Project YOU: Why Your Sexual Health Deserves Your Attention

Are the sexual concerns and arousal difficulties you experience always physical in nature?

The answer is yes... and no.

First things first: if you notice something different in your sexual response, something that feels odd or unusual... don't ignore it. Look into it. You owe it to yourself to take care of project YOU, because if you don't, nobody else will. An erection that's softer than you remember, feeling as if you need more stimulation to respond, experiencing arousal fluctuations during sex with your partner... all these physical responses could—mind you, could—be related to physical or physiological issues.

Too often men avoid raising a physical concern, even more so when it affects their penis and testicles, almost as if admitting to a problem down below were equvalent to admitting a loss of what makes them "a man".

Men certainly don't have it easy when it comes to raising their hand to say they have a problem. Culture and socialisation over hundreds of years have ensured that men remain stoic and silent in the face of adversity—behaviour that is reinforced by both men and women alike.

Generally speaking, women, through the same culture that silences men, are more open to discussing amongst themselves the issues they face.

Women had to make do by forging and cultivating close bonds to obtain what they couldn't through overt influence and power, and this manifests through conversation.

This isn't to say women have a firm grasp on the behaviour of their own reproductive system—the levels of misinformation and ignorance are often staggering—but it does mean that by being open and talking, more information is exchanged, issues are normalised, and ideas spread.

They say a problem shared is a problem halved, and this holds true because these exchanges trigger action whilst providing support and understanding.

Men don't have this privilege and therefore miss out on vital information—and I use vital in the sense of life-saving information.

So, once again, first things first.

If you come home and smell smoke, your response isn't to close the door, grab a pint with the lads, and forget to mention it. You investigate the nature of the smoke, thoroughly, because it's your house we're talking about. It could simply be the grill in the back garden searing the steak, or it could be a fire that, if not tackled, could burn the house down.

So, if you notice something different in your sexual response, don't hold it in. Start making a plan to address your concerns. This allows you to take matters into your own hands and make conscious choices about your next steps. How?

Stay tuned to explore what physical issues could be affecting your sexual enjoyment and what to do about it.