Low libido on the rise, is there a way to increase it?

 Low libido on the rise, is there a way to increase it?

Alan Reeves used to perform on stage in the 90s and also appeared in the movie Spice World.

Prescriptions for testosterone replacement therapy in the UK increased by 135 percent from 2021 to 2024.

Testosterone therapy has restored libido in some men, but there are also concerns about its side effects and profiteering.

In the 90s, Alan Reeves regularly performed on stage. As a member of the group ‘The Dreamboys’, he would take off his clothes in front of thousands of people. Due to his increasing demand, he and his friends later appeared in the Spice Girls movie ‘Spice World.’

Reeves, who was 24 at the time, said, ‘I was the poster boy for pin-up fame.’ As Reeves turned 30, he found himself in a different situation. His moods were bad and his sex drive had almost disappeared.

He said, “Nothing felt right to me.”

“My lack of sexual desire had a negative impact on my long-term relationships,” says Reeves, now 52. Reeves, who works as a fitness and lifestyle coach in London, started testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and it has helped restore his libido.

“I’ve gone from a grumbling old man to a young man again,” he says. “It’s an amazing feeling.”

Sexual desire is steadily declining

Women are also turning to testosterone. Blogger Rachel Mason, 37, says the hormone has been “amazing” for her energy levels, concentration and libido. She recounts her experience after menopause.

There has been a huge increase in testosterone prescriptions. The Care Quality Commission has compiled figures from the NHS Business Authority, which show a 135 per cent increase in its prescriptions between 2021 and 2024.

The increase comes at a time when ‘sex drive’ is seen to be declining across the UK. The National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (NatSAL) asks more than 10,000 people about this every decade.

In 1990, people aged 16 to 44 said they had sex an average of five times a month. By 2000 this had fallen to four times and by 2010 to three times.

The next set of results is due later this year, and researchers say the downward trend is continuing. However, they do not point to any one reason for the decline.

Against this backdrop, a debate is growing rapidly. Can testosterone really improve libido, or is it just a profit-making hype? The frequency of sex in the UK is falling. The National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles asks about 10,000 people about this every decade.

Low libido

According to study author Alan Reeves, the experience of low libido is one example of a trend that is becoming more common. “We’ve seen a decline in all age groups in the last few years,” says study director Soezig Clifton. “There are fewer couples living together now than in the 1990s, which could help explain the decline in sexual desire. But when we look specifically at that group (cohabiting couples), there’s also a decline,” she says.

In fact, the fastest decline in sexual frequency has been among older couples or couples who live together.

“It’s hard to say exactly why libido is declining,” says Clifton. “We don’t have any data yet that can tell us with any certainty that libido is not as high as it used to be,” she says. “There have been a number of studies that have tried to understand why. These studies point to the digital world as a big factor, making it harder to turn off screens, and there are so many other options to spend time with.”

General practitioner and sex therapist Dr Ben Davies says our stress levels are generally much higher than they were 30 years ago. This is also a reason, he says. “There’s a lot going on in people’s lives. Obviously there’s technology, but there’s also an increase in stress, depression and loneliness. All of these things contribute to a decrease in libido,” says Dr Ben Davies.

Professor Geoffrey Hackett, a consultant urologist and member of the British Society for Sexual Medicine (BSSM), says that testosterone levels in men are definitely falling.

According to him, the rise in obesity, type 2 diabetes and an increasingly inactive lifestyle all contribute to low testosterone levels. And declining testosterone levels may be one reason for our lack of libido.

Over the past 20 years, studies have measured hormone levels in men, which have shown that testosterone levels have decreased. But Hackett emphasizes that this graph is very subtle.

Low testosterone increases the likelihood of low libido, but that does not mean that every man with low testosterone has a low libido. Despite this complexity, subway stations, bus stops and social media feeds are now filled with ads like, “Low libido? Tired? Time to get a testosterone test!”

So, can testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) really be a cure for low libido?

