What Affects Male Sexual Activity: A Comprehensive Review

The fundamental importance of sex lies in the need for reproduction and species continuity. For humans, sexual expression is an important source of physical pleasure and emotional intimacy. Healthy sexual expression is closely related to well-being, health and overall quality of life in both men and women. Sexual activity is also considered an important determinant of quality of life. At present, questions about sex are still largely ignored in routine consultations in almost all medical specialties. The factors affecting sexual activity are complex and can be divided into the influence of bio-psycho-sociological factors. Biological influences include anthropometric parameters, sexual function, lifestyle, neuroendocrine system, and diseases;psychological influences include psychological status, mental illness, and sexual attitudes;sociological influences include factors such as marriage, occupation, and economic status. With the epidemic and outbreak of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), people’s way of life and work has changed, which also has a great impact on sexual activities. This article will provide a systematic review of factors related to male sexual activity.

Objective non-intrusive markers of sperm production ant sexual activity

Objective studies of men＇s reproductive function are hindered by their reliance on： （i） self-reporting to quantify sexual activity and （ii） masturbation to quantify sperm output rendering both types of estimate vulnerable to unverifiable subjective factors. We therefore examined whether detection of spermatozoa and measurement of prostate-specific antigen （PSA） in urine could provide objective semiquantitative estimates of sperm output and recent ejaculation, respectively, using widely available laboratory techniques. Of 11 healthy volunteers who provided urine samples before and at intervals for 5 days after ejaculation, sperm was present in 2111 men before, and in all 11111 samples immediately after ejaculation, but by the second and subsequent void, spermatozoa were present in -10%. PSA was detectable at high levels in all urine samples, peaking at the first post-ejaculatory sample but returning to baseline levels by the second post-ejaculatory void. We conclude that urinary spermatozoa and PSA are objective biomarkers for sperm production and sexual activity, but only for a short-time window until the first post-ejaculatory urine void. Hence, for a single urine specimen, the presence of spermatozoa and PSA are valid biomarkers, reflecting sperm production and recent ejaculation only until the next micturition, so their measurement should be restricted to the first morning urine void.

Parquetina nigrescens leaves： chemical profile and influence on the physical and biochemical indices of sexual activity of male Wistar rats

OBJECTIVE： The leaves of Parquetina nigrescens have been claimed in folk medicine to be useful for managing sexual dysfunction, but there is inadequate scientific evidence for this claim. This investigation was conducted to assess the effects of aqueous leaf extract of Parquetina nigrescens （AEPN） in rats induced with sexual dysfunction. METHODS： Male rats were allocated into various groups after being induced into sexual dysfunction with paroxetine hydrochloride. The groups were treated with distilled water, PowMaxM （reference drug）, and the AEPN at 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg body weight （BW） respectively for 7 d. Frequencies of mount （MF）, intromission （IF）, ejaculation （EF）, as well as latencies of mount （ML）, intromission （IL） and post - ejaculatory interval （PEI） were progressively monitored with receptive female rats on days 1, 3 and 7. The precentage of mounted, intromitted, and ejaculated rats, intromission ratio （IR）, copulatory efficiency （CE） and intercopulatory interval （ICI） were also computed. Standard methods were employed to determine the levels of serum luteinizing and follicle stimulating hormones （LH and FSH）, testosterone, nitric oxide （NO） and the activity of phosphodiesterase V （PDE5）. RESULTS： The plant contained alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, steroids, tannins, phlobatannins, cardenolides, phenolics, anthraquinones and triterpenes with alkaloids （2.32 mg/g） occurring in greatest quantity while flavonoids, anthraquinones and cardenolides （0.01 mg/g, each） were the least. All the 20 standard amino acids were detected in the plant leaf, with the lowest concentration being 0.30 mg/g for methionine and the highest being 2.12 mg/g for cysteine. Furthermore, P. nigrescens leaves contained Na, K, Fe, Mg, Zn, Ca, Cu, Mn, P, Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr, and Co, with Fe present in the highest and Co the lowest concentrations. Paroxetine significantly （P〈0.05） reduced MF, IF, EF, percentage mounted, intromitted, ejaculated, IR, CE, serum testosterone, LH, FSH and NO, while ML, IL, PEI, IF and PDE5 were significantly （P〈0.05） increased and/or prolonged. The AEPN significantly reversed these paroxetine-treatment-related alterations with most profound activity at the highest dose of 80 mg/ kg BW, similar to that of the PowMaxM-treated animals. CONCLUSION： The AEPN restored both the physical and biochemical indices of male sexual activity/ competence via changes in reproductive hormones, NO and PDE5 activity. The pro-sexual activity, attributed to a myriad of mineral, amino acid and secondary metabolite constituents, was best at 80 mg/kg BW of AEPN.

