Carol Forsloff - George Clooney is considered a hunk, and when he married recently many women were disappointed to see a man exuding such sex appeal no longer available. What does he have and what in fact is male sexuality, according to scientific research?
Actually men themselves have difficulty identifying what sexuality is and means. In fact they tend to sometimes be confused about it.
Myths and legends about men's sexuality are broken down by science, showing that men struggle with their sexual identity, their sexual capability, and their worries, often causing more problems.
Surveys show that performance issues are widespread. Recent surveys show that older men grapple with their ability to have or sustain an erection and reach for help of various kinds. Or some just have trouble and refuse to get help, causing increased marital problems instead. Sexual problems also are not confined to one racial group, as black, Hispanic and men from cultures who are thought of as more virile have just as many concerns and issues as the typical white guy.
In a survey about sexual issues involving men, a survey in Europe showed that many men have intense distress that further impacts sex performance over premature ejaculation. So the interest in men's feelings about their sex life are not just American concerns.
Men often identify sexuality with their physical performance. And as observed it is a universal concern, not just isolated to one region of the world.
'PE Confidential'did a Europe-wide public survey on premature ejaculation (PE), reveal the intense and long-term suffering that PE creates for both the men and their partners. The survey also found the problem creates problems for relationships and answers the questions about why so many men refuse to seek help.
PE Confidential' surveyed over 4,500 men and women from nine countries (Spain, Italy, Portugal, Germany, Austria, UK,France, Finland and Sweden) on the impact of and attitudes towards PE. What it found is that one in three men suffering from PE feel angry, ashamed or depressed because their PE. Half of men with PE disclosed that they feel guilty the condition is their fault and feel like a failure because of it. A quarter of men admitted they even feel less confident outside the bedroom.
Over half of men with PE and 44% of partners whose men have PE report they are not satisfied with their sex life. With relationships, a third of men feel that they are growing apart from their partner because of the impact of PE.
However, over half of men surveyed admitted that they have never spoken to anyone about their condition, not even to their partners. This silence surrounding PE was found to last over 25 years in some cases.
Dr Ian Banks, President of the European Men's Health Forum who assisted in guiding the research, addressed the issue by saying this:
"Even in the 21st century where sex is often openly discussed, particularly in Europe, premature ejaculation remains a taboo subject. As this survey reveals, there is still very much a stigma associated with having premature ejaculation. The negative impact of PE, not just on sex life, but also on a person's self-esteem, self-confidence and the consequent disruption within their relationship can certainly prevent people from talking - and ultimately taking action about PE, as this survey clearly demonstrates."
Reports from the survey observe that when partners of men with PE were surveyed, the majority (70%) said they have never spoken to anyone about their partner's PE, not even with their partner. A significant number of men and partners have never even looked for information on PE from sources such as websites.
When it comes to doing something about PE, only one in ten men have spoken to a healthcare professional.
Irem Hattat, President of the European Sexual Health Alliance, the European umbrella group for sexual health patient support groups, said:
"Premature ejaculation is a sexual health problem like any other and can be overcome successfully. We would encourage any man who has PE or their partner to speak to either a doctor or their local sexual health support group, who can provide trustworthy information and the right advice, support and solutions."
Experts tell us it is important to get help for sexual dysfunction as it impacts one's self concept as well as sexual satisfaction of both partners.
And which national group is least happy about their sexuality. It turns out it is the Germans and the British with the Spanish more capable about opening up about it, according to the survey.
Men often identify sexuality with their physical performance. And as observed it is a universal concern, not just isolated to one region of the world.
'PE Confidential'did a Europe-wide public survey on premature ejaculation (PE), reveal the intense and long-term suffering that PE creates for both the men and their partners. The survey also found the problem creates problems for relationships and answers the questions about why so many men refuse to seek help.
PE Confidential' surveyed over 4,500 men and women from nine countries (Spain, Italy, Portugal, Germany, Austria, UK,France, Finland and Sweden) on the impact of and attitudes towards PE. What it found is that one in three men suffering from PE feel angry, ashamed or depressed because their PE. Half of men with PE disclosed that they feel guilty the condition is their fault and feel like a failure because of it. A quarter of men admitted they even feel less confident outside the bedroom.
Over half of men with PE and 44% of partners whose men have PE report they are not satisfied with their sex life. With relationships, a third of men feel that they are growing apart from their partner because of the impact of PE.
However, over half of men surveyed admitted that they have never spoken to anyone about their condition, not even to their partners. This silence surrounding PE was found to last over 25 years in some cases.
Dr Ian Banks, President of the European Men's Health Forum who assisted in guiding the research, addressed the issue by saying this:
"Even in the 21st century where sex is often openly discussed, particularly in Europe, premature ejaculation remains a taboo subject. As this survey reveals, there is still very much a stigma associated with having premature ejaculation. The negative impact of PE, not just on sex life, but also on a person's self-esteem, self-confidence and the consequent disruption within their relationship can certainly prevent people from talking - and ultimately taking action about PE, as this survey clearly demonstrates."
Reports from the survey observe that when partners of men with PE were surveyed, the majority (70%) said they have never spoken to anyone about their partner's PE, not even with their partner. A significant number of men and partners have never even looked for information on PE from sources such as websites.
When it comes to doing something about PE, only one in ten men have spoken to a healthcare professional.
Irem Hattat, President of the European Sexual Health Alliance, the European umbrella group for sexual health patient support groups, said:
"Premature ejaculation is a sexual health problem like any other and can be overcome successfully. We would encourage any man who has PE or their partner to speak to either a doctor or their local sexual health support group, who can provide trustworthy information and the right advice, support and solutions."
Experts tell us it is important to get help for sexual dysfunction as it impacts one's self concept as well as sexual satisfaction of both partners.
And which national group is least happy about their sexuality. It turns out it is the Germans and the British with the Spanish more capable about opening up about it, according to the survey.
A large survey released January 2009 funded by the National Institutes of Health and involved men ages 57 to 85 who were asked about their sexual problems. Although the media has shown that men can have healthy sex lives into their 80’s, there are wide differences in ability and performance involving age and racial groups.
Some of the findings had predictable conclusions. For example, the research survey found that older men have difficulty getting and sustaining erections. Men in the age group from 75 to 85 were 2.4 times more likely to report the inability to have an organism and 1.9 times more difficulty to sustain an erection than men in the age group from 57 to 64. There was, however, no diminution in sex interest with the increase in age.
The study also found that those not getting much sex were likely not to have positive experiences than decreased sexual interest. In fact Randy Fagin, a urologist at the Prostate Center of Austin, was quoted in an article reporting the study that there is truth to the statement “use it or lose it.” The study also found that the higher the rate of satisfaction in a relationship, the more quality there is in the sexual performance. That would be easy to figure.
But there were surprising findings that might bury long-held notions and biases about sex and performance. For example, married men have more bad sex than single men. Divorced or separated men reported more sexual anxiety, however. Getting a sexually-transmitted disease can also affect long-term performance, especially if the urinary tract is involved. Mental health can significantly affect male sex life, with depressed men experiencing half again more difficulty having an orgasm or maintaining an erection than men who said they were not depressed.
And as for how men fantasize about sex. Studies in 2014 found relative consistency about this. Performance continues to be an issue. But while some men consider penis length of paramount importance, research has found bigger is not better as far as women are concerned, who appreciate actually a comfortable size, expressing the basics of performance, and dispelling some of the myths that interfere with one's image of oneself.
