male sexual dysfunction Archives

Cipro Ain’t Sexy: Fluoroquinolones Tanked My Sex Drive

Published on February 9, 2017

15.9K views

From a relatively young age, I always had a strong sex drive. Even in elementary school I found myself very attracted to various girls and even female teachers at times. After losing my virginity in high school, sex became one of the most important things in my life. I absolutely loved it, and couldn’t imagine life without it. If someone offered me a million dollars, and all I had to do was to not have sex for a year, I would have told them to take a hike without a second thought. (I think if this hypothetical time period was lowered to a couple months, I would have considered it. Likely it would have had to be less than that for me to be confident I could hold out!)

I eventually did marry in my mid-twenties. My wife was just 19 and had a healthy sex drive, too. We experimented and eventually ended up getting into swinging after we’d been married around ten years. Some people have their relationships ruined from swinging, but many, many do not. Although there were occasional minor jealousy issues, we were successful in the lifestyle. I loved it because my sex drive was so high that I almost always wanted to have sex multiple times per night, but my wife was usually satiated after one big-O. Having other partners around for me was a good thing. I would usually be ready for a second round within minutes of a first round… sometimes less! On average, I had an orgasm at least 6 or 7 times a week.

After we’d been swinging a few years, I took Cipro. I took it a few more times over the next couple years. Looking back I realized I had some minor symptoms before the straw that broke the camel’s back. The third time I took it, I had a severe reaction that affected many systems in my body, but mostly my tendons and nerves. Of course, sex took a back seat for the next few months. About five months or so after my reaction, I was still in extremely bad shape (in fact I still am today, about five years later), but I suddenly realized I hadn’t had sex in months. My wife and I tried. I was able to perform despite the pain and did find it enjoyable. I thought this might “jump start” my sex drive and sex life again, but it didn’t. It was just obvious I didn’t have the drive I had just six months earlier.

I told my doctor this and he ran a testosterone test on me. My levels were under 200 (250 is considered the low end of normal). Now I don’t think I ever had this level tested before, but I’m pretty sure it was at or close to 1,000 (the high end of normal) based upon my sexual history. He offered me some testosterone supplements. I tried this for a little while and it did help somewhat. Slowly, my sex drive recovered a bit.

Now, some five years post Cipro, I like to have an orgasm about 3 or 4 times a week, and there’s no way I can perform twice in a row. My swinging days are over. I used to work out often and was proud of my body. Now my muscles have wasted away and I have noticeable nerve damage. I don’t feel desirable, and my own desire for sex is probably only about 20% of what it once was.

Although my desire for sex has diminished, I still miss sex a lot. I miss wanting it more. I miss my old friends from the swinging societies and having group sex. I still have a good sex life with my wonderful wife, which is more than many more unfortunate floxies have, but sometimes I’m still bitter about what I’ve had to give up.

Participate in Research

Hormones Matter is conducting research on the side effects and adverse events associated with the fluoroquinolone antibiotics, Cipro, Levaquin, Avelox and others: The Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics Side Effects Study. The study is anonymous, takes 20-30 minutes to complete and is open to anyone who has used a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. Please complete the study and help us understand the scope of fluoroquinolone reactions. To share your fluoroquinolone injury story, send us a note from this link: Write for Us.

What Else Can I Do To Help?

Hormones Matter is completely unfunded at this juncture and we rely entirely on crowdsourcing and volunteers to conduct the research and produce quality health education materials for the public. If you’d like help us improve healthcare with better data, get involved. Become an advocate, spread the word about our site, our research and our mission. Suggest a study. Share a study. Join our team. Write for us. Partner with us.

To support Hormones Matter and our research projects – Crowdfund Us.

This post was published originally on Hormones Matter in April 2014.

Low T – Evaluating the Risks of Testosterone Replacement

by Jaime Heidel

Published on November 6, 2012

4.7K views

Low Testosterone or Low T

Men struggling with low testosterone levels may wonder if testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is right for them. Is it low T? In this article, we’ll explain the common symptoms of low T and the side effects associated with testosterone cream so you can make a more informed decision about your health.

Symptoms of Low T

Low testosterone levels can cause a wide variety of troubling symptoms in men, including:

Decreased Sex Drive – A man with low T will often feel his sex drive waning. His desire just isn’t there like it used to be.
Sexual Dysfunction – Men with declining testosterone levels will often notice a decrease in their sexual function and may experience impotence, loss of feeling, and lack of orgasm.
Increased Fatigue – Men experiencing low T often complain of fatigue not relieved by regular rest.
Loss of Initiative – Decreased testosterone levels can also lead to lack of initiative. A man who used to “get things done” now feels no real desire to get up off the couch.
Depressed Mood – Depression in men is a common sign of low testosterone levels.
Testicular Shrinkage – Testicular shrinkage is another typical sign of declining testosterone levels.
Irritability – Men with low T often find themselves less patient and more likely to snap on others than usual.
Decreased Muscle Mass – Low testosterone can also mean frustration at the gym as it gets harder and harder to build muscle mass.
“Man Boobs” – Gynecomastia or “man boobs” are another trouble symptom of decreased testosterone.

Causes of Low T

The most common cause of low T in men is aging. As a man reaches his 50^th year, his hormone levels begin to decline naturally. Other causes of low testosterone levels include obesity, medications (such as opiates), steroids, testicular injury, chronic inflammatory diseases, infection, and head trauma. Chemotherapy and radiation treatments can also cause low testosterone in men of any age.

What is Testosterone Cream?

Testosterone cream is a low-dose way to deliver small amounts of testosterone into your bloodstream. Some men prefer this method because it absorbs quickly into the skin and results are seen faster.

Health Dangers Associated with Testosterone Cream

Testosterone creams and gels have been taking the market by storm in the past couple of years as a convenient alternative to testosterone injections. Because it comes in an innocuous-looking gel packet and can be used in the privacy of a man’s home, it may look like the perfect solution. However, as with any medication, there are always side effects. Testosterone replacement should not be considered if you have ever had breast or prostate cancer. The side effects of testosterone cream include:

Acne – Rapid hormonal changes can make men in their 40s and 50s break out like teenagers.
Allergic Reaction – This could be hives, swelling, shortness of breath, wheezing, breathing difficulties, and itching.
Liver Damage – Signs of this include yellowing of the skin or eyes.
Nausea or Vomiting – Testosterone gel often causes gastrointestinal upset even though it bypasses the digestive tract.
Unexplained Hostility or Rage – A sudden increase in testosterone in the body can produce extreme mood swings. This is especially problematic for men with mental illness or addiction.
Congestive Heart Failure – Difficulty breathing, weight gain, and fluid retention are signs of congestive heart failure.
Increase Cholesterol Levels – Testosterone cream can cause your cholesterol levels to rise to dangerous levels.
Enlarged Prostate – Prostate enlargement, especially in older men, is a concern when using this type of testosterone replacement therapy.

Men using testosterone creams and gel may also notice more minor, everyday side effects such as abnormal dreams, insomnia, watery eyes, and taste changes.

Men looking to do something about their low testosterone levels should first turn to natural methods of boosting testosterone. These tried-and-true techniques have worked for men for millennia before testosterone replacement therapy was ