Did you know that Westerners are some kind of barbarians in the eyes of a Chinese? Because how the heck can you eat fermented milk emulsion (read cheese), which stinks worse than a skunk? Of course, for them, it’s very tasty to eat rats, dogs, cats. A Chinese folk speech says more or less that they can eat everything that has four legs, except tables; everything that flies, except for airplanes; and everything that is found on water, except boats.
1. In a Chinese market you will see from bats and snakes to cranes and herons (it is said that their meat prolongs life...how? That's a real scientific puzzle...), while in the western world most water birds are rejected because of the strong mud stench.
2. You may have heard that the tiger is menaced by the high demand of tiger penis bone on the Chinese black market. For the same people, the tiger penis bone is the symbol of the tiger’s power, including the sexual one. Of course, it’s like chewing chicken or pork bones, but the poachers are menacing the wild tigers because of such stupid beliefs.
3. But the Chinese imagination does not stop here, and for them, each penis in the world is like a panacea. Penises are thought to increase yang (virility) and women are not advised to eat testicles, due to the testosterone content. There are specialized restaurants in penis delicacies. Some penises are served raw, like sushi, others can be cooked. You can serve dog clammy testicles and penis, which is gray and shiny. Dog penis is low in cholesterol and is considered to be quite efficient in boosting the male sex drive, but also for treating all sorts of conditions. Giant salami-shaped donkey penises are considered good for the skin...The double penis of the snakes is considered to increase potency. Sliced and pickled ox penis, which has bland and with a rubbery texture, is considered a general energizer. You can also eat in such a restaurant yak, seal, horse, goat and deer penises. Some westerners compare the tastes of some penises with overcooked squid. The black market delivers also the highly desired tiger penis, at a price of $5,700 (£3,000), but it must be ordered months in advance. It seems that it tastes the same as other penises, but many people in China just like to order tiger to show off, and prove they have quite a lot of money.
4. Aborted reindeer fetus is also considered good for the skin.
5. Sharks have pervaded the Earth for over 450 million years, before any plant or animal got out of the water and colonized the terrestrial surface. Now they face extinction due to a human caprice: Chinese fin shark soup. Once, shark fin was a gift offered just to emperors and shark fin soup is traditionally served at Chinese wedding banquets and on different occasions when the host wants to leave a great impression on the guests with expensive dishes. With the growing number of wealthy Chinese businessmen, the number of this kind of ignorant hosts is increasing as well. Some also think it is healthy, but the fin is nothing more than tasteless cartilage, sought more for its texture, than for its flavor. "Hammerhead, Great White and Basking sharks were some of the species at risk. Shark fin is becoming cheaper and eaten by a growing number of people in China — perhaps by around 100 million people a year.", signals a WildAid report. A 2006 research showed that, annually, 73 million sharks are killed for their fins and the demand for shark fin soup grows with 5 % per year.
6. A Chinese delicacy is the bird's nest soup. It’s made from the nest of a few species of swift, called cave swifts, renowned for building saliva nests. Such nests are among the most expensive animal products consumed by humans. When dissolved in water, the nests get a gelatinous texture. Yammy! Bird saliva! In Hong Kong a bowl of this soup costs between US$ 30 to 100.
7. Perhaps the best known Chinese cuisine ingredient is the dog meat, as this seems to be the most repulsive for the westerners. Cats, too, are not for cuddling, but eating. The problem is that carnivore meat has an extremely powerful flavor that makes it repellent for the westerners. The Chinese have no problem with that, and they will eat practically any known wild carnivore encountered in China. This comes with a feed back: researchers have found that the SARS epidemics were caused by the consume of civet cats, and the virus was transmitted from them to humans. Civet cats are a type of carnivore not related with true cats but with mongooses, and from whose perianal glands the famous civet perfume is extracted. 