Testosterone ‘gave me my life back’

Melissa Green has been taking testosterone for about a year. In his words, it gave him "the zest for life." ’ Not only did it bring her back, but it also saved her marriage. Melissa, 43, had been suffering from a low libido that had taken a toll on her relationship.

Her doctor had already prescribed her hormone replacement therapy, which consisted of estrogen and progesterone, due to early menopause symptoms, but Green says, “the doctor was not prepared to test her testosterone levels. They said she didn’t need the extra hormones.”

Women’s bodies produce low levels of this hormone, and according to NHS guidelines, women can only be given testosterone if they have ‘hypoactive sexual desire disorder’. That is, their sex drive is very low or almost non-existent. It can affect women of any age, but it peaks during menopause.

Eventually, Green went to a private clinic, had a blood test, and was told her levels were low. After taking the test report to her doctor, she was given some testosterone from the NHS.

‘It’s given me my life back. I feel like I’m in my 20s again,’ she says.

While some people are enthusiastic about the effects of testosterone on sex drive, others say it has some unpleasant side effects.

Cheryl O’Malley took testosterone for a year, she says, and while it may have helped restore some of the energy lost during the menopause, it also increased her libido and made her feel very angry.

‘I was feeling very horny. I wanted to have sex with my husband, but there were times when you felt like it wasn’t right, it wasn’t me. I felt like everything was out of my control.

Rachel Mason says, “When she posts about TRT, she sees, ‘Many women are very scared to start testosterone, they worry that they’ll look like a man, they’ll grow facial hair, or they’ll lose their identity.’

Mason has also developed hair growth on her arms. But that’s nothing compared to the benefits she gets from the hormone. In addition to body hair growth, TRT can have many other side effects.

In women, excessive hair growth, dandruff, and weight gain can occur. These can be resolved when the dose is reduced or stopped.

In men, side effects can include weight gain, prolonged erections, male-pattern hair loss, and mood swings. It can also reduce sperm production, which can affect fertility. There are treatments available that can help, but medical advice is recommended.

Money-making pot

Some NHS GPs and specialists say private clinics are making a profit by selling testosterone replacement therapy as a quick fix for a complex problem.

NHS consultant in sexual and reproductive health Dr Paula Briggs says it is a way of making money and people are paying huge sums for something they don’t need. “It’s getting out of hand,” she says.

What do you mean, private clinics?

They say they are improving people’s lives by providing a service that the NHS is failing to provide. Jeff Foster, medical director of the multi-million pound clinic Boy, which specialises in men’s health, and an NHS GP, says the private sector is filling a gap that the NHS is failing to provide.

Michael Cox has been providing TRT through his company Balance My Hormones since 2016. He says he has seen a “tremendous” increase in demand for it in recent years.

Some of his patients had been tested on the NHS, but were turned away because their levels were not low. They then went into the private sector. “Even if they are slightly above the NHS limit, TRT can help,” says Cox.

The proportion of people who benefit is small

What constitutes a healthy testosterone level in men depends on which organisation you ask and which studies you read. According to the BSSM guidelines, men with levels below 12 nmol/L should consider TRT, especially if they have symptoms of ‘hypogonadism’, a condition in which the testicles are not producing enough hormones.

NHS guidance can vary by region. But levels below 6 to 8 nmol/L can be considered low testosterone.

In women, testosterone levels start to fall between the ages of 20 and 40 and stabilise at menopause. Low levels are normal, but the question is how much this affects sex drive and overall health.

Tests are available for women but it is difficult to get an accurate reading because the doses needed are so low. There is no licensed treatment for women on the NHS. Dr Briggs is wary of the hype and hype surrounding TRT. . She says ‘Many patients come in complaining of a lack of sexual desire. They say they have done a study, which usually means they have seen someone posting about life-changing effects on social media. ‘Even if it works for a celebrity, it doesn’t work for everyone.’

