Latest Questions and Comments

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

Thank you for getting in touch. There could be a couple of reasons behind this, and the most common is what you have suggested yourself, diet. Depending on the type of food we put in our bodys, it can affect the colour, size, shape, of our stool (poo), try eating a more varied diet for a couple of weeks, with a variety of protein, fibre and carbs, eating fresh fruit and veg, try to avoid processed foods. And ensure you drink plenty of water throughout the day, at least 6-8 glasses is recommended. Some men who have anal sex also like to ensure there anal passage is clear by using a male douche, you can find a variety of differnt ones online and this might help prepare you for sex if that is what you are concerned about, but please ensure you use them correctly and do not damage yourself in the process and if embarking on anal sex ensure you use lubricant and condoms, anal sex is very risky and many STI's including HIV can be passed on through having unprotected anal sex. However if you are finding a change in diet is not improving the situation, you may want to consider going to your GP, you do not need to mention you intention for anal sex to them, just that you are suffering from a dirty anal passage even after showering and cleaning, as you may be suffering from some kind of anal weakening or other anal concern that he will be able to discuss with you. Please get in touch if you have any further questions or concerns.

Answered by Matt Othold on 23rd January 2012 at 15:53

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

Thank you for getting in touch. If you are getting a burning sensation in the penis, then it is probably because you have a bacterial infection of some kind, and this could be an STI (sexual transmitted infection) Not all STI's have symptoms, but suffering from a burning sensation is commonly associated with Chlamydia, some of symptoms of chlamydia can include: * A clear or milky discharge from the penis * A burning feeling when urinating * The need to urinate more than usual * Swollen or painful testicles * Pain, itching, bleeding, and/or mucus discharge of the rectum (for chlamydia in the anus) * Redness, itching, and/or discharges of the eyes (for chlamydia in the eyes) And as you state you have a burning eye, you could also have chlamdyia in the eye. We would recommend you book yourself into a Sexual Health clinic, known as GUM clinic, or see you GP as soon as possible to be tested and they will be able to tell you if it is a STI or some other kind of infection, in the mean time we would recommend that you abstain from having any form of sexual activity untill you see a doctor. And to prevent any possible future STIs occuring we would suggest using condoms as contraception but also barrier method from catching or passing on STI's. If you are Swindon based we can provide you with confidential information on your local GUM clinic, book you an appointment and even provide a GUM buddy to accompany you if you would like this service. Feel free to get back in touch if you would like any more information or advice.

Answered by Matt Othold on 23rd January 2012 at 15:39

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

Thank you for getting in touch. Because you have given us very little information, it is difficult to provide you with more detailed assessment of your condition. Mens Penis come in all different shapes and sizes, most curve up when erect, some to the side and some not at all. However if you are noticing more of a bend, a distinct curvature when erect, that is either painful, making sex difficult, urination tricky, and wasn't previously like this, then it could be a sign of Peyronies Disease. It is more common than most think, one in a hundred men suffer from it, but because men don't typiclally discuss concerns it doesnt get discovered. It usually occurs in middle age, although younger and older men can develop it too. It is a connective tissue disorder involving the growth of fibrous plaques in the soft tissue of the penis, usually on the upper or lower side. Treatment is usually surgery based, but not the only option. However like said at the begining, due to the lack of detail you provide, it doesnt mean this is what you have, but its an option. Consider the questions asked, does it hurt, is urination difficult, is sex painful? Regardless of the answers you should see you GP/Doctor soon to discuss the concerns where he will be able to give a proper diagnosis. Feel free to get back in touch and provide more details or ask further questions.

Answered by Matt Othold on 7th November 2011 at 09:19

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

Thank you for getting in touch, during anal sex, the anus, sphincter, and rectum are stretched, and air may be introduced from the movements. After a penis, dildo, or something else has been removed, the air inside has to go somewhere, for your body to return to its unexpanded state. The air that no longer fits needs to be expelled hence the wind. Your post-anal sex flatulence could also be related to your sphincter, the muscles that control the anus's opening. During anal sex, the sphincter muscles loosen, allowing for penetration. Any gas you have afterwards flows more freely as your sphincter may not be tight enough at that moment to control the farts. Doing Kegel exercises strengthens your pelvic muscle tone, including your anal sphincter. Kegeling can also help your pelvic muscles relax before anal sex, as well as maintain your anal sphincter muscles' elasticity. Kegel exercises were developed by Dr. Arnold Kegel, mainly to help women, especially after childbirth, regain bladder control by strengthening their pelvic muscles. Dr. Kegel later discovered that his exercises also increased orgasm intensity. There are many variations, but the exercises are similar. For women and men: Locate your pelvic muscles by stopping the flow of urine midstream. Contract the pelvic muscles hard for one second and then release them, ten times in a row, three times a day. Gradually increase the number of contractions so that by the end of one month, you are doing ten contractions, twenty times a day. Vary the exercise by holding the contraction for a count of three and then releasing it. You can mix the exercises up, some short and some long. Do the Kegels for a minimum of six weeks. Results will not be immediate, but eventually, you will be able to notice a difference. I hope the above information helps, try not to be embarassed, many men find this an issue, and your partner should understand. Please get back in touch if we can help further.

