Misconceptions about (im)potency

Big nose means big bigThe size of the nose (or of the hands and feet) says nothing about the size of the male sexual organ, let alone the size of the male genitalia. potential.

Alcohol helpsAlcohol promotes the lust, but not the potency. For women, a few drinks usually do not have much influence on sexual performance, with men it is different. Men have a harder time climaxing when their blood alcohol level is too high. Heavy drinking can even greatly affect sexual performance; it can lead to liver and nerve damage and eventually erectile dysfunction.

Bald men are more potentBald-headed men have a reputation for being tireless lovers. That doesn’t seem completely out of the blue. A Greek doctor found that men with a high concentration of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) have an orgasm more often than men with a lower DHT level. Coincidence or not: a high concentration of DHT is also a cause of baldness.

Erection problems go away on their ownWaiting for it to go away on its own is the worst advice you can think of. In older men, the problems often increase simply with age. And in younger men, the problems can be exacerbated by performance anxiety, which often grows stronger. In short: the longer an erection problem exists, the more difficult it becomes to turn the tide. The right advice is: don’t wait, and make an appointment with your doctor.

It’s unhealthy for a man not to reach a climaxNo, this is not physically harmful nor is it at the expense of subsequent erections.

Erectile dysfunction is between the earsPsychological influences do indeed often play a role at a young age, but physical problems are a more likely cause at a later age. If a man does have morning erections, if he does get an erection on self-satisfaction, and if the problems start suddenly, then this indicates a psychological cause, such as insecurity about sexual performance. If the problems start more gradually and there are no more morning erections, a physical cause is more likely. Once a man has erectile dysfunction, he can eventually too performance anxiety develop. And vice versa: if the erection problems are reduced thanks to a treatment, this can give confidence in one’s own abilities, so that the fear of failure decreases.

Erectile dysfunction is part of agingErectile dysfunction occurs at any age, but older men are more likely to suffer from it. Research shows that 14 percent of all Dutch men suffer from it. In the age group of 41 to 50 years, 14 percent have erectile dysfunction, in men between 51 and 70 years 30 percent and in 71 to 80 year olds it is 42 percent. Few men go to the doctor for it. Less than four out of a thousand consultations are about erection problems. And the men who go to the general practitioner only do so after about two years. It’s not just because of shame; older men are less likely to experience erectile dysfunction as a problem and therefore do not seek help for it. But whether it is ‘just part of the game’ can only be determined by the man himself and his partner.

Eggs are good for potencySperm is made up of protein, so if you eat protein, you get more sperm. Sorry, but that’s not right. There is no relationship between Eggs eating and the ability to ejaculate more often. The exception: if you have a proven protein deficiency, an extra egg can’t hurt to make sperm.

The older you get, the less you feel like having sexAge has nothing to do with sex drive. In fact, when you’re older, you don’t have to worry about unwanted pregnancy anymore and you may not be so concerned about whether you still look your best during sex. Are there any physical problems, such as arthritis, that may diminish the meaning.

There is little difference between erection pillsThere are roughly three types of erection pills, which differ quite a bit in terms of effect and use. Which type is suitable depends mainly on the personal situation. Therefore, discuss with your doctor which erection pill is best for you.

The doctor automatically gives the best erection pill A patient who asks the doctor for a certain erection pill, is sometimes prescribed it without further ado. Reason: GPs may also find it difficult to talk about sexuality. Because you as a patient benefit from correct information about the various resources, it is better not to ask for a prescription for a specific erection pill, but for information about the various resources. This way you can only choose the erection pill that best suits your own situation.

You can also order erection pills onlineAbout 97 percent of the erection pills offered on the internet are fake pills (source: RIVM). They do not work and can also pose a health hazard. The fakes sometimes contain the strangest ingredients, such as ink and plastic. And if you did not receive a fake drug, but a real erection pill, there is also a health risk. After all, every drug can have side effects.

There is no link between an enlarged prostate and erection problemsOf the approximately 800,000 men with erectile dysfunction, about half also have an benign enlargement of the prostate. In other words, these two ‘disorders’ often occur simultaneously.

You can do nothing yourself against erection problemsAnyway. More exercise (at least thirty minutes a day) is the only measure that, according to scientific research, helps. Other measures, such as quit smoking or to lose weight, will prevent erectile dysfunction from worsening, but will not reduce the problem. More exercise is good for the blood vessels, which are crucial for getting a good erection. Quitting smoking and tackling obesity is also good for blood flow, but the damage that smoking and being overweight cause is not so easy to undo.