She has a flood of patients asking for testosterone tests in her area. Some take a prescription and then return after a few months because the effects have diminished. The clinical evidence suggests that TRT is only effective in women who have gone through menopause and have a low libido.

‘The advertising from private clinics has exaggerated everything,’ says Briggs. 

This therapy is not a miracle cure

Cheryl O’Malley has stopped taking testosterone. The intense anger and hypersexuality that came with the treatment have now subsided, and her libido has returned to a comfortable level.

“It’s been a huge relief for me to get off it,” she says. There are many factors that can cause low libido, and testosterone is not the only solution. But Alan Reeves has been on TRT for seven years and his life has improved dramatically.

“My libido has returned, and at first I wanted to have sex for 10 nights straight,” he says. “Now I’m calm and in a better mental and physical state.”

According to her, it’s not a miracle drug, and TRT is meaningless without lifestyle changes. “It’s like putting a Ferrari engine in a junk car,” she says.

Are there elderly people who take regular medicines at home? 5 things to pay attention to

 Are there elderly people who take regular medicines at home? 5 things to pay attention to

Diabetes, cataracts, high blood pressure, arthritis and mental problems can appear in old age and advice from a psychiatrist should be sought.

Keep medicines in a safe place, make a list of medicines, double check to avoid taking the wrong medicines and follow the doctor's instructions.

With increasing age, various diseases take hold in the body. The body becomes weak. Problems such as diabetes, cataracts, high blood pressure, hearing loss, heart disease, joint pain and arthritis can appear. Similarly, mental problems such as depression, dementia, sleep problems, etc. can appear.

Old age is a stage of life. There is a possibility of getting diseases in this state. Many things have been neglected due to urbanization. In such a situation, people do not respond properly to the elderly and try to stay away from them.

Due to this, the elderly also fall into depression. In old age, advice from a psychiatrist should be sought so that these diseases do not harm the body. Then the long list of medications begins. Sometimes some medications have to be taken for life. However, with advancing age, caution should be exercised when taking medications, otherwise they may cause harm instead of benefit. According to many studies, many people over the age of 65 are dependent on medications. Therefore, medication management is very important.

How to pay attention to the elderly's medications?

1. Keep all medications and vitamins in one place

If the medications are kept in different places, it is much easier for the elderly in the house to keep them in one place. Sometimes there may be no other members in the house, in which case the elderly can take the medication themselves. However, if the medications are kept in different places, the elderly may forget to take some medications.

For example, some people keep some pills in the kitchen, while others keep them by the bed or in other places. But many medications have to be taken at the same time. In such a situation, they may be missed due to the medications being kept in different places. Which may reduce the effectiveness of the medication. Therefore, it is important to understand well with the doctor which medicine to take and when. Negligence in time or dosage can put you at greater risk. If the elderly take their own medication, set a reminder on their mobile phone.

2. Keep the medication in a safe place

In general, medications should be stored in a cool and dry place. This means that they should be stored carefully. Otherwise, cold and sunlight can reduce the effectiveness of the medication. Medications should be stored out of reach of children or pets. Follow the doctor's or pharmacist's instructions for medications that need to be stored in a special place.

3. Create and maintain a medication list

To avoid negative drug interactions, it is important for the elderly to know what regular medications they are taking. Therefore, an up-to-date list of their medications, vitamins, and supplements should be kept.

The name of the medication should be kept, and the condition it is used for. It is helpful to note how many times a day they take the medication or use it. It is important to keep track of whether the elderly are taking each medication prescribed by the doctor correctly.

It is important to know whether the medication is for short-term or long-term use. You should also pay attention to the expiration date of the medication and to ensure that the elderly do not take any medication repeatedly.

4. Double-check to avoid taking the wrong medication

Some elderly people are taking multiple medications, vitamins, or supplements. In such cases, you should be careful not to take any other wrong medication. Use an online drug interaction checker to avoid any interactions with your doctor or pharmacist.