Antibiotics Resistance of Urogenital Mycoplasma in Sexually Active Women Attending Gynecologic Consultation in Douala (Cameroon)

Introduction: Mycoplasmas are bacteria commonly found in the commensal flora of humans and can occasionally be pathogenic. The population and the geographical area determine their susceptibility to various antibiotics. Methodology: We carried out a cross-sectional study from January to June 2022 at the Douala General Hospital. All women who were sexually active and willing to participate were included. Endo-cervical swabbing was used to collect the samples. Culture and antibiotic susceptibility testing were performed in a liquid medium using Mycoplasma-SystemPlus Gallery (Liofilchem). All samples that degraded urea (threshold > 103 for Ureaplasma urealyticum) and arginine (threshold > 104 for Mycoplasma hominis) were deemed positive. Results: A total of 107 women with a median age of 33 ± 8.3 years and a predominance of 30-40 years (41.1%) were included. The frequency of mycoplasma infection was 73.8% with 34.1%, 11.4% and 54.4% for Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis and co-infection respectively. Resistance rates to Minocycline were low, 1.3% for Ureaplasma urealyticum and 3.7% for co-infection;for Pefloxacin the resistance rates were 3.7% (Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis) and 22.8% (co-infection). Ureaplasma urealyticum had a resistance rate of 3.7% for Erythromycin, 1.3% for Clarithromycin and 5% for Azithromycin. There was no significant correlation between risk factors and infection. Vaginal cleansing and the development of resistance in mycoplasma infection were found to be significantly correlated (OR = 6.915 [1.52 - 31.55];(p = 0.013)). Conclusion: Minocycline was the most active antibiotic and Ureaplasma urealyticum was the species with the lowest rate of resistance. Antibiotic resistance was more common in co-infected people than mono-infected. Antibiotic resistance was independently correlated with vaginal douching.

The moderating impact of lifestyle factors on sex steroids, sexual activities and aging in Asian men

The present study sought to evaluate the relative associations of exercise, sleep and other lifestyle habits with aging, sex hormones, percent body fat （%BF） and sexual activities in men living in the community. A better understanding of this complex interrelationship is important in helping the formulation of modalities for a holistic approach to the management of aging men. The results showed that age is a major determinant for many physiological parameters, including sleep, hormonal and metabolic parameters, some lifestyle factors and sexual activities. Testosterone （T）, bioavailable testosterone （BloT） and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate （DHEAS） concentrations decreased with age, while estradiol （E2）, sex hormone-binding globulin （SHBG） and %BF increased with age. In addition, there exist intricate associations among hormonal and lifestyle factors, %BF and age. High-intensity exercise and longer duration of sleep were associated with higher concentrations of T and BloT. T was shown to be associated positively with men who were engaged in masturbation. DHEAS was associated with men wanting more sex and with good morning penile rigidity. Older Singaporean men tended to sleep for shorter duration, but exercised more intensely than younger men. Coital and masturbation frequencies decreased with age, and a significantly greater number of younger men were engaged in masturbation. Relationship between the partners is a key determinant of sexuality in men. It appears that T may have a limited, while dehydroepiandrosterone （DHEA） have a greater role than previously suggest, as a motivational signal for sexual function in men. Both biological and psychosocial factors interact with each other to influence sexual functions in men. Hence, a biopsychosocial approach may be more appropriate for a more lasting resolution to sexual dysfunctions in men.

Retrospective and Prospective Study on Injuries during Coital Accidents at the Central Hospital of Yaounnde: A Study of 23 Cases

Introduction: A penile fracture is the traumatic rupture of the turnica albuginea of one of both cavernous bodies of an erect penis. It is a urologic emergency in young adults. The objective of our study is to determine the epidemiologic, clinical, and therapeutic aspects and evaluate the complications at the Yaounde Central Hospital (YCH). Methodology: It was a cross-sectional retrospective and descriptive study, carried out for a period of five years, from 2015 to 2020, followed by a prospective phase for a period of 1 year, from December 2020 to 2021 at the Urology Unit of Yaounde Central Hospital. Results: Our study involved 23 patients. The mean age was 34 ± 4 years with extremes of 23 - 65 years. Married men were the most involved, with 16 cases (69.6%). The majority of patients presented for consultation within the first 6 hours (60.9%). The mean delay time before the consultation was 5 [3 - 24] hours, with extreme values of 1 - 72 hours. Sitting position during sexual intercourse was mainly found (56.5% of cases), while alcohol consumption was the main environmental risk factor found (47.8% of cases). Penile pain (100.0%) and deformation of the penile shaft (91.3%) were the most encountered symptom during admission. The frequency of cavernosa involement was 87.0%. The injury was partial in the majority of cases (95.0%), involving both corpus cavernosa (55.0%) and mostly on the right (60.0%). The mean management delay was 5 hours standard deviation [5 - 7], with extremes of 2 - 48 hours. The intra-cavernous hematoma was the essential per-operative finding in all the operated cases (100.0%). Most patients resumed sexual intercourse 2 - 3 months following management (65.3% of cases). After one year of treatment, 78.3% of patients declared satisfactory sexual activity. Conclusion: Penile fracture is an anthological emergency in young adults. The management is essentially surgical. Functional prognosis depends on the promptitude of surgical intervention.