IT is with great interest that l read your article in Saturday tribune of 16th July 2005 titled “IMPOTENCE”. I am glad to know the various possible causes of and treatment options for impotence or erectile dysfunction. Thank you for the good job.
Doctor, you know that a man with this problem in our society is sentenced to painful reproaches, sorrow loneliness, life long bachelorhood and of course childlessness. Hence the uncommon efforts l have made to become normal since 1972 to date. I have met several General Practitioners, Specialists and what have you, yet, no one ever suggested the options you mentioned in your article.
Included in the letter is any hormonal assay’s result as well as the scan result. No disease or infection or injury has been identified. Yet, from the age of 13 years till now, 51 years, l cannot achieve an erection that is full or solid enough for intercourse so I cannot get married.
Doctor, may you be the one God will use to help me out. So what is your candid suggestion/assistance.
All the drugs l found in the market only stimulate too much making me restless with lust, yet no complete or full erection. The other time a young doctor injected me with testosterone and l nearly ran mad with lust and hunger for sex yet no full erection. What do l do?
— Kenneth, Ikeja Lagos.
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Dear Kenneth,
As l mentioned in my write up on the subject matter, some cases of impotence are due to poor blood flow to the penis. In such cases, a surgical correction might be required. The result of the sperm test you did on April 3, 2003 also showed some degree of infection.
Although l don’t know the specialists you have been seeing, l will suggest that you visit a Teaching Hospital nearest to you where a combination of specialists ranging from a Urologist to a Medical Microbiologist and Psychologist can give you a proper review. It could also well be that the problem is in the mind. This is why many cases of impotence have been discovered to be better treated with the support of an understanding spouse. Your poor erection should not be an excuse for you not getting married. Though l will send you more relevant information on this and other related issues by private mail.
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Still on masturbation
Dear Doctor,
Thank you very much for providing answers to my mind boggling questions on PILE, MASTURBATION and PREMATURE EJACULATION which l asked a while ago. My question now is how long (in terms of months or weeks) will it take for things to get back to normal? I mean, after desisting from the habit.
Thank you.
Ade (e mail)
Recovery from such psychological and long standing problems will depend on many factors. These include the extent of the ailment, your ability to recover quickly from such problem. Also important is the kind of support you have especially from your spouse. As stated in my write up, such problems are easier to manage if you are in a warm and steady relationship.
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How can i have good teeth?
Thanks for being there for me. I am keen on having a healthy dental mien. I used to experience violent dental pain. So l have began to go the extra mile to have a clean teeth. Now, how many days can l soak my toothbrush in a solution of hydrogen peroxide or grapefruit extract to hold germs at bay? But what’s the proportion of hydrogen peroxide or grapefruit extract to water?
Thanks.
Ken (e – mail)
Dental experts have confirmed that the best way to have a good dental hygiene is to brush your teeth twice a day – morning and evening. They also advocate a proper brushing technique which is the up and down movement of the toothbrush rather than the sideways movement which does not adequately clean the teeth. You will also need to change your toothbrush regularly (once every 3 months) or as soon as the bristles of the brush start to scatter.
The above should of course be done in conjunction with the intake of a well balanced diet and the avoidance of excessive consumption of sugar, pastries and sweets.
You don’t need to soak your toothbrush in either hydrogen peroxide or grapefruit extract to keep away germs. There is no scientific basis for this. I hope that your violent dental pain has subsidized? If not, you will need to see a dental surgeon for proper examination and treatment.
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I have quick ejaculation
Good day to you over there. I really appreciate the way you treat peoples letters and pray to God to increase you in knowledge. My problem is about quick ejaculation which have made me to run from girls. Sometimes l think it is Jedijedi and l took herbs but it was not cured so l want to know if there is any drug or medication for the cure. This problem has caused me so much anguish that at the age of 25 years l don’t have any girl friend. I await your help.
Sola (e – mail)
Premature ejaculation which is the medical term for your ailment has been extensively discussed on these pages. It is believed that a large percentage of those who suffer from the ailment are the anxious and nervous type with usually feeling of low esteem. It can also occur among high achievers who are usually in a hurry and find it difficult to relax. A smaller percentage of patents usually have an underlying ailment such as hemorrhoids (pile) hypertension or diabetes. Therefore, the first line of treatment is for you to see a doctor who will give you a general medical examination including some laboratory tests. Through this, we can rule out any of the above named diseases. If however, these diseases exist, they would be treated.
However, if it is discovered that there is, no medical basis for your ailment then you would need some counselling on the psychological causes of premature ejaculation. When an individual suffers from low esteem he usually finds it difficult to control his sexual urge and thus the quick ejaculation. Similar incidents may follow due to the same anxious state with the development of a vicious circle of events.
The treatment is mainly that of support and reassurance. This is easier done when you have an understanding and steady partner. In this kind of situation, marriage is advisable because it will afford the kind of genial and calm atmosphere which the treatment of the ailment desires.
As for those who are always in a hurry, there is the urgent need to reduce their work load and create more time for relaxation. They should not see sex as just another item on their busy schedule which must be done away with as quickly as possible.