5. Make sure the medication instructions are clear

It is important to follow the doctor's instructions with the medication. If this is not followed, the medication may not work properly. Therefore, it is important to follow what the doctor says. This reduces the risk of negative drug interactions and side effects.

Elderly people should understand which medications are safe to take at the same time. Some medications need to be taken with food before taking them, while others need to be taken on an empty stomach. If there is any uncertainty, you should seek clarification and detailed instructions from your doctor.

Why are there more urinary tract infections in women?

 Why are there more urinary tract infections in women?

According to a study, about one and a half million people in America suffer from urinary problems every year. Around one and a half million people worldwide are treated for it every year.

Bladder swelling is called 'cystitis' in medical language. It is called Urinary Tract Infection or UTI, which in most cases is caused by bacterial infection. This happens when the bladder (urethra) and its pipe (tract) become infected.

UTI is a common disease. It can affect people of any age, from newborns to the elderly. The study concluded that UTI is more common in women than in men. In women, the probability of infection is 60 percent, while in men, it is only 13 percent.

A housewife said that she could not pay attention to her health due to housework. Because of this, she says that she has been facing the problem of burning urine frequently. She said that after taking the medicine, she seemed to be cured for about a month and then relapsed again. After doing yoga and pranayama, he has experienced relief.

Suzuki Dashain Offer

The 37-year-old teacher said that she has been suffering from burning urine frequently. She narrates that she had to face such problems due to the lack of good toilet facilities in the school and the lack of an environment to pay attention to cleanliness. At that time, she said that she had a little stomach ache at first and then it started to hurt a lot. It is his experience that he got relief after taking a half holiday from school and getting checked and taking antibiotics.

Reasons why UTIs are more common in women

Bacterial infection in the urinary tract or bladder causes UTI. It can happen to both men and women.

According to Tanuj Lawania, senior registered doctor of Sharda Medical College Greater Noida, it is more likely to develop cystitis in women than in men. A woman's urethra is smaller than a man's. About 20 cm, Dr. Lavania says, 'When a woman is infected with bacteria, there is a greater chance that the bacteria will enter through the bladder. Therefore, 10 percent of women have at least one sinusitis. Most of them are recurring problems.

"If a UTI is left untreated, the infection can spread to the kidneys," says Jennifer Rohn, head of the Center for Urological Biology at University College London. UTIs are usually e. It is caused by an infection with coli bacteria, although many other bacteria can also cause the infection.

Symptoms of a UTI

Dr. According to Tanuj, women can have many symptoms. Frequent urination, burning sensation or pain while urinating, feeling of burning on the skin of the vulva while urinating, blood in the urine, if these symptoms are ignored for a long time, women may have high fever symptoms.

What does the doctor test?

Dr. Tanuj says, 'In such a clinical inquiry, if there is a suspicion of UTI, we initially make the woman undergo a urine test. In which urine microscopy and culture tests are performed.

In which the cause of the infection is seen through a routine microscope. It is known whether it is caused by bacteria or fungus. While through culture it is known which bacteria it is from so that the medicine related to it can be given.

Dr. Tanuj Lawania

Other causes of infection in women

Dr. Tanuj adds, "Though UTI can be seen in all age groups, it is more common in married women. Similarly, women who drink less water and urinate for a long time are more at risk. Because it gives a chance for bacteria to accumulate. Besides, those who use more jet sprays, use chemicals for cleaning, don't change undergarments frequently, and those who don't take full care of cleanliness may be more likely.

The risk of UTI infection is higher in pregnant women and women with diabetes. It can also happen after menopause because the number of friendly bacteria in the vagina decreases.

If you have frequent UTI infections

Dr. Tanuj says, "In case of repeated UTI infection, ultrasound examination of women is done. In this, the kidney and the kidney tube (ureter) are checked to see if they are okay. If there are stones in kidney or bladder, urine infection also occurs.

What problems does UTI cause in the elderly?