8. Balut (boiled duck embryos) is better known from the Philippines, but it has a Chinese origin, where it is called maodan ("hairy egg"). Maodan is served skewered. Fertilized duck eggs are left, on average, 17 days and then boiled. The nearly-developed embryo is consumed in the shell. Maodan is thought to be an aphrodisiac and it is in fact a high-protein, hearty snack. "The flavor is savory and delicious; the texture satisfying" said Western travelers who surpassed the idea of eating something with s**t and feathers... Why is the maodan made from duck eggs and not from hen eggs? "Chicken maodan" has a bad taste, to say the least ... Question of tastes...
9. Neither the superstitions nor the good work made by bats in combating insects stop the Chinese from consuming bats, sometimes skinned alive. This has come with a feedback: bats too are among the causes of the SARS epidemic.
10. Well, in China Dracula could have indulged freely in ... snake blood, which is believed by Chinese to raise the libido... You can drink it at fast-foods, and they deliver it in only seconds. But the show is really a horror movie. The snake curls and whips its body in agony as the handler slits open its chest and rips out a heart that continues working for several minutes. Then its body is stretched vertically and clamped at each end as droplets of red blood fall into a plastic jug half-filled with water. 
I know that the Chinese cheese is made of soy, not milk, and it is called tofu. But I still prefer to call wine what comes from grapes, and not the infamous snake wine, an alcoholic beverage found not only in China, but in many Southeast Asia countries. The snakes, preferably venomous ones, are preserved to have the snake poison dissolved in the liquor. Still, the venoms, which are proteins, are inactivated by ethanol.
There are two varieties. A large venomous snake can be put into a glass jar of rice wine, often with many smaller snakes, turtles, insects, or birds, and left to ferment for months. Snake blood wine is produced by mixing the snake blood and bile with rice wine or grain alcohol. The snake meat, liver, and skin can be cooked to accompany the drink. This wine is believed to cure all kinds of conditions, from farsightedness to hair loss, and helps increase the sexual performance. Of course, that's nonsense.
Source: news.softpedia.com
Top 10 Weirdest Chinese Foods
Vitamins and Healthy Sperm
Mexican men know the secret of the chili. It's about folate, a vitamin abundant in liver, leafy green vegetables, citrus fruits, sunflower seeds and legumes (beans and their relatives). It may sound more familiar to you that women of child-bearing age must have proper levels of folate (vitamin B9) in their diet for delivering healthy babies, but a new study published in the journal Human Reproduction and carried out by a team at the University of California, Berkeley, and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory reveals that what the father eats counts too. And guess what? Folate levels in male diet appears to have the same importance. Low levels of this vitamin have been connected to sperm chromosomal abnormalities.
"Our study is the first to look at the effects of diet on chromosomal abnormalities in sperm. These abnormalities would cause either miscarriages or children with genetic syndromes if the sperm fertilized an egg," said co-author Suzanne Young, at UC Berkeley's School of Public Health.
Folate is required for the synthesis of DNA, RNA and proteins during cell division. It also controls the levels of homocysteine, an amino acid which can cause heart issues when overcoming a certain threshold.
Low levels of folate in women just before and during pregnancy (less than 400 mg daily) has been connected to greatly increased risk of embryos developing neural tube malformations, like spina bifida or anencephaly (undeveloped brain). Many countries (US started from 1998) require the addition of folate to breads, cereals and other grain products. Follow-ups connected this measure with a drop in the cases of neural tube birth defects.
Sperm health and diet
1 to 4 % of a healthy male's sperm displays abnormal chromosome numbers (aneuploidy), a result of defective meiosis. Eggs fertilized by such a sperm develop into an embryo prone to miscarriage or a fetus with aneuploidy, translated to severe conditions (for example, an extra chromosome 21 is the cause of Down syndrome while an extra X chromosome in boys triggers Klinefelter syndrome).
The research was made on a poll of 97 men, aged 22 to 80, current or ex-employees of a government research laboratory. The subjects were chosen after excluding smokers and subjects with already known fertility issues. Questionnaires assessed average intake of dietary and supplemental nutrients. One week later, semen samples were collected. The team considered factors like age, alcohol use and medical history.
Subjects having the highest consume of folate had 19 % less aneuploid sperm cells than those with moderate folate consume, and 20 % lower rates compared to subjects consuming low levels of folate.
