Archives for November 2017

Grow it out for a cause and Shave the Date!

All October, it was all about saving the tatas! As November draws near we want to bring our focus to men’s sexual health and wellness. Fall brings cool weather, romantic hayrides and a great reason to grow out your facial hair. Movember is an organization that brings awareness to men’s health issues each November by hosting their Shave the Date event that starts November 1^st.

The Movember Foundation is the leading global organization committed to changing the face of men’s health. The Movember community has raised over $559 million to date and funded over 1200 programs in 21 countries. This work is saving and improving the lives of men affected by prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health problems.

The Movember Foundation challenges men to grow moustaches during Movember (formerly known as November), to spark conversation and raise vital funds for its men’s health programs. To date, 5 million moustaches have been grown worldwide, and Movember Foundation claims that

“they won’t stop growing as long as serious men’s health issues exist.”

The reason for the poor state of men’s health are numerous and complex and include:

• Lack of awareness and understanding of the health issues men face
• Men not openly discussing their health and how they’re feeling
• Reluctance to take action when men don’t feel physically or mentally well
• Men engaging in risky activities that threaten their health
• Stigmas surrounding mental health
• Men are 24 % less likely than women to have visited a doctor within the past year

The Get Your MO ON

The Movember Foundation aims to change this way of thinking by putting a fun twist on this serious issue. Using the moustache as a catalyst, the idea is to bring about change and give men the opportunity and confidence to learn and talk about their health and take action when needed.

As a global men’s health movement, the Movember Foundation has the ambition to contribute to improving the lives of men around the world. To achieve this, Movember challenges men to grow MO (slang for moustache) during Movember (the month formerly known as November) to spark conversation and raise funds for prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health problems. We see success as moving the dial on progress towards:

• Reduced mortality from prostate, testicular cancer and men’s suicide
• Men living with prostate or testicular cancer being physically and mentally well
• Men and boys with mental health problems not being discriminated against
• Men and boys understanding how to be mentally healthy and taking action if they experience mental health problems

The website attributed “Movember’s success to the strength of their global community; regardless of the city in which they live, they feel part of something bigger, united by a commitment to help change the face of men’s health. It’s about global mateship”.

Prostate Cancer Awareness

Although we brought focus to prostate cancer awareness in September, since Movember is about Men’s health issues, we wanted to bring attention to the prostate one more time.  Here’s the low down on the prostate gland. Nerves surrounding the prostate, control erections. So not only is the prostate a pleasure center for many men, but it is also the gland that produces the fluid that protects and enriches sperm.

It is located below the bladder, in front of the bowels. It is doughnut shaped and surrounds the urethra, and is about the size of a walnut. A healthy prostate is key to enjoying an active sex life. It is important for men not to forget take care of their prostate.

Prostate cancer occurs when some of the cells in the prostate reproduce far more rapidly than normal, resulting in a tumor. If left untreated, prostate cancer cells may eventually spread from the prostate and invade distant parts of the body, particularly the lymph nodes and bones, producing secondary tumors in a process known as metastasis. One of the most worrying aspects of the disease is that most prostate cancers develop without men experiencing any symptoms in the early stages.

Risk Factors?

• Gender: prostate cancer only affects men, as women do not have a prostate gland.
• Age: the older a man, the more likely he is to be diagnosed with prostate cancer. 65% of all prostate cancers are diagnosed in men over the age of 65.
• Family History: a man with a father or brother who developed prostate cancer before 60 is twice as likely to develop the cancer.
• Ethnicity: African American men are more likely to develop prostate cancer and are nearly 2.5 times as likely to die from the disease.
• Lifestyle: poor diet and lack of exercise.

Possible Symptoms?

Urinary issues (slow flow, hesitancy, frequency, urgency)

• Blood in the urine or semen
• Reduced ability to get an erection
• Painful ejaculation

If you have any concerns and are experiencing any of the symptoms above it is important to contact your doctor and note that these symptoms are also common to many different conditions, not just prostate cancer.

Chronic Prostatitis

Another prostate issue that men may face is Chronic Prostatitis. Symptoms have usually been present for at least 3 months. When treating Chronic Prostatitis or preventing prostate cancer, doctors will recommend prostate massage to help clear out the infected gland.

Florida Urology Specialist website commented that,

“Nonspecific treatment may be of help in allaying symptoms of prostatitis, such as a hot tub of warm or hot water for 30 minutes daily to allow the heat to improve circulation to the prostate region and allow the body defenses to help fight the inflammation.”

It doesn’t have to turn into a medical procedure when nursing yourself or (each other) back into good health. Relax by incorporating a warm bubble bath (or do it together) into your nightly routine. Who would of thought that sharing a romantic bath together could have added health benefits?

Florida Urology Specialists say that prostatic massage may be of help in milking out all of the secretions in the ducts and glands. Massage is carried out by a physician stroking the prostate with a finger inserted in the rectum. I would rather have my partner helping me with this part of the treatment or using a P-Spot Massager such as Dr. Joel Kaplan Prostate Massager.  A pleasant alternative to this massage is regular intercourse by which the prostatic ducts and glands are emptied.

*Note: Prostate Massagers and Masturbators offer a safe alternative to regular intercourse.

 

The symptoms include:

• Pain: at the base of the penis, around the anus, in the lower abdomen or back, or tip of the penis and/or testes.
• Urinary Symptoms: mild pain when you urinate, an urgent desire to urinate, some hesitancy when trying to urinate, or a poor urinary stream.
• Sexual Problems: you may experience impotence (difficulty in getting an erection), ejaculation may sometimes be painful and some men have worse pain (as described above) after having sex.
• Other Symptoms:  you may feel tired, and have general aches and pains.

According the Patient, a Medical Information website in the United Kingdom,

“There are two main types of chronic prostatitis – chronic bacterial prostatitis (caused by chronic bacterial infection) and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) – the cause of which is not fully understood.”

Chronic prostatitis typically causes pain in the lower pelvic region of men. Urinary symptoms such as frequency of passing urine and pain on passing urine may also be present. Treatment can be difficult and may include antibiotics and other drugs. Symptoms may last a long time, although they may ‘come and go’ or vary in severity.

The important thing to remember if you are one of them is you are not alone and you do not have to suffer.  Our open and friendly store, Fantasy Gifts offers knowledgeable information, and has a trained staff who can help you with all of your sexual wellness needs. You can also go online or visit your neighborhood pharmacist.  The important thing is to discuss your sexual issues honestly with your doctor and your partner.  Empower yourself and recognize you deserve a healthy and happy sexual life.

Click on Movember’s funded programs to find out how Movember is having an impact on men’s health.

OR

For more general information on men’s health, click through to Movember Foundation’s Health Tips page.

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Source(s): Shave the Date: Movember Foundation, Chronic Prostastitis: Patient UK, Chronic Prostastitis: Florida Urology Specialist