Around one and a half million people in the world get UTI infection every year. Most of them are old men. "After increasing age, there are common symptoms such as burning while urinating, fever, pain in the lower back, smell of urine," said Dr. Tanuj says, 'If the size of the prostate gland in men increases, it puts pressure on the urinary bladder. It reduces the flow of urine. Because of this, they are likely to get UTI.

She says that UTIs in men are more serious than in women. In this case, you may need to be admitted to the hospital. If such symptoms are observed, the medicine should be taken only after checking with the doctor. She says that medicine should not be taken without a doctor's advice.

What to do to prevent UTI?

To prevent UTI infection, pay attention to diet, take measures to strengthen immunity, do not use antibiotics without the advice of a doctor, drink plenty of water, drink at least two to three liters of water daily.

Likewise, use a condom during sexual intercourse, if there is no condition to use a condom, a woman should urinate immediately after sexual intercourse and wash her genitals with water. The toilet pan should be cleaned with water before using the public toilet. 

"There is also a need to discuss the mental health of teachers"

"There is also a need to discuss the mental health of teachers"

  Recently, there are many problems related to mental health in school students. This affects their ability to acquire skills and knowledge. At times, public awareness programs on mental health are targeted at students.

But the mental health of the teachers who teach the same children is not given much attention. Teachers may also be stressed by personal problems such as their home affairs and career. The effect of which can be seen in their work. It can have a direct impact on students' teaching and learning.

In this case, don't teachers need training on human health? How important is it to discuss the mental health of teachers? What is the teacher's health condition? In this context, psychiatrist Dr. Edited excerpt of online journalist Manisha Thapa's conversation with Vasudev Karki:

How important is it to discuss the mental health of teachers?

Suzuki Dashain Offer

Children are the foundations of the future. Teachers are the creators of children's future. Therefore, if the creator is not mentally healthy, the society of the future will not be prosperous. Therefore, it is very important to take care of the mental health of both children and teachers.

In the context of Nepal, there are many mental health programs targeting children and students. But by focusing on teachers, the discussion about mental health is reduced.

On the other hand, some time ago in America, there was a survey about the mental health of teachers. According to which 27 percent of the teachers were suffering from depression. In a prosperous country like America, teachers are going through mental problems like depression, but in a country like Nepal, the government has not been able to provide even the necessary services and facilities that teachers should get. It can be attributed to the recent teachers' movement. Even if only the teachers present in the movement are studied, 50 percent of them may have problems like depression.

In this case, if the mental condition of the teacher is not good, how can the children like the little buds get quality education from the education given by them? Therefore, it is very important to discuss the mental health of teachers.

Teachers have their own problems. Family matters, financial matters or various things are also making them stressed. Is the side-effect of such stress in the classroom or not?

If the teacher himself is in a stressful situation, its side-effect is completely falling in the classroom. A person who is mentally stressed may also have anxiety and depression. Due to stress, symptoms such as sleeplessness and dizziness may appear in them. How can he teach in the classroom who has not slept all night? On top of that, a teacher who is going through depression may have anger, impulses, and thoughts playing in his mind, and a teacher who comes to the classroom with a stressed mind either does not want to teach and is forced to teach.

Also, even a small mistake by a student in class can cause anger in the teacher. The result may be activities such as scolding and beating students. There are many examples of incidents of beatings by teachers from time to time. This can affect the mental health of not only the teachers, but also the students studying there. Not only that, the teacher may not be able to share enough knowledge as needed, which affects the students' learning.

How does the mood of teachers affect children?

If someone greets you with a smile when you go somewhere, the atmosphere is different. The same principle applies in the classroom. If the teacher looks cheerful and energetic, then even the students who are sitting in the classroom will get energy and vigor. They can easily absorb what is taught. They do not feel that the class is over.

But there is a lot of stress going on in the teacher's mind. He has no energy, no energy and comes with an angry face. And, if they are always presented in the same way in the class, students may not like to read, find it difficult to concentrate, and may not like to ask questions that they do not understand. Some teachers are kind enough to vent their anger on students due to the personal stress of homework. In this case, students are afraid to even sit in class. The class atmosphere is also negative.

