This week, Dr. James McAndrew returns to answer more questions about E.D. (erectile dysfunction) treatments.
❤️ And we’re celebrating FATHER’S DAY and good men everywhere! ❤️
I know, I know. Kind of an odd topic for Father’s Day. But so many men have thanked us already for last week’s interview. With so much response, we prayerfully realized this was the right topic to let men know we care about them!
Next week, I’ll add Dr. McAndrew’s testimony and his Philosophy of Medicine. You’re gonna love it! Please share both with all your friends!
My voice was gone, you’ll notice on both our interviews. But I didn’t want to talk anyway. Instead, I just wanted to soak up all Dr. McAndrew’s insight and share it with you!
Oh, and I had to buy a new computer after my old one crashed immediately before these interviews. Spiritual attack? Maybe. If so, we’re especially glad you found today’s interview!
E.D. Treatments and Answers
Last week, I learned from Dr. McAndrew that some guys never experience E.D. Even so, E.D. is more common than we think. Factors like weight gain, sleeplessness, grumpiness, and many others should be taken seriously. Find out more. Also, find out how porn can affect your married life.
Recently retired, Jim has nothing to sell, no pills, no procedures, no gimmicks. I couldn’t wait to ask this trustworthy doctor for answers to the difficult questions men have asked me about finding E.D. treatments.
But most importantly, I wanted to know what wives can do to support their husbands. First, I asked him to define a few words.
What’s the difference between impotence and erectile dysfunction?
“Impotence is inability to have sexual intercourse. Everything just stops,” Dr. McAndrew explains. “Erectile dysfunction is a large range where men have trouble holding their erection, getting an erection, not lasting a long enough. It could be any of those or all of those.”
E.D. treatments can vary according to the symptoms and age of the patient.
How much does age affect E.D.?
“As men get older they tend to slow down. But not all men. Even some young men have some issues. It’s very common. But as men get older it’s very common. (Find more from Dr. McAndrew.)
How is impotence or E.D. different from infertility?
“Impotence or erectile dysfunction is the inability to get an erection or hold the erection adequate for penetration. So it’s the act of sex. Infertility has to deal with the interaction between the sperm and the egg,” he explains.
The challenge for fertility can be either with the woman’s egg or the man’s sperm. Or some combination of both can prevent the birth of a baby, according to Dr. McAndrew.
“So a man can function perfectly well and not be able to have a child,” he summarizes. Find more about miscarriage.
Plus, Michael J Russer (TED Talk) talks about having impotence yet still being able to have sexual intimacy with his wife in way that fulfills her needs.
What do you tell couples about E.D. treatments when wives want to help?
He begins by emphasizing conversation. It’s so important for husbands to talk with their wives. Find more about Marriage Conversations.
“For one thing, the best thing a man can have is an understanding wife. Because pressuring him is not going to make it any better. So, if she is understanding that it may take a little bit more involvement. Things may not be as spontaneous. It (sex) may require devices or medication or injections. If she’s understanding, then any of his remaining ability is going to get better.”
E.D. Treatments
Depending on how far a man is willing to go with E.D. treatment options, doctors can almost always a man function, according to Dr. MacAndrew.
For instance, there are a wide range of E.D. treatment options, including:
- medications,
- injections, or
- surgically implanted hydraulic devices.
Sex is a Partnership
“Because sex is a partnership. And it’s very personal,” explains Dr. McAndrew. “So I can’t tell him how often or how to do it. But I can help him get an erection so if the opportunity is available they can work that out between the two of them.”
This is such a difficult and intimate conversation to have with one’s spouse. I can’t imagine a wife who wouldn’t have a tender heart toward a husband brave enough to initiate a conversation about E.D. treatments.
Helping the Men We Love Stay Healthy
If you’re over fifty a man needs to have a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test to know if he’s at risk for developing prostate cancer, according to Dr. McAndrew.
“So if you’re married to a man, if you have a father, if you have a son, if you have a brother, all those people need to be encouraged to have a simple blood test to see where they are to see if they’re at risk for developing prostate cancer,” he emphasizes.
Dr. McAndrew is a prostate cancer survivor himself. Early detection leads to better treatment, if treatment is necessary.
“I’m the poster child for finding it early, having good treatment, and NOT having some of the concerns about the treatment that can happen like impotence and erectile dysfunction,” he says. “The earlier you find it, the more options you have. And the less likely you may have complications from the treatment.”
Is PSA a normal part of a man’s annual check up physical?
“No, not necessarily. At one point a government entity said, ‘Oh men don’t need their PSA checked’ and a lot of doctors stopped doing it. So, it’s important that a man be a little bit proactive for his own health to get the PSA test,” reports Dr. McAndrew.
What’s the best way to get a man to get his PSA?
“Tell his wife he needs a PSA,” he laughs.
Is E.D. the wife’s fault?
Women often wonder if problems in marriage are their fault. A woman may wonder if attractive enough. Find out more about how to boost your marriage, even if your husband doesn’t see the need.
“The problem is as a man starts to have trouble, he may not want to talk about it. And regress a little bit and then the wife may blame herself for it,” explains Dr. McAndrew. “I think there’s a whole book written called, Sex Starts In The Kitchen. I think sex starts with a conversation.” (Disclaimer: I haven’t read this book, but here’s the link since we mentioned it on air.)
