Stress can be a downer to a man's love life

JAKARTA (JP): Stress is a natural part of our life, but too much of it can take the spark out of a man's sexual performance.

That warning came from Dr. Akmal Taher, founder of the impotency clinic at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Central Jakarta.

He said Thursday there were a couple of major reasons at play when men could not function sexually, known technically as erectile dysfunction (ED) or impotency. The main one is the narrowing of small arteries that supply blood to the penis. The narrowing can be caused by high cholesterol, stress or smoking, symptoms which may also be an early warning of coronary disease.

Psychological reasons may also be the cause.

"Nearly 70 percent of our patients suffer from ED of organic means," he said.

According to him, more than 140 million men throughout the world experience impotency, yet only 5 percent of them seek treatment.

Factors such as embarrassment and closed cultural norms may be the cause of this reluctance.

"That is why we need to educate people to break the current norms," Taher said.

He founded the impotency clinic here two years ago after completing a study on the subject in Germany. Through interviews and modern testing equipment, the clinic's patients can be diagnosed and treated.

Although he cannot guarantee total healing, more than 2,000 patients have visited the clinic since it was opened. The majority of his patients are of middle incomes, with an average age of 57.

Treatment available include hormone injections for those suffering from physiologically-related impotence, and counseling for those whose condition is due to psychological causes. Although injections have a success rate of over 70 percent, a prevalent fear of hypodermic needles has caused the treatment's high dropout rate.

The oral medication Viagra has yet to be studied in Indonesia, according to Taher. In America, the "wonder drug" is reported to have a high success rate, but four deaths have been connected to use of the pill.

Traditional aphrodisiacs like ginseng and local pasak bumi potions or traditional herb concoctions (jamu) may help although the treatment have yet to be scientifically proven, Taher said.

"I am highly optimistic about alternative medication," he said. At the very least, he added, traditional medication was clearly an attractive alternative to expensive conventional treatments during the monetary crisis. (Yudha Kartohadiprodjo)