Is masturbation harmful?

Masturbation is a common behavior that almost every male/female indulges in at sometime in their life. There is no medically related side-effect of masturbation, however it becomes a problem if it inhibits; sexual activity with a partner, is done in public, is done compulsively and/or interferes with daily life and activities. The amount of times you masturbate, is up to you, however it should not cause you problems.

What is the normal penis size? Is there any cream or medicine that can increase penis size?

A normal male penis varies in size and shape and can grow and shrink in response to certain stimuli. A penis normally grows in response to erection and when you are relaxed it appears fuller. Similarly penis can also shrink because of stress, exposure to cold water or air. The shape of a man’s penis also varies. Most penis’s are curved due to normal anatomy.

According to a survey published in year 2000 in Straits Times (Singapore) the flaccid penile circumference in South Asian males ranges from 3.14 to 4.13 inches and the flaccid penile length ranges from 2.36 to 4.92 inches. The erect penile circumference range from 3.66 to 5.11 inches and the erect penile length ranges from 3.74 to 5.70 inches.

A micro penis is defined as a penis that is 1 inch long on erection. This is a very rare condition and affects only 3 in a 1000 males.

There is no cream, medicine or reliable method to increase penis size.

What is the normal penis shape?

A normal penis varies in size and shape. The bent shape of the penis, according to research, facilitates in delivering semen inside the vagina. The shape only becomes a problem if it interferes in sexual intercourse.

A severe bend in the shape of the penis, where you can feel something hard in the penis, even when it is not erect, is a condition called Peyronie’s Disease. This condition could be hereditary (runs in family) or due to trauma, which could be because of violent sexual intercourse, or some injury. The hardness that is found in the penis is because of fibrosis. Fibrosis affects the elasticity of the penile tissue and causes the penis to get bent on erection. Subsequently erection and sexual intercourse then becomes painful and the person has to get treatment. The following is the link if you want to read more about the topic.
http://www.peyronies.org/pages/basics.htm

I discharge before intercourse, especially during foreplay, how do I delay ejaculation?

Premature ejaculation is defined as persistent or recurrent ejaculation with minimal sexual stimulation, before, on, or shortly after penetration.

There are different levels of treatment, psychological, behavioral and pharmacological. On this website we focus on the behavioral modification techniques. These require time and commitment, so you have to practice them with patience.
Behavior therapy constitutes practicing certain techniques that improve penile function. Two such techniques developed by Master’s and Johnson are ‘the pause’ and ‘the squeeze technique’.

Here is a step by step description of how they work.
1.The female partner should slowly begin stimulation of the male and should stop as soon as he senses a feeling of excessive excitement that may lead to ejaculatory inevitability.

2.Then, she should administer a firm compression of the penis just behind the Glans, pressing mainly under the penis. This should be uncomfortable but not painful.
(To view a picture of how to hold the penis, follow this link
http://www2.hu-berlin.de/sexology/ECE5/squeeze_technique.html )

3.Stimulation then should begin again after the male has a feeling that the ejaculation is no longer imminent.

4.The process should be repeated and practiced at least 10 or more times. You can lubricate the penis with KY jelly so that it mimics the vaginal environment.
(Gradually, most males find this technique helps decrease the impending inevitable need to ejaculate.)

5.After a period of practicing this method, the couple can sit facing each other, with the woman’s legs crossing on top of the male’s legs. She can stimulate him by manipulating his penis close to, then with friction against, her vulval area. Each time he senses excessive excitement, she can
apply the squeeze and stop all stimulation until he calms down enough for the process to be repeated.

Finally, intercourse may be attempted, with the female partner in the superior position so that she may withdraw immediately and again apply a squeeze to remove his urge to climax.

Most couples find this technique works. It can also help the female partner to be more aroused and can shorten her time to climax since it ends up extending foreplay.

If a person can achieve another erection in a few minutes following an episode of premature ejaculation, he may find that his control is much better the second time. Therefore

• Some therapists advise men (usually younger men) to masturbate (or have their partner stimulate them rapidly to climax) 1-2 hours before sexual relations are planned.
• The interval for achieving a second climax often includes a much longer period of inactivity, and the male can usually exert better control in this setting.
• In older men, such a strategy may be less effective because older men may have difficulty achieving a second erection after first rapid sexual release. So it is better not to try it in older men since it can damage confidence and may result in secondary impotence.

My erection lasts only a few minutes, can you prescribe medicines or some cream that can make my erection, longer?

