Penile function can be affected by rheumatoid arthritis

Penile function can be affected by rheumatoid arthritis

Many young men think arthritis is only a problem for older women - and this myth could be dangerous to their penile function. Although rheumatoid arthritis is three times more common in women, a significant number of men make up the 1.5 million Americans who suffer from it - and not all of those men are older. Men who want to practice proper penis care need to know that even men as young as 20 can be in the early stages of rheumatoid arthritis. They also need to know how this condition can affect their highly valued penile function.

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease of the joints caused by an autoimmune reaction. For some reason, a person's body begins to interpret the linings of the joints as "foreign" - that is, not a natural part of the body and therefore a threat - and develops ways to attack these linings in a misguided attempt to protect the body.

This causes sometimes significant pain and stiffness in the joints, particularly in the hands and feet.

Penile function

Arthritis is bad enough, but it can also negatively affect a man's penile function. A 2012 clinical study found that nearly two-thirds of men with rheumatoid arthritis reported some degree of erectile dysfunction.

Why does arthritis affect penile function? The logical assumption would be that the immune system is attacking the penis itself, but that's not exactly the case. The penis is not a joint and therefore the immune system does not have it on its misguided radar system.

Rheumatoid arthritis causes inflammation, and it is thought that this inflammation may extend to penile blood vessels. The inflammation prevents the blood vessels from functioning properly, so a man who becomes aroused and wants blood to flow to the penis cannot do so properly.

It is believed that some medications used to treat arthritis may potentially affect penile function (and not in a good way).

Other problems

However, inflammation is not the only problem that men with arthritis may encounter. Studies also show that men with rheumatoid arthritis typically also have reduced testosterone levels, which in turn can lead to reduced libido.

Additionally, many people with arthritis find that it affects them both mentally and emotionally. Patients are more likely to have higher levels of depression, and this is also a factor in both reduction in sex drive and impaired erectile function.

Finally, the significant pain associated with arthritis may play a role. It may be difficult to achieve and/or maintain a functioning sexual position due to pain in other parts of the body, reducing the enjoyment or even physical functioning of a sexual experience.

Treatment

Men who suspect they have rheumatoid arthritis should see a doctor immediately for a diagnosis. Early diagnosis means treatment can be started sooner, increasing the possibility of a positive outcome.

Men also need to help maintain penile function, whether they suffer from arthritis or not, by properly considering overall penile health. Daily use of a top drawer Penis health cream (Health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil,This is clinically proven to be mild and safe for the skin)is recommended to maintain a healthy device. Men like to feel like their penis has a certain level of firmness, and a cream containing vitamin C can be useful in this regard. Vitamin C is an essential component of collagen production, which is useful for maintaining penile strength. The best creams also contain L-arginine, an amino acid that helps penile blood vessels dilate and be more receptive to a greater influx of blood.

Inspired by John Dugan