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How to treat dandruff
I am 45 years old civil servant with a long history of dandruff. It gets so bad that whenever lam combing my hair, a lot of white flecks fall on my dress. I have used different kinds of medicated soaps and lotions to no avail. Recently l noticed that my ten year old daughter started showing the same signs. What can l do? Does it run in families?
Mr. Amos (Lokoja)
There are many OTC (over the counter) medications for dandruff. All you need is to ask from a well established pharmacy shop nearest to you. It is important for you to know that Dandruff requires regular and intensive medications. It is not an ailment that can be given a one-time treatment.
Treatment has to be regular depending on the severity of the ailment. While it is true that Dandruff runs in the family, there is nothing to worry about. All you need do is to extend the same treatment to your daughter.
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The lump in your breast
BREAST lumps occur most frequently in young women, usually within 20 years after puberty. The typical breast lump is a round firm, discrete, relatively movable, non-tender mass. The lump is usually discovered accidentally. Although many breast lumps are harmless, it is still very important for any breast lump to be removed and sent for pathological examination to rule out the possibility of breast cancer.
Since many cases of breast lumps are discovered accidentally, it is important for individuals to be taught on how to examine their breasts.
BREAST EXAMINATION
Firstly observe your breasts while sitting with arms at both sides and overhead especially for presence of skin and nipple abnormalities. These abnormalities may become more obvious by raising your arms overhead or by pressing your hands on your hip. With the help of the fingers, the breast should be palpated especially while lying down on the back with pillow at the back. The examination should be meticulous, methodical and gentle. Abnormal variations in breast size and contour, minimal nipple retraction, redness or retraction of the skin are best identified by careful observation in good light. In some cases, (5-10%) of cases of breast cancer have been discovered during physical examination for other purposes.
BREAST CANCER
Breast cancer usually consists of a non-tender, firm or hard with poorly delimited margins. Slight skin or nipples retraction is an important sign. Watery, germs or bloody discharge from the nipple is an essential early sign.
A lump smaller than 1 cm in diameter may be difficult or impossible for the examiner to feel and yet may be discovered by the patient. She should always be asked to demonstrate the location of the mass. However, if the doctor fails to confirm the patient’s suspicions, the examination should be repeated in one month. The best time for a reliable examination is usually a few days after the patient’s period.
Advanced cases of breast cancer are easy to observe with marked swelling, redness, modularity and ulceration of the skin. The presence of a large lump as well as enlarged nodes are further signs of an advanced cancer case.
CAUSE OF BREAST CANCER
The breast is the commonest site of cancer in women, and cancer of the breast is the leading cause of death due to all causes in women age 40-44 and is frequent in women at all ages past 30. The probability of developing the disease increases throughout life.
As of today, the cause of breast cancer is not known but a predisposition to breast cancer can be any of the underlisted:-
Heredity: the mechanism of inheritance is not clear. Numerous studies have shown that women whose mothers or sisters had breast cancer are 2 or 3 times more likely to develop the disease than controls.
Marital status and parity: these also influence the incidence of breast cancer. Single and women who were never given birth before have a slightly higher incidence of breast cancer than married and women who have had children. Women with 3 or more children have a lower incidence than women with fewer children.
Use of deodorant: Deodorants that are sprayed under the armpit have been incriminated with high rate of breast cancer. It is believed that many of these deodorants contain some chemicals which stimulate the skin cells to produce cancer cells.
CLINICAL PRESENTATION
The presenting complaint in about 80% of patients with breast cancer is a lump (usually painless) in the breast. About 90% of breast masses are discovered by the patient herself. Less frequent symptoms are breast pain, nipple discharge, and enlargement, itching of the nipple, generalized hardness or shrinking of the breast.
TREATMENT
This may be curative or palliative depending on the stage of the cancer.
When the Cancer is at the initial stage, it is still redeemable and treated through the curative method. This method is usually through the surgical removal of the affected breast. It is also important to combine surgical with other forms of treatment such as radiotherapy as well as the use of drugs (chemotherapy)
On the other hand, palliative treatment is for advanced cases that have spread to other parts of the body through the blood and tissues. As such, the aim of the palliative treatment is to make the patient as comfortable as possible since complete cure is no longer possible.
PREVENTION
i Screening Program: The hall mark of prevention is early detection and prompt treatment. This can best be achieved through screening programs which usually consist of physical and X- ray breast examinations. These programs can be organized at the community level from where all cases of breast lumps are referred to the hospital for further treatment.
ii Self-Examination: All women over 35 should be advised to examine their breasts monthly. In women who still see their menses, the examination should be done just after the menstrual period
The breast should be inspected initially while standing before a mirror with the hands at the sides, overhead and pressed firmly on the hips to contact the chest muscles. Lumps, asymmetry of breasts and slight dimpling of the skin may become apparent as a result of these movements. Next, in a lying down position, each breast should be carefully palpated with the fingers of the opposite hand. All abnormal breast lumps should be reported to the doctor for further investigations.