Answered by Matt Othold on 24th October 2011 at 10:15

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

Thanks for getting in touch Thomas. At the sexual health clinic they probably discussed with you some of the following, as you have aquired the virus that causes the warts, you can not be cured from it, but do not panic as genital warts do not pose a serious threat to your health. Because this is something that can not currently be cured, it means that the warts can keep occuring at any time in your life, so if you have got rid of them once, it does not mean they wont come back again, which is what has occured in your situation. There is generally two types of treatment, creams and freezing. Some people respond better to the creams, so better to the freezing and some times, a combination of both are used. And noramlly it will be a long duration of applying cream and freezing, a one time application is not enough, persistance is the key to reducing the wart. Because they have returned, i'm sorry but you will have to return to the sexual health clinic, either to try and different cream or to get more of the wartol, or to try freezing this time. Warts are the second most common aquired STI, so do not feel embarrased, the nurses and doctors there are aware that warts return and are difficult to get rid off and would expect you to come back. Please also be aware, during times when the warts are on your body this is when you are most infectious to others, condoms are the best form of protection from warts, however they do not provide 100% saftey as warts can be on parts of the body that the condom does not cover, so during periods where you are infectious it would be best to avoid sexaul contact to reduce infection of another person, that is why they are passed on so easily and why they are the second highest STI. If you need help booking an appointment with your clinic please get in touch, or if you have any further questions.

Answered by Matt Othold on 26th September 2011 at 09:33

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

To keep the prostate healthy it is reccommended that at least once a week you should milk the prostate gland to allow the seminal fluids to drain through the penis - effectively pre-ejaculatory fluids - if left alone too long could develop bacteria and cause health issues.

Answered by Matt Othold on 5th September 2011 at 08:53

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

Regarding the cleaning, a variety of bacterial infections could occur, including yeast infections, uriniary tract problems, which can lead to kindey infections, and the build up of smegma (the white substance) if not cleared away and cleaned could possibly lead to balanitis, this can depend of course if you are circumsised or not. Regarding the prostate, research has shown that having ejaculations reduces the risk of developing prostate cancer, if you look at our news item on the front page, prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in Men. I hope this has helped inform you and others more. So long as you do clean the penis and milk the prostate, male chastity should be harmless.

Answered by Matt Othold on 7th September 2011 at 10:59

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

Thanks for getting in touch. The purpose of wearing a chastity device is orgasm denial, and this is either usuallly for personal sexual gratification or relationship reasons. Being denied orgasm will mean the prostate glad in the male anus will have a build up of seminal fluid (pre-cum) and because you are not masturbating or having sex, this will start to seep out, so yes this is normal to leak. However please be aware, it is actually more healthy to ejaculate, the purpose of masterbation and/or sex is not just for pleasure but is advised for men to keep the prostate healthy. If you are in a chastity device to deny orgasm then you may want to look into milking the prostate, this will help have an orgasm and remove the build up but won't be for sexual gratification purposes. You say it has been for 3 weeks, please be aware if using such a device you remove it frequently for periods of cleaning, as it is very important that you keep the penis clean, to prevent infection and build up of smegma. I hope this has helped your concern, please get in touch again if needed

Answered by Matt Othold on 30th August 2011 at 09:16

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

I don't know how effective cleaning with q-tips once a day would be, I understand you do a full clean once a week, but it would probably more advisable to remove the device once a day when in the shower or bath to clean the penis effectively.

Answered by Matt Othold on 5th September 2011 at 08:55

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

Thanks for getting in touch. There could be many reasons for your husbands inability to reach orgasam, which is called male orgasmic disorder and also known as Anorgasmia. Most often (90%) it is a phsychological reason, is he currently stressed out at work or at home? Is he at all depressed about something? Are there any issues within your relationship? Is he suffering from physical exhaustion? All these could affect someone from having fufilling sexual relationship and should be addressed sensitively, as if your husband is sensing negativity from you about his lack of sexual performance this will have an increased knock on effect on his self worth and ability to perform. A lot of pyschological problems can be addressed by reducing the contributing factor from the equation and possibly addressing it through some form of counselling, depending what the issue is. However it could also be a physicalogical issue, such as not producing enought testosteron, a thyroid issue, pituitary condition, substance abuse (alcohol/drugs), certain medications. These of course will need to be diagnosed by a GP/doctor. Is your husband able to orgasm when not having sex, for example when he masterbates? Depending on whether its a psycological or physiological issue, if the issue is still occuring I would suggest talking to your GP where they should be able to explain things further and identify which it is. Hope this has helped, feel free to get back in touch with us if needed

Answered by Matt Othold on 10th August 2011 at 10:06

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

Thank you for getting in touch, first of all you did the right thing by going to your local GUM clinic. Balanitis can be caused by poor hygiene, infection, sexually transimitted infection, or and allergy. Sometimes it can be a combination of more than one of the above, and the GUM clinic would of treated you if you had an STI. The steroid cream should be used along side good hygine, and maybe changing your bath/shower shoap/gel to a less iritable one as that can often affect balanitis. Some people also find salt baths soothing during treatment phase. But in some rare cases where clients have not seen any resutls from the above suggestions, may have to undergo a circumcision. I would suggest going back to the GUM clinic, or your GP, explain that you are not finding the steroid cream to be working, they may increase the percentage of steroid more, but will discuss your other options possible. Any more concerns please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Answered by Matt Othold on 3rd August 2011 at 08:58

Response from Men's Sexual Health:

Thanks for getting in touch with us. There could be many reasons for your husbands groin pain, and so in this case it would be wrong to hypothetically consider what it could be, the fact that is being going on for some time and results in him screming out in pain, means that it is serious enough that he needs to go to his GP. I know you state that he refuses, but you must put your foot down and insist he talks with his doctor, even if you have to drive him there yourself. Ensure you husband that there is nothing to be embarrased about, that GP's deal with groin issues all the time and if he doesnt want to see his own GP he can request to see someone else, but it really does need to be looked at by a specialist.

Answered by Matt Othold on 14th July 2011 at 10:15