"Increasing folate intake can be as simple as taking a vitamin supplement with at least 400 micrograms of folate or eating breakfast cereal fortified with 100% of the RDA [recommended daily intake] for folic acid. In addition, green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, can have up to 100 micrograms of folate per serving," said Young.
Various nutrients in the diet were taken into account.
"The results of the different analyses were different, which gave us some confidence that we could look at the effect of these micronutrients separately. The definitive way to answer this question would be with a randomized control trial with folate supplementation," said Young.
The team did not find a connection between sperm aneuploidy and the other nutrients, like zinc, calcium, beta-carotene and other vitamins. Researchers warn that momentarily this is just a connection, as the cause-and-effect relationship has not been investigated.
"We did come up with enough evidence to justify a larger, clinical and pharmacological trial in men to examine the causal relationships between dietary folate levels and chromosomal abnormalities in their sperm. This information will help us set dietary folate levels that may reduce the risk of miscarriage or birth defects linked to the fathers," said lead researcher Andrew Wyrobek, chair of the Radiation Biosciences Department at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
So, did you get your daily 400 mg of folate?
Source: news.softpedia.com
The Fattest Man on the Planet: 560 kg (1,244 pounds)
Guinness World Records is going to register him. Mexican Manuel Uribe had reached 560 kilos (1,244 pounds) weight but has already lost 200 kilos (444 pounds) because of the Zone diet. Uribe wants to also break the record for drastic slimming.
"I'm happy to be included in the Guinness World Records as the fattest man on the planet. I'm also happy that I have managed slimming 200 kg", said Uribe, now aged 42.
He lives in Monterrey (northern Mexico). It is reported that Guinness authorities have informed him that he will be on the 2008 edition of the Records Book and on the 2009 one for the most incredible weight loss in a year (200 kilograms). He celebrated the event, managing to go out of the house aboard a trailer. Guinness offered him for his weight performance a glass plaque.
His photograph is included in the 2008 Guinness Book of Records alongside a description of the treatment he has had and offers of surgery he has received so far.
Uribe has been suffering from obesity for 20 years. At 20 years, he was working in US and weighed 130 kg (289 pounds) at a height of 1.95 m. He looked for medical help in 2006, when he reached 560 kilograms. Uribe appeared then on a TV channel asking to be helped to escape excess weight that kept him captive in the house for almost 20 years.
For the moment, Uribe cannot move by himself and lives immobilized on bed, his mother taking care of him. At 362 kg (800 lbs), Uribe is still morbidly obese but in March 2007 he set a goal: to slim till 120 kg (254 pounds).
Uribe's weight history:
1966 - Birth weight 6lbs (2.7 kg)
1984 - (18) 121 kg (19 stone)
1988 - (22) 128 kg (20 stone)
1995 - (29) 245 kg (39 stone)
1999 - (33) 502 kg (79 stone)
2000 - (34) 552 kg (87 stone)
Previous Diet
Breakfast - 4 eggs, beans, 3-4 tortillas stuffed with cheese and meat, fizzy drinks, coffee, milk
Lunch - Half a chicken, 4 meat and cheese tortillas, salad, fizzy drinks, pasta, bread
Dinner - 3-4 eggs with ham, beans, 3-4 cheese and meat tortillas, bread or pasta, fizzy drinks, coffee, milk
Current Diet
Breakfast - Six eggs without yolk fried in olive oil, onion and tomato, one apple, one grapefruit, water
Lunch - Grilled chicken, grapefruit, apple, sugar-free lemonade, salad, sugar-free jelly, water
Dinner - Peppers stuffed with mince, one apple, grapefruit, salad, water
Snack - 2.5 bars of diet chocolate, water
Source: news.softpedia.com
The Human Sperm Cell
A Human Sperm Cell or Spermatozoa
The mature sperm cell (spermatozoa) is 0.05 milliliters long. It consists of a head, body and tail. The head is covered by the ac cap and contains a nucleus of dense genetic material from the 23 chromosomes.
