How do I last longer?

When it comes to sex, most men either worry about not being able to achieve and maintain an erection or about coming too fast. Both of these unfortunate situations are associated with a failure to please and be pleased and men tend to think less of themselves if they fail. Still, wherever there’s some kind of problem, you can always find at least a dozen men striving to find a solution. The only thing still in doubt is whether the solutions work or not. I mean, scams are nothing new and one can never know whether a simple remedy would do or the problem is too big to be handled by anyone other than a doctor.

And so, thousands of men are wondering if there’s a secret to lasting longer, if some method or other could help them avoid future trouble. Actually there are quite a few methods out there claiming they can assist men in lasting longer and getting greater pleasure from sex. But not all methods are sound and some are less effective than others. Every man who is trying to find a cure for this problem should be very cautious about success stories designed to mislead.  

The most common remedy recommended by therapists is learning to control ejaculation through exercises. There are two types of exercises which are suited for gaining control over the ejaculation process. The first type is usually known under the name “start-stop”. This technique is supposed to get the man accustomed to maintaining an erection for extended periods of time without ejaculating. In time, the man performing this exercise is bound to get over the initial feeling of hopelessness and learn to gain full control over his ejaculation. The hardest and most important part is, of course, to acquire the necessary confidence that can reverse the self-reinforcing negative mindset.

The second type of exercise is known as “Kegel”, which is derived from the name of the man who made it popular: Doctor Arnold Kegel. Kegel exercises focus on strengthening the pubococcygeus muscle through repeated flexing. This muscle controls both the urination and ejaculation processes and can be used to stop both of them. The average man has a minimally trained muscle that is not of much use. However, with proper training, a man can learn to clench his pubococcygeus muscle in order to delay ejaculation and also to relax it completely in order to obtain sexual satisfaction.

Another way to train men to last longer is through penis enlargement exercises. Just like the therapists before them, the people running penis enlargement exercises programs have sought to help men by developing exercises designed to train their pubococcygeus muscles in order to control ejaculation. The penis enlargement programs feature more sophisticated versions of the basic Kegel exercise, designed to get the maximum possible training for the PC muscle. These exercises seem to be an effective way to teach men to control their ejaculation.

Other methods of lasting longer in bed include the use of condoms. Manufacturers have launched some time ago condoms containing Benzocaine or some other substance that desensitizes the head of the penis in order to delay ejaculation. This type of condoms comes in very handy for those who only need a little help on the physical side. Men suffering from premature ejaculation can also resort to employing the services of the hypnotherapist. Hypnosis is a proven method of helping the men whose premature ejaculation problems derive from a subconscious habit. Giving the mind hypnotic suggestions to last longer is a good way of making sure that premature ejaculation doesn’t spoil the party.

Certain antidepressant drugs are known to delay ejaculation in twenty to sixty percent of men. The same effect can be obtained through the use of small quantities of alcohol or recreational drugs. Still, obtaining the desired effect from alcohol and drugs is not the easiest thing to do because of the high possibility of abuse.

So there you have it, a comprehensive list of methods that can help you achieve the dream of lasting longer in bed. You can choose whatever method you like, from a glass of wine during dinner to calm you down to performing advanced penis enlargement exercises. Sooner or later you are going to gain the desired control over ejaculation and put an end to those embarrassing moments that nobody should have to go through. Have fun and stay safe.

Have I got an STI?

Quick question: what is the bane of all men and women who love frequent changes of sex partners? Those of you who answered “sexually transmitted infections” get a nod and a wink from me. I like people who know what they like and what they should be guarding themselves against. But the power to defend yourself comes from knowing who your enemy is and what he looks like. That’s why it is important to learn the symptoms of all the major sexually transmitted infections, to be able to distinguish between a genuine STI and a non-threatening bump, swelling or zit and also to learn about safe sex and how to protect yourself. So, without further ado, let’s start our overview of the main STIs.

First on the list is, of course, Chlamydia; one of the oldest “friends” of mankind. Recent statistical data have shown that approximately 4 million people get Chlamydia each year in the USA alone. We can only imagine what the aggregated number for the entire world would look like. Chlamydia is an infection of the genitals and rectum caused by a bacterium belonging to the Chlamydiae phylum and is usually transmitted through vaginal sex, anal sex and sex toys.

Oral sex can also be a way of transmitting Chlamydia, but it is far less common. Symptoms of Chlamydia include an unusual discharge from the penis or vagina and a burning or painful sensation when urinating. Infected women may also experience bleeding between periods, pain or bleeding during sex or pelvic pain, while some men report tender or swollen testicles. Untreated infections lead to sterility in men and in all sorts of pregnancy-related difficulties for women. If you experience any of the symptoms, please visit a doctor as soon as possible. Chlamydia is easily treated with antibiotics once it’s been detected.

The second item on our list is Gonorrhea, another old acquaintance of mankind. Gonorrhea is caused by the bacterium called Neisseria gonorrhoeae and the most common symptom of this infection is painful urination accompanied by a milky white, yellow or green discharge of pus. The biggest problem with Gonorrhea is the fact that symptoms take up to 30 days to appear and, moreover, many infected people never get any symptoms at all. This helps the infection spread to other parts of the pelvic area. In women, untreated Gonorrhea may bring about the pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility. If you experience any kind of pain or burning sensation during urination or if you see the above-mentioned discharge, go and see your doctor immediately. Just like Chlamydia, Gonorrhea is easily and rapidly treated with antibiotics.

