[Hopespringpcsg] FW: [IceBalls] Erectile Dysfunction

[Glen Tolhurst]

Hi all:
Interesting article from a U.S. blog.
Take care,
Glen

Subject: [IceBalls] Erectile Dysfunction

********** 

The IceBalls mailing list is intended for informational purposes only. Be
aware that much of the material on this list represents the opinions and
interpretations of other patients. Recommendations should NOT be regarded as
professional advice. Conduct your own research and discuss your options with
health care professionals involved in your care.

**********
The following extracted from an email on the “Advanced Prostate Cancer
Australia” forum to members; not necessarily the final answer to the
problem, but certainly worthy of consideration:


The following item by Dr Prue Cormie, a Senior Research Fellow at Edith
Cowan University Perth, was first broadcast on the ABC on the Science Show
on Saturday
31 May 2014.  We are grateful  to the ABC and Dr Cormie for permission to
publish a transcript. 

Men think about sex a lot.  On average every 45 minutes, which is more often
than they think about food or sleep.  So it's not surprising that sexual
dysfunction is the most frequently identified issue of importance among
prostate cancer survivors.  Significant reductions in sexual well-being
occur in up to 90% of men with prostate cancer.  And only a third regain
pre-treatment levels.
 
Current management options include drugs such as Viagra, penile implant
surgery, or the injection of drugs directly into the penis.  Now, not only
do these strategies have low levels of uptake and compliance, but they
exclusively target erectile function, with no consideration of the many
factors that drive sexual dysfunction.
 
There is a critical need for better management options, ones which
comprehensively counteract the unique variety of factors contributing to
sexual dysfunction following prostate cancer.

Now, the good news is we've discovered such a treatment. Exercise. Now, in a
world-first we took a set of men with prostate cancer and we divided them
into two groups, one which maintained their normal lifestyle or usual care,
while the other participated in a supervised exercise program, involving
twice-weekly group based sessions. These sessions involved resistance
exercise which required men to lift weights, as well as a aerobic exercises
such as walking and cycling.
 
After just three months the men involved with the exercise program had a 50%
greater level of sexual activity.  Fifty percent!  This difference was
driven primarily through changes in sexual desire, with a larger proportion
of men in the exercise program maintaining a high level of libido.
 
In a subsequent study we again observed a targeted exercise program to
minimise declines in sexual function, this time during the initial phase of
prostate cancer treatment where that impairment is most pronounced.
 
So what is it about exercise that works?   Well, exercise prompts
improvements in many of the side effects of prostate cancer treatment that
contribute to sexual dysfunction.   We observed enhanced sexual well-being
to be accompanied by significant improvements in a range of factors, such as
body composition, especially gains in muscle mass to counteract body
feminization, as well as improvements in fatigue, depression, anxiety,
strength, fitness and quality of life.   By conducting interviews with these
men we discovered that enhanced masculine self-esteem was an additional
driver of improved virility.
 
So with this research we've established that exercise is an effective
medicine that can be prescribed to counteract the devastating sexual
dysfunction caused by prostate cancer treatments.