It is attached from the neck to the body containing mitochondria that supply the energy for the sperm's activity. The tail is made of protein fibers that contract on alternative sides, giving a characteristic wavelike movement that drives the sperm through the seminal fluid, which also supplies additional energy.
Some sperm have two heads or two tails and if the testes are too warm they may die or spermatogenesis may not occur.
Sperm swim at a rate of about 1 to 4 mm (0.12 inches) per minute. That’s an average, it’s different for every man. Some sperm cells are 'better' swimmers than others. Why? They need to wave their tales more than 1000 times just to swim 1.25 cm or a half an inch. Why some are better than others is still a mystery to many fertility specialists. Anyway...
Sperm cells are made in the testes where it takes about 72 days for one sperm to grow. Sperm production requires a temperature which is three to five degrees below body temperature. The scrotum has a built-in thermostat, which keeps the sperm at the correct temperature while they’re being stored. If it becomes too cool on the outside, the scrotum will bring the testicles closer to the body for warmth as you probably know from jumping into a cold pool of water or ocean. That’s why the testes hang away from the body -- so sperm can develop at the temperature they need. (95° - 97° F or 35° to 36° C)
Semen contains small amounts of more than thirty elements, including fructose, ascorbic acid, cholesterol, creatine, citric acid, lactic acid, nitrogen, vitamin B12, and various salts and enzymes. Let’s go back to the inside of the head of the sperm. All normal cells have 46 chromosomes but sperm have half that number or, 23. If and when the sperm joins ups with the female’s, egg (ovum) which also has 23 chromosomes, together they add up to 46 chromosomes.
The middle section controls the sperms activities. The sperm or (spermatozoa -- which are the little swimming critters) make up only about 5% of what a man ejaculates each time he ejaculates. This represents about 100 to 400 million of them! Therefore, they are very, very, very tiny, in fact a single sperm is the smallest cell in the body. The rest of what a man ejaculates in his ejaculate, which is about a teaspoonful (5 ml), is made up of water, sugar, protein, vitamin C, zinc, and prostaglandins.
Semen or seminal fluid is the mixture of sperm and the secretions of the seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and the bulbourethral glands. Over the course of a man’s life, he’ll produce more than 12 trillion sperm. There’s some sexual health trivia for you.
Source: Amy Otis, RN (sex-ed101.org)
Kegel Exercises
A kegel is the name of a pelvic floor exercise, named after Dr. Kegel who discovered the exercise in 1948. I call them “the invisible exercise”, since you can do them when no one else can tell. Kegels are a series of exercises which can help tighten up the pubococcygeal muscles (PC muscles). These originate from your pubic bone, go under your genitals and attach to your tailbone. Both men and women have them.
After pelvic surgery, pregnancy, or even as we age, these muscles lose their tone. This can result in a loss of bladder control, also called incontinence, a loose vagina, (especially after having a child), an inability to control ejaculation in guys, and a reduction of sexual pleasure for both men and women.
There are several ways to do kegel exercises. One method requires you to have a full bladder, sit on the toilet and start to urinate, then suddenly clamp down and stop the flow. Start and stop several times in a row. If you can’t cut off the flow of urine, but dribble on, you need to start kegel exercises for sure. From now on, every time you urinate start and stop all the way. This is often called “the faucet” and is a good indicator of your progress.
You can also do kegels right at your desk, even right now. Tighten your PC muscles and hold for a count of eight, then slowly release and repeat eight times. Yes, you can do these sitting at the computer or at your desk at work or school. (But don’t let that distract you from your teacher or boss). If you can’t make it to eight or ten in the beginning, use a lower number and do those until you build up to ten.
Another good time to do kegels, is when you are the passenger in a car. Every time you stop at a red light, do some, who will know but you.
Not only does this improve bladder control, but doing kegels regularly will improve your sex life. After doing kegel exercises, a woman will be able to clamp down and grip her partner’s penis increasing both their sexual pleasures. You men should notice an improvement in the 'intensity' of your erections and ejaculations. These exercises are also recommended for guys who experience premature ejaculation. While the penis is not a muscle, the increased muscle tone will improve blood supply resulting in firmer erections and also help a man to delay ejaculation. Kegels can also help prevent leaking urine when you sneeze or cough!