Third on the list comes a real bad guy: genital herpes. One of those nasty diseases for which there’s no cure, genital herpes is the work of the herpes simplex virus. The virus is passed on by direct skin contact during sex or by sharing sex toys. Condoms can protect you, at least in theory, against herpes, but it’s not 100 percent protection. The best known symptom is the cluster of fluid-filled blisters, which are highly infectious. However, herpes may also induce flu-like symptoms, pain when passing urine or… no symptoms at all. The only thing you can do about genital herpes is to use antiviral pills that help reduce outbreaks and limit their duration in time. The virus, however, remains in the body forever.

Syphilis comes next, at number four. The parade of bad guys is in full swing now. Although syphilis sounds like a holdover from two centuries ago, the diseases has never truly gone away. It’s true that syphilis has ceased to be the scary French disease of the 19th century, but only to be replaced with worse diseases. The pox is a highly infectious disease transmitted mostly through sexual intercourse, although there have been reported cases of infections caused by contact with syphilis sores or rashes and there are also the cases when infected mothers pass the diseases to their children during birth. Syphilis is passed on by direct contact and not through toilet seats, towels, baths or hugging. Safe sex is very likely to protect you from syphilis, so be sure to protect yourself.

The symptoms of this disease are different, depending on the stage of the disease. Primary syphilis is characterized by a painless sore which emerges on the penis, vagina or rectum between 10 to 90 days after infection. The lesion heals without outside intervention after 4 to 6 weeks. The secondary phase of syphilis starts 1 to 6 months after the initial infection and features a skin rash. This is the most infectious stage of the disease. The rash does not itch and usually spreads all over the body, including the palms and the soles, and may be accompanied by fever, headaches, weight loss, hair loss, sore throat and swollen glands. If the disease is not treated, the infected person eventually reaches the third stage of syphilis, during which the famous syphilis induced insanity appears. Aside from neurological complications, the third stage of syphilis also includes disorders of the spinal cord, cardiovascular problems and may result in death. The disease is easily cured with antibiotics.

HIV and AIDS: the syndrome that put syphilis to shame. As most people know, HIV is a virus that damages the immune system and leaves the body open to opportunistic diseases. Since there is no cure for HIV infection, the infected person becomes more and more vulnerable to diseases and ends up developing rare infections or cancers. When such rare diseases are present, the infected person is said to have AIDS. HIV is passed on only through the transfer of blood, semen, vaginal fluids or breast milk. The virus is not passed by sharing crockery, shaking hands, using the same toilet or through insect bites. Using condoms during intercourse is the best way to protect yourself from sexually transmitted HIV. There is no treatment for HIV, but a combination of drugs can be used to keep a person from becoming terminally ill.

Pubic lice and scabies. We’re back in the yuck zone with a little talk on parasites. Pubic lice are tiny parasites that lay eggs on pubic hairs and thrive in the genital region. Scabies, on the other hand, are mites that burrow into the surface of the skin of the genital area, although they tend to spread to other parts of the body as well. These parasites are highly contagious and can be passed on not just through intimate contact, but also through infected bed linen, clothes and towels. Symptoms include itchy skin for scabies and visible lice eggs and a brown powder from lice droppings in the case of lice. However, there are enough shampoos, lotions and creams out there that can be used to kill the parasites. Your doctor is sure to recommend you the best product. Keep in mind that you will want to wash all your clothes, towels and bed linen in order to prevent reinfection.

And yet another old friend: Trichomonas Vaginalis. This is a tiny parasite found in the vagina and urethra and it is passed only through vaginal sex and sharing sex toys. Kissing, hugging or sharing various other things does not spread the infection. Infection symptoms appear in 50 percent of those who get the virus and are mainly confined to a thin, whitish discharge and pain when passing urine. Women may also experience itching and soreness in and around the vagina. TV is cured with one dose of antibiotics and the only chance of reinfection is through sexual contact with an infected person. Unlike the other items on this list, TV does not cause any serious long-term health problems.

The list of infections would not be complete without mentioning the thrush, or vaginal yeast. This infection is caused by the Candida albicans and health data show that 50 percent of all adult women living in the USA have this yeast. However, the yeast does not cause an infection unless something changes in the chemical balance of the vagina. The symptoms are: soreness, itching and red patches around the vulva and on the penis and a white discharge from the penis or the vagina. Women may also experience pains during sex or when passing urine. The yeast infection is treated with cream or tablets, but it may also go away on its own.

And the last item on the list is genital warts. Caused by the human papilloma virus, genital warts are probably the most common STI. They are passed from one infected person to another by direct contact or by sharing sex toys. Since warts can appear anywhere in the genital area, condoms cannot protect against this infection. Moreover, only one percent of all people infected with the HPV have any visible warts. Warts may appear as small or large white lumps and there may be a single wart or a cluster. They are painless and can be found anywhere in the genital area, including inside the vagina or the anus. HPV infections are easily cured with creams or a spray treatment. Sometimes they go away on their own, if left untreated, but one cannot be 100 percent sure that warts do go away.

So there you have it, the comprehensive list of STIs. As always: have fun and stay safe!