All students consider their teachers as the storehouse of knowledge. Children consider teachers as their role models and they dream of being like teachers. Students follow not only the teacher's teaching but also their behavior. The direct effect on the students' emotional state and learning environment also depends on the teacher's presentation.

Even if the student is not scolded or beaten, some behavior of the teacher has a direct effect, right?

 

First, it was said that small punishments should be given to the students to make them level and discipline them. If you don't do your homework, if you make noise in the classroom, if you don't obey, you will get beaten up. But now the idea that students should not be beaten will have a more negative impact on children. Most teachers believe that the classroom should be child-friendly. However, activities such as not encouraging, not responding, and discouraging the students for their extracurricular activities in the class can have a negative effect on the student's mentality. Not only that, because stressed teachers cannot teach well, students also cannot learn well.

If the teacher himself is depressed or sad, can he cover it up and teach the students properly?

If the teacher himself is sad, he cannot cover it up. Even if they want to, they cannot teach the students properly. No matter how much the teacher tries to hide his indifference, it can be seen in his behavior.

What kind of mental problems can teachers have?

Depression, anxiety and stress are the most common psychological problems among teachers. Some teachers are not even able to experience that they have mental problems. But in their behavior, the symptoms of mental problems are visible and if the problem becomes dominant, the behavior may change. After which students and colleagues around can also notice.

How to make the teacher mentally healthy and emotionally strong?

In order to make them mentally healthy and emotionally strong, their stress can be reduced by giving them the wages that schools and colleges deserve, understanding the problems of teachers from time to time, not giving them unnecessary pressure from the administration, encouraging them when they have done a good job.

Also, it is important for the teacher to have a discussion program with the counselor at school from time to time, so that they can openly discuss the mental stress they have.

It is necessary for the government to conduct mental health awareness programs in all teaching areas and to train teachers on modern education. This can increase the intellectual capacity of the teachers and can also increase their passion for teaching.

What happens when there is a lack of vitamin E?

Vitamins, nutrients needed by the body, can be obtained from various foods. Generally, we are aware of vitamins A, B, C and D, but not many people pay attention to vitamin E, which is essential for the body.

Is there a way to breathe?

To stay healthy, we pay attention to various aspects like drinking a lot of water, eating a balanced diet, cleanliness. But we don't pay much attention to breath, which is the only means of survival. Because breathing comes automatically, no effort is needed for it.

If there is a problem in the ear, the child does not speak, what is the treatment?

Parents want their child to be fine in every way. To be able to walk, play, laugh, speak, see, hear. But as the newborn baby grows up, the developmental response of these things gradually begins to appear. Therefore, parents do not easily know that their baby has a hearing problem.

Now there is no risk of HIV?

HIV positive was considered as a terrible infection. The disease, transmitted through unprotected sex with an infected person, was described as 'fatal'. Therefore, people used to fear that they might have HIV infection even when they get a common sexually transmitted disease.

There is a lot of confusion about asthma, patients do not need to stop eating

Asthma is a problem related to breathing. Asthma can be considered as a symptom rather than a disease. If there is a long-term problem in breathing, there is a possibility of asthma. There are mainly two types of asthma due to breathing problems, COPD (chronic asthma) and bronchial asthma (asthma-cough).

There will be no more labor pains: a child can be born through easy methods

Pregnancy is the most important time in a woman's life. The experience of growing in his stomach is unique for him. But as much as the mind is happy during pregnancy, the body may be facing various pains.

Is there a shortage of cetamol in the market with the increase in dengue infection?

Dengue infection is increasing rapidly in major urban areas including Kathmandu. Most of the hospitals in Kathmandu have started filling up with dengue patients. As there is no specific treatment or medicine against dengue, medicine is given according to the symptoms. Paracetamol is given to eat especially because of high fever in dengue infection.