Source: Amy Otis, BSN, RN. (coolnurse.com)
Male Menopause
by: Kevin Stith
Male menopause is the result of decreased levels of the male hormone, testosterone. Most commonly, reduced testosterone is reported by those suffering from underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, obesity or high blood pressure. These diseases are common in men over the age of 45.
While some reduction in testosterone levels occurs normally as men age, there are several conditions in which there may be a more rapid decrease. Testosterone production can be interrupted at any age through damage to the testes. The testes make testosterone, and they may be damaged due to an injury, surgery, radiation, infection, or chemotherapy. Testosterone production is mediated by parts of the brain called the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. So if either or both are damaged or not working properly at any age, they do not send the signals required for normal testosterone production to the testes, resulting in reduced testosterone levels.
When testosterone levels drop, men may experience symptoms similar to what women experience when going through menopause. These symptoms include reduced libido, erectile dysfunction, depression, fatigue, and muscle weakness. Testosterone deficiency has also been linked to osteoporosis in men.
Significant testosterone deficiency can be treated with hormone replacement therapy. However, most men experience a very gradual reduction in testosterone levels as they get older, and do not require any treatment. Also, hormone replacement therapy carries an increased risk of prostate cancer, and should be carefully considered. If a decision is made to undergo hormone therapy, the treatment can be administered through injections, oral medications, implants and patches. To treat symptoms such as depression, doctors may prescribe anti-depressants. Because obesity is a major factor implicated in testosterone deficiency, a doctor may also recommend certain lifestyle changes such as a healthy diet and regular exercise.
Source: i-menopause.com
An Overview of Sexual Dysfunction
What is sexual dysfunction?
Sexual dysfunction refers to a problem during any phase of the sexual response cycle that prevents the individual or couple from experiencing satisfaction from the sexual activity. The sexual response cycle includes excitement, plateau, orgasm and resolution.
While research suggests that sexual dysfunction is common (43 percent of women and 31 percent of men report some degree of difficulty), it is a topic that many people are hesitant to discuss. Fortunately, most cases of sexual dysfunction are treatable, so it is important to share your concerns with your partner and health care provider.
What are the types of sexual dysfunction?
Sexual dysfunction generally is classified into four categories:
* Desire disorders The lack of sexual desire or interest in sex
* Arousal disorders The inability to become physically aroused during sexual activity
* Orgasm disorders The delay or absence of orgasm (climax)
* Pain disorders Pain during intercourse (This condition mostly affects women.)
Who is affected by sexual dysfunction?
Sexual dysfunction is more common in the early adult years, with the majority of people seeking help during their late 20s and early 30s. Sexual dysfunction also is common in the geriatric population, which may be related to a decline in health associated with aging.
What are the symptoms of sexual dysfunction?
In men:
* Inability to achieve an erection or maintain and erection suitable for intercourse (erectile dysfunction)
* Delayed or absence of ejaculation despite adequate sexual stimulation
* Inability to control the timing of ejaculation (premature or retarded ejaculation)
In women:
* Inability to relax the vaginal muscles enough to allow intercourse
* Inadequate vaginal lubrication before and during intercourse
* Inability to achieve orgasm
In men and women:
* Lack of interest in or desire for sex
* Inability to become aroused
* Pain with intercourse
What causes sexual dysfunction?
Causes of sexual dysfunction include:
Physical causes Many physical and/or medical conditions can cause problems with sexual function. These conditions include diabetes, heart and vascular (blood vessel) disease, neurological disorders, hormonal imbalances, chronic diseases such as kidney or liver failure, and alcoholism and drug abuse. In addition, the side effects of some medications, including some antidepressants drugs, can affect sexual function.
Psychological causes These include work-related stress and anxiety, concern about sexual performance, marital or relationship problems, depression, feelings of guilt, and the effects of a past sexual trauma.
How is sexual dysfunction diagnosed?