Before requiring medicine, you have to be sure that you have a sexual dysfunction, such as erectile dysfunction. Are you having regular sexual intercourse with one partner? Since erectile dysfunction has a considerable anxiety component, it will be helpful to know if you are in a steady, committed, healthy relationship.
Erectile dysfunction is defined as a persistent or recurrent inability to attain, or to maintain an adequate erection for completion of the sexual activity.
The following is a questionnaire that is used as a screening tool for diagnosing erectile dysfunction:

Please answer the following 5 questions relating to the past 6 months:
1. How do you rate your confidence that you could get and keep an erection?
1-Very low
2-Low
3-Moderate
4-High
5-Very high

2. When you had erections with sexual stimulation, how often were your erections hard enough for penetration?
1-Almost never/ Never
2-A few times (much less than half the time)
3-Sometimes (about half the time)
4-Most times (much more than half the time)
5-Almost always/always

3. During sexual intercourse, how often were you able to maintain your erection after you had penetrated (entered) your partner?
1-Almost never/ Never
2-A few times (much less than half the time)
3-Sometimes (about half the time)
4-Most times (much more than half the time)
5-Almost always/always

4. During sexual intercourse, how difficult was it to maintain your erection to completion of intercourse?
1-Extremely difficult
2-Very difficult
3-Difficult
4-Slightly difficult
5-Not difficult

5. When you attempted sexual intercourse, how often was it satisfactory for you?
1-Almost never/ Never
2-A few times (much less than half the time)
3-Sometimes (about half the time)
4-Most times (much more than half the time)
5-Almost always/always

If your score is:

17– 21 = mild erectile dysfunction

12- 16 = mild to moderate ED

8– 11 = moderate erectile dysfunction

5 - 7 = severe erectile dysfunction

If you are very distressed by your condition and it is affecting your
relationship with your partner then you should visit a Urologist at a
reputable hospital for a detailed checkup.

We encourage you to make a few life style modifications which will improve your sexual health.

1. Improve cardio-vascular conditioning, by jogging or brisk walking, quitting smoking, and reducing stress will improve sexual activity for many men.

2. Reduce anxiety. This can be done to reduce performance induced anxiety, that is you should use non-demanding, non-genital ways of pleasing each other. This will reduce the pressure for a need for a firm erection

3. Don’t regard your current sexual problem as a loss of your reproductive ability. Talk to your wife, communicate with her and don’t feel frustated and apologetic.

In the end if lifestyle modifications have not worked for you, you will have to visit a Urologist at a reputable hospital for further treatment. Since this is an advisory site, we do not prescribe medication.

My menstrual cycles are irregular, why?

To determine whether you have a menstrual irregularity problem, you have to keep a menstrual diary for about 6 months, making a note of the following:

• age at the time of very first episode of periods,
• dates of starting and stopping of periods,
• number of sanitary napkins used
• pain or discharge associated before/after or during periods.

These will help to determine whether your periods are actually irregular or abnormal.

Abnormalities in menstruation may include:

• Quantity; - Normal is 1 pad or tampon per 3-hour period.
• Timing between cycles; normal interval between one period and the next is 21 to 35 days
• Duration of bleeding; normal range is 1-7 days
• Time of onset of first period; normal age range is between 10-16 years

Some of the causes of menstrual irregularity are structural abnormalities in the uterus, stress, hormonal imbalance, infections, drug (e.g. contraception), pregnancy and abortion problems and other medical conditions.

The message here is that before you get diagnosed with a menstrual irregularity; know what the normal values are. The treatment for each of the conditions is different and is tailored according to individual problems.

So please refer to your Gynecologist for a thorough checkup.

Which method of contraception is the best?

Before deciding a method of contraception it is useful to think about or answer the following questions.
-Your Age:
-Previous contraceptive history: side effects, or failures with contraception
-Current or past gynecological problems: e.g. ovarian cysts, Ectopic Pregnancy:
-Menstrual History:
How long is your cycle, the time between one period and the next?
Are your periods regular?
How many days do you bleed?
How many Pads due you use? Is your flow, heavy or light?
Do you experience pain during menstruating?
-Current or previous pelvic infections or sexually transmitted infections
-Medical Problems: Vascular Disease, liver disease, daibetes,hypertension, heart disease, mechanical heart disease, cancer, or any other medical problem
-Current medications:
-Smoking status
-Is there need for protection from sexually transmitted infections?
-Wishes for future pregnancy?
-Importance of delaying pregnancy currently?
-Male partners willingness to take responsibility for contraceptive use
There are several methods to choose from, these include: -Oral contraceptive pill (combined or progesterone only
-Male Condom
-Natural Family Planning
-Contraceptive Injections
-Implants
-Intrauterine System (IUS)
-Intrauterine Device (IUD)
-Male and Female Sterilization

Each has its merits and demerits, and there is always one that can fit your needs. The best way to decide is to choose two methods that are your ideal and then read about them in depth. The in depth information then can be given to you, either through this website http://www.srhmatters.org/write-to-us/ or through speaking to our representative on our 24 hour toll free number 0800-22-333.

What is normal vaginal discharge?

The vagina has glands that secrete fluid as a normal process of keeping the vagina lubricated and protect it from invasion from bacteria. Normal physiological discharge is clear to white, not foul smelling or associated with any other symptoms, like itching or burning. The amount varies among women and is not a matter of concern. If however the discharge changes color, becomes foul smelling or is associated with other symptoms and the discharge occurs mostly during or after menstruation or associated with post coital pain, then it needs to be investigated.