- which men can get, as well as women -- don't happen because bacteria get in your body, but because of imbalances within the body and digestive system itself. Your body actually needs certain types of bacteria to help fend off unhealthy bacteria. Acidophilus helps to provide and balance health bacteria.
Garlic: A natural and effective antibiotic and immune system enhancer. It may be eaten raw, or taken in odorless capsules.
Zinc (plus copper, to balance): aids in tissue repair, acne reduction, and is an immune system booster. Do not take more than 50 mg. daily.
Kelp/Iodine: supplies important minerals, supports the thyroid and adrenal system, and supports healthy development of the reproductive organs.
Essential fatty acids/EFAs (a combination like Ultimate Oil from Nature's Secret, which contains flaxseed oil, blackcurrant seed oil, leclthin and safflower oil): aids in brain function, and can help to alleviate depression. Aids in production of sperm and seminal fluids.
Male herbal toners: ginseng, ginkgo, yohimbe, hawthorn, gotu kola, and damiana.
Monthly: Check Yourself Out
Testicular self-exam
Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in young men aged 20 - 25, so a testicular self-exam each month is a must. Want to know how to do it? Check this out at the American Cancer Association. (add link)
Check out your Genitals
Ingrown hairs and pimples are generally pretty easy to identify. They either have a small white head, or are just a tiny bump, slightly red, that may smart a little bit, but should not itch or develop a raw, open or crusty top.
If when examining your genitals, you have open, raw or red sores, what looks like a rash, small white cauliflower-like growths or warts, if you itch or scratch regularly, or if you have unusual discharge coming from your urethra, see your doctor.
STD and STI screenings are imperative if you are sexually active, have engaged previously or engage presently in manual sex (AKA "hand job"), oral sex ("eating out" or "blow jobs"), vaginal sexual intercourse or anal sexual intercourse. It's twice a year if your sexual relationships last a typical period of time for young aults -- six months or less, or if you have a new partner, and once a year if you're in an exclusive long-term relationship, and are not changing or adding any partners.
It is important to specify that you want a full STD and STI screen, not simply an HIV test. Your doctor can do these screenings, or you can go to a sexual health clinic.
Unfortunately, there really is no real equivalent to the gynecologist for men. However, once each year, you should see your general practitioner or family doctor for a full exam, including an exam of your genitals. If, when you have that exam, you have a symptoms on or around your genitals your doctor cannot diagnose, you are advised to see a urologist, or visit a sexual health clinic.
Always be sure to be honest with your doctor, or else he/she can't do their best to examine you. Be sure and inform him or her of your sexual activity, if you have had any sexual activities without safer sex practices, of any drug use, or of any special health concerns.
Safer sex practices
If you are sexually active, safer sex is a must to maintain your health, as well as the health of your partner(s). If you and your partner have:
Even when those things are as such, safer sex practices are still recommended, as medical tests are not infallible, some STIs can lie dormant without testing positive over a period of years, and monogamy, even when stated, does not always happen, nor are partners always truthful when they have not been monogamous, or about their sexual history.
For the record, you have NOT been physically monogamous if you have engaged in any other intimate physical activities with another person, including open-mouthed kissing, petting, manual, oral, vaginal or anal sex.
Sexual activity without safer sex measures can transmit numerous sexually transmitted diseases, infections or bacteria. Want to know what sexual activities pose what risks of disease or infection? Check out our < a href="/article/gaydar/sti_risk_assessment_the_cliffs_notes">Risk Assessment Sheet.
Want to know how to practice safer sex, when you need to, and what you'll need to do it? Read up in Safe, Sound and Sexy.
Lastly, oral herpes is incredibly common -- in about 1 out of 4 people -- even in those who have not been sexually active. It should be treated as a sexually transmissable condtion. So if you have cold sores, you need to always practice safer sex. While the risk is minimal to nil when a sore is not active, many people cannot tell when a sore is becoming active until it flares up and is visible, but Herpes is transmissible when a sore is developing and not visible.
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Pain in/on the abdomen, penis or testicles during intercourse or other sexual activity, unusual discharge from the penis, lumps or growths in the testicles, STD or STI, suspected yeast or urinary tract infection, blood in the urine, difficulty or pain when urinating, unusual sores or discharge on/from the genitals or mouth, extended viral illness (like a cold or flu which lasts more than a week or two), unusual tiredness or lethargy, recurring illness or infections.
 | The New Male Sexuality, Revised Edition author: Bernie Zilbergeld asin: 0553380427 |
 | Sexual Health for Men author: Richard F. Spark asin: 0738202061 |
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