The doctor likely will begin with a complete physical and history of symptoms. He or she may order diagnostic tests to rule out any medical problems that may be contributing to the dysfunction. An evaluation of the person's attitudes regarding sex, as well as other possible contributing factors (fear, anxiety, past sexual trauma/abuse, relationship problems, alcohol or drug abuse, etc.) will help the doctor understand the underlying cause of the problem and make recommendations for appropriate treatment.
How is sexual dysfunction treated?
Most types of sexual dysfunction can be corrected by treated the underlying physical or psychological problems. Other treatment strategies include:
Medication Men and women with hormone deficiencies may benefit from hormone shots, pills or creams. For men, drugs including sildenafil (Viagra) may help improve sexual function by increasing blood flow to the penis.
Mechanical aids Aids such as vacuum devices and penile implants may help men with erectile dysfunction (the inability to achieve or maintain an erection).
Behavioral treatments These involve various techniques, such as self-stimulation, to treat problems with arousal and/or orgasm.
Psychotherapy Therapy with a trained counselor can help a person address feelings of anxiety, fear or guilt as well as poor body image that may have an impact on sexual function.
Education and communication Education about sex, and sexual behaviors and responses may help an individual overcome his or her anxieties about sexual function. Open dialogue with your partner about your needs and concerns also helps to overcome many barriers to a healthy sex life.
Can sexual dysfunction be cured?
The success of treatment for sexual dysfunction depends on the underlying cause of the problem. The outlook is good for dysfunction that is related to a treatable or reversible physical condition. Mild dysfunction that is related to stress, fear or anxiety often can be successfully treated with counseling, education and improved communication between partners.
Source: revolutionhealth.com
Disorders of the Penis
The penis is one of the external structures of the male reproductive system. The penis has three parts: the root, which attaches to the wall of the abdomen; the body, or shaft; and the glans penis, which is the cone-shaped end (head). The opening of the urethra, the tube that transports semen and urine, is at the tip of the glans penis.
The body of the penis is cylindrical in shape and consists of three internal chambers. These chambers are made up of special, sponge-like erectile tissue. This tissue contains thousands of large caverns that fill with blood when the man is sexually aroused. As the penis fills with blood, it becomes rigid and erect, which allows for penetration during sexual intercourse. The skin of the penis is loose and elastic to accommodate changes in penis size during an erection.
Semen, which contains sperm (the male reproductive cells), is expelled through the end of the penis when the man reaches sexual climax (orgasm). Disorders of the penis can affect a man's sexual functioning and fertility.
What disorders affect the penis?
Some disorders that affect the penis include the following:
Priapism
Priapism is a persistent, often painful erection that can last from several hours to a few days. The priapism erection is not associated with sexual activity and is not relieved by orgasm. It occurs when blood flows into the penis but is not adequately drained. Common causes of priapism include:
* Alcohol or drug abuse (especially cocaine)
* Certain medications, including some antidepressants and blood pressure medications
* Spinal cord problems
* Injury to the genitals
* Anesthesia
* Penile injection therapy (a treatment for erectile dysfunction)
* Blood diseases, including leukemia and sickle cell anemia
Treatment for priapism is important, because a prolonged erection can scar the penis if not treated. The goal of treatment is to relieve the erection and preserve penile function. In most cases, treatment involves draining the blood using a needle placed in the side of the penis. Medications that help shrink blood vessels, which decreases blood flow to the penis, also may be used. In rare cases, surgery may be required to avoid permanent damage to the penis. If the condition is due to sickle cell disease, a blood transfusion may be necessary. Treating any underlying medical condition or substance abuse problem is important to preventing priapism.
Peyronie's disease
Peyronie's disease is a condition in which a plaque, or hard lump, forms on the penis. The plaque may develop on the upper (more common) or lower side of the penis, in the layers that contain erectile tissue. The plaque often begins as a localized area of irritation and swelling (inflammation), and can develop into a hardened scar. The scarring reduces the elasticity of the penis in the area affected.
Peyronie's disease often occurs in a mild form that heals without treatment in six to 15 months. In these cases, the problem does not progress past the inflammation phase. In severe cases, the disease can last for years. The hardened plaque reduces flexibility, causing pain and forcing the penis to bend or arc during erection.