Naturally, I’m in favor of better conversations!
“So a man may be avoiding the whole situation of intimacy because he’s worried that he won’t be able to perform. And so that may contribute to the wife thinking that she doesn’t meet the standard or something,” he adds.
Better Conversations for Better Understanding
A husband and wife can help each other by having better conversations.
“She may not be understanding to what’s going on with him. So, a conversation is the first step. For her to be understanding that he’s having a difficulty he may not want to directly is the first step to hopefully getting him evaluated and treated so we can get that problem to resolve.”
One rule of thumb often cited by professionals is this: First, rule out any physical things, then rule out any emotional things, then spiritual.
“For example, a man may have low testosterone, not even know it, and that’s why he feels tired and run down and things aren’t working well in the sexual realm. And it’s a simple blood test to find out if his testosterone is low,” Dr. McAndrew says. “Well, we can give him extra testosterone and all of a sudden those things start getting better.”
Undiagnosed Symptoms
Dr. McAndrew got me thinking about what symptoms could alert wives to a problem, especially if her husband is shy about talking about something so disheartening. I researched a list of symptoms that might call for a doctor’s visit.
- lack of energy,
- sleep issues,
- weariness,
- weight gain,
- depression,
- grumpiness
“Well, the first thing is to be understanding and encourage him to get evaluated. Because what you’ve talked about lack of energy, sleep issues, weight gain, depression, those can be signs for other things going on,” he says.
How grumpy is he?
Men and women experience depression differently. But for men, one expert told me, the greatest sign of depression in men is grumpiness.
Naturally, men will talk about their emotions. But sometimes women don’t get the message because men and women process emotions differently. Plus, we communicate about our emotions in different ways.
Sometimes wives don’t get the message. Grumpiness might be one way a husband communicates he doesn’t feel that great. Maybe overwhelmed. Or just plain tuckered out.
Men Don’t Like to Go to the Doctor
Dr. McAndrew’s most important advice he’d give a wife if she sees some of these symptoms in her husband?
“Men don’t like to go to the doctor. So, if she can encourage him, say, ‘Just get a check up. Just get some blood work done. And find out if there are any physical issues,’” He suggests. “Then, once you rule out the physical issues, then you can open up opportunities for treatment of specific symptoms that you need to treat. Whether it’s counseling or medication or further testing.”
Here’s a trick I use: go to the same doctor as your loved ones. Obviously, responsible doctors are bound by HIPPA. Still, I’ve discovered trusted doctors will find ways to give you a hint to ask good questions at home, especially when it’s urgent.
The Doctor’s In
Dr. McAndrew knows people suffer because he practiced medicine for over 38 years. He came on the show out of compassion and love for folks.
“Hopefully, we can do some more on Prostate Cancer because I think that’s another issue men need to talk about more. Women need to encourage their husbands to get in for more early detection,” he emphasizes.
We want you to have the best information from experts we trust. We want you to know you are loved. That’s why he took an hour out of his day to do this interview with me.
We hope today’s blog and the two interviews give you a boost. Please take Dr. McAndrew’s great advice and be proactive about your health.
You are Loved
Each week as I write, I thank God for you. I am so grateful for the way you join with us. First by reading and listening in. Then, by sharing our interviews and blogs. Finally, by joining us to pray God keeps blessing His church and our great nation.
This series has been especially dear to our hearts since so many men have thanked us. We hope you will look for Jim’s Testimony and Philosophy of Medicine next week. Please join me in praying God will use the writing of this compassionate doctor to change hearts in our culture!
Blessings to YOU and the men in your life. Hubby, fathers, sons, brothers, grandfathers, uncles, cousins? Whoever the good men are in your life, we are celebrating THEM with YOU! Our world needs more good men!
we’ve ever put on our blog! We’ll post them soon. Please, share them with all your friends.
🙂
cathy
May we pray together?
Dear good Father, All around us there are good men, even though it feels like we are swamped with bad news constantly right now. Obviously, sometimes people disappoint us, even earthly fathers. Yet, YOu specialize in redemption. Have mercy on us, O Lord. Give us good men to bless our children. Thank you for all the good men we know who are following closely behind You! Strengthen them as they try to reach others with truth about You, dear Lord. Protect the men in our lives. Especially bless them with good health. Bless us now because that is Your heart’s desire. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
We LOVE to hear from YOU!
What’s the best thing your Dad taught you? How has a doctor inspired you to be wise? What other health topics would you like for us to explore?
More Favorite Quotes
Do not long for others to look upon you and say, ‘That person is wise.’ Rather, hope for this awe-filled whisper: ‘They are a blessing.’” ~Benjamin A. Simpson, Writer
“We looked up to our father. He still is much greater than us.” ~Wynton Marsalis
“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! ~Matthew 7:11, NKJV
Cathy Krafve, host of Fireside Talk Radio and author of The Well: The Art of Drawing Out Authentic Conversations and Marriage Conversation: From Coexisting to Cherished. Your stories and thoughts welcomed here!
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