The Acupuncture Works

Sexual drive varies markedly between individuals. A low sex drive is not necessarily a sign of a dysfunction. Sex drive normally declines with age, and particularly so for men over the age of 50. However, in general, low libido is believed to affect women more than men. One estimate suggests that up to 10% of women never have sexual fantasies or desire for sexual activity.

Sex drive is very much influenced by psychological factors. A reduced sex drive can be a manifestation of a deteriorating relationship or depression. Traumatic sexual experiences in the past can very much influence sex drive.

Impotence is the inability to achieve orgasm, and often includes the inability to maintain an erection in men. Lack of libido and impotence may go together, but not always. Isolated impotence is more likely to have an underlying physical cause.

An important physical cause of low sexual drive and impotence is chronic illness, particularly if it affects a part of the body which is associated with sexuality, such as the prostate, breast or the cervix. Certain chronic diseases such as diabetes and peripheral vascular disease can lead to impotence because they result in impairment of blood and nervous supply to the genital regions. Endocrine disease such as Addison's disease or hypothyroidism may directly affect libido by affecting the secretion of pituitary hormones.

"Recreational" drugs including alcohol and heroin are well known to reduce libido. It may be possible to link a recent onset of loss of sex drive with a prescription of medication.

Drugs which are well known to cause low sex drive and/or impotence include diuretics, beta blockers, and the newer forms of anti-depressants.

In men who have impotence as a result of a physical problem such as diabetes or vascular disease, physical methods may be prescribed to aid maintenance of erection. The man can be taught to inject a drug into the penis which causes an erection for a short time.

More recently, the drug sildafenil citrate (Viagra®) has become available. This can be taken by mouth to increase penile blood flow. However, it carries risks, and should only be taken on specialist advice. Both these treatments carry the risk of inducing a painful sustained erection, which may require emergency treatment. Surgical techniques involve the insertion of an inflatable implant which can be pumped up when an erection is needed. Of course none of these methods will directly improve lack of libido.

In Chinese medicine impotence is usually attributed to Kidney Deficiency. Lack of sexual drive indicates a deficiency of the Fire of the Gate of Life (Mingmen).

Non - physical dyspareunia has features which suggest Liver Qi Stagnation.

Premature ejaculation

In premature ejaculation the man fails to sustain an erection because ejaculation occurs either before or just after penetration. This problem usually has an emotional cause, often rooted in performance anxiety, and can respond very well to sex therapy.

In Chinese Medicine, premature ejaculation is usually attributed to deficiency of Kidney Yang.