In addition to the bending of the penis, Peyronie's disease can cause general pain as well as painful erections. It also can cause emotional distress, and affect a man's desire and ability to function during sex.
The exact cause of Peyronie's disease is unknown. Cases that develop quickly, last a short time and go away without treatment most often are due to a trauma (hitting or bending) that causes bleeding inside the penis. Some cases of Peyronie's disease, however, develop slowly and are severe enough to require surgical treatment. Other possible causes of Peyronie's disease include:
* Vasculitis This is an inflammation of blood or lymphatic vessels. This inflammation can lead to the formation of scar tissue.
* Connective tissue disorders According to the National Institutes of Health, about 30 percent of men with Peyronie's disease also develop disorders that affect the connective tissue in other parts of their bodies. These disorders generally cause a thickening or hardening of the connective tissue. Connective tissue is specialized tissue such as cartilage, bone and skin that acts to support other body tissues.
* Heredity Some studies suggest that a man who has a relative with Peyronie's disease is at greater risk for developing the disease himself.
Because the plaque of Peyronie's disease often shrinks or disappears without treatment, most doctors suggest waiting one to two years or longer before attempting to correct it with surgery. In many cases, surgery produces positive results. But because complications can occur, and because many of the problems associated with Peyronie's disease (for example, shortening of the penis) are not corrected by surgery, most doctors prefer to perform surgery only on men with curvatures so severe that sexual intercourse is impossible.
There are two surgical techniques used to treat Peyronie's disease. One method involves the removal of the plaque followed by placement of a patch of skin or artificial material (skin graft). With the second technique, the surgeon removes or pinches the tissue from the side of the penis opposite the plaque, which cancels out the bending effect. The first method can involve partial loss of erectile function, especially rigidity. The second method, known as the Nesbit procedure, causes a shortening of the erect penis.
A non-surgical treatment for Peyronie's disease involves injecting medication directly into the plaque in an attempt to soften the affected tissue, decrease the pain and correct the curvature of the penis. Penile implants can be used in cases where Peyronie's disease has affected the man's ability to achieve or maintain an erection.
Balanitis
Balanitis is an inflammation of the skin covering the head of the penis. A similar condition, balanoposthitis, refers to inflammation of the head and the foreskin. Symptoms of balanitis include redness or swelling, itching, rash, pain and a foul-smelling discharge.
Balanitis most often occurs in men and boys who have not been circumcised (had their foreskin surgically removed), and who have poor hygiene. Inflammation can occur if the sensitive skin under the foreskin is not washed regularly, allowing sweat, debris, dead skin and bacteria to collect under the foreskin and cause irritation. The presence of tight foreskin may make it difficult to keep this area clean and can lead to irritation by a foul-smelling substance (smegma) that can accumulate under the foreskin.
Other causes may include:
* Dermatitis/allergy Dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin, often caused by an irritating substance or a contact allergy. Sensitivity to chemicals in certain products such as soaps, detergents, perfumes and spermicides can cause an allergic reaction, including irritation, itching and a rash.
* Infection Infection with the yeast candida albicans (thrush) can result in an itchy, spotty rash. Certain sexually transmitted diseases including gonorrhea, herpes and syphilis can produce symptoms of balanitis.
In addition, men with diabetes are at greater risk for balanitis. Glucose (sugar) in the urine that is trapped under the foreskin serves as a breeding ground for bacteria.
Persistent inflammation of the penis head and foreskin can result in scarring, which can cause a tightening of the foreskin (phimosis) and a narrowing of the urethra (tube that drains urine from the bladder). Inflammation also can lead to swelling of the foreskin, which can cause injury to the penis.
Treatment for balanitis depends on the underlying cause. If there is an infection, treatment will include an appropriate antibiotic or antifungal medication. In cases of severe or persistent inflammation, a circumcision may be recommended.
Taking appropriate hygiene measures can help prevent future bouts of balanitis. In addition, it is important to avoid strong soaps or chemicals, especially those known to cause a skin reaction.
