Libido and sexual performance Archive

Advances in breast cancer research have led to more personalized treatments, based on subtyping and more sophisticated testing. A risk assessment test can predict that some women do not need chemotherapy but will benefit from hormone therapy, and who might benefit more from both treatments.

Prostate cancer is often a multifocal disease, meaning that several tumors can be present in different parts of gland at the same time. Not all of these tumors are equally problematic, however. And it’s increasingly thought that the tumor with the most aggressive features — called the index lesion — dictates how a man’s cancer […]

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Q. I am 74 years old and unsure whether I want to continue with PSA screening for prostate cancer. Before deciding, I wanted to better understand my options since I probably would not want surgery or radiation therapy if I do have prostate cancer. What is your approach?

A. No matter what your age, men should ask themselves these types of questions before having a blood test for PSA (prostate-specific antigen) to look for hidden prostate cancer.

Research we're watching

Women who use marijuana may have more difficulty getting pregnant than women who don't, according to a study published online Jan. 11, 2021, by the journal Human Reproduction.

The study looked at 1,200 women who were trying to conceive after experiencing either one or two miscarriages. The researchers followed the women for six monthly cycles and tracked those who became pregnant for the duration of their pregnancy. Those who reported using marijuana or hashish in the past 12 months or whose urine samples showed evidence of cannabis were 40% less likely to get pregnant during each monthly cycle than those who didn't use cannabis. Only 42% of the cannabis users became pregnant during the study period, compared with 66% of non-users. There did not, however, appear to be any difference in miscarriage rate between users and non-users. The study authors said that further research is needed to confirm the results.

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Q. I had a major heart attack earlier this year and received a drug-eluting stent. My doctor tells me that it's now safe to exercise and engage in sexual activity. But is it safe to use erectile dysfunction (ED) medications?

A. Most men who have recovered from a heart attack can resume their usual sex life. Once your doctor allows you to engage in moderate aerobic activity — sexual activity is often equated to the exercise level of brisk walking — you may safely use ED medications with certain precautions.

The best prevention for bone-thinning osteoporosis begins early — during the first two decades of life, when you can most influence your peak bone mass by getting enough calcium and vitamin D and doing bone-strengthening exercise. If you are over age 20, there's no need to be discouraged. It's never too late to adopt bone-preserving habits.

If you are a man younger than 65 or a premenopausal woman, these five strategies can help you shore up bone strength as a hedge against developing osteoporosis.

Can adopting a healthier diet help fight prostate cancer? That's a question men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer often ask their doctors.

Several studies have shown that in countries where men eat a typical "Western" diet containing a large amount of meat, the incidence of prostate cancer, especially aggressive prostate cancer, is higher than in countries where plant-based foods are a primary part of the diet. Unfortunately, these studies weren't designed to prove cause and effect. So for now, definitive answers about prostate cancer and diet aren't yet in — although researchers are actively studying this topic.

Recent advances can help men with a worrisome PSA result avoid immediate biopsy.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood testing receives high marks as an effective way to monitor disease activity in men diagnosed with prostate cancer. Yet, as a screening tool for prostate cancer, PSA testing is problematic.

PSA naturally tends to increase as men get older, but levels that get too high may suggest prostate cancer. A PSA level of less than 4 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) is often reassuring, unless there has been a sudden jump from a much lower number. Many doctors consider a total PSA level higher than 10 ng/mL as the threshold for getting a biopsy to check for cancer.