Phimosis and paraphimosis
Phimosis is a condition in which the foreskin of the penis is so tight that it cannot be pulled back (retracted) to reveal the head of the penis. Paraphimosis occurs when the foreskin, once retracted, cannot return to its original location.
Phimosis, which is seen most often in children, may be present at birth. It also can be caused by an infection, or by scar tissue that formed as a result of injury or chronic inflammation. Another cause of phimosis is balanitis, which leads to scarring and tightness of the foreskin. Immediate medical attention is necessary if the condition makes urination difficult or impossible.
Paraphimosis is a medical emergency that can cause serious complications if not treated. Paraphimosis may occur after an erection or sexual activity, or as the result of injury to the head of the penis. With paraphimosis, the foreskin becomes stuck behind the ridge of the head of the penis. If this condition is prolonged, it can cause pain and swelling, and impair blood flow to the penis. In extreme cases, the lack of blood flow can result in the death of tissue (gangrene), and amputation of the penis may be necessary.
Treatment of phimosis may include gentle, manual stretching of the foreskin over a period of time. Sometimes, the foreskin can be loosened with medication applied to the penis. Circumcision, the surgical removal of the foreskin, often is used to treat phimosis. Another surgical procedure, called preputioplasty, involves separating the foreskin from the glans. This procedure preserves the foreskin and is less traumatic than circumcision.
Treatment of paraphimosis focuses on reducing the swelling of the glans and foreskin. Applying ice may help reduce swelling, as may applying pressure to the glans to force out blood and fluid. If these measures fail to reduce swelling and allow the foreskin to return to its normal position, an injection of medication to help drain the penis may be necessary. In severe cases, a surgeon may make small cuts in the foreskin to release it. Circumcision also may be used as a treatment for paraphimosis.
Penile cancer
A rare form of cancer, penile cancer occurs when abnormal cells in the penis divide and grow uncontrolled. Certain benign (non-cancerous) tumors may progress and become cancer.
The exact cause of penile cancer is not known, but there are certain risk factors for the disease. A risk factor is anything that increases a person's chance of getting a disease. The risk factors for cancer of the penis may include the following:
* Circumcision Men who are not circumcised at birth have a higher risk for getting cancer of the penis.
* Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection HPVs are a group of more than 70 types of viruses that can cause warts (papillomas). Certain types of HPVs can infect the reproductive organs and the anal area. These types of HPVs are passed from one person to another during sexual contact.
* Smoking Smoking exposes the body to many cancer-causing chemicals that affect more than the lungs.
* Smegma Oily secretions from the skin can accumulate under the foreskin of the penis. The result is a thick, bad-smelling substance called smegma. If the penis is not cleaned thoroughly, the presence of smegma can cause irritation and inflammation.
* Phimosis This is a condition in which the foreskin becomes constricted and difficult to retract.
* Treatment for psoriasis The skin disease psoriasis is sometimes treated with a combination of medication and exposure to ultraviolet light.
* Age Most cases of penile cancer occur in men over age 50.
Symptoms of penile cancer include growths or sores on the penis, abnormal discharge from the penis and bleeding. Surgery to remove the cancer is the most common treatment for penile cancer. A doctor may take out the cancer using one of the following operations:
* Wide local excision takes out only the cancer and some normal tissue on either side.
* Microsurgery is an operation that removes the cancer and as little normal tissue as possible. During this surgery, the doctor uses a microscope to look at the cancerous area to make sure all the cancer cells are removed.
* Laser surgery uses a narrow beam of light to remove cancer cells.
* Circumcision is an operation that removes the foreskin.
* Amputation of the penis (penectomy) is an operation that removes the penis. It is the most common and most effective treatment of cancer of the penis. In a partial penectomy, part of the penis is removed. In a total penectomy, the whole penis is removed. Lymph nodes in the groin may be taken out during surgery.
Radiation, which uses high-energy rays to attack cancer, and chemotherapy, which uses drugs to kill cancer, are other treatment options.
Source: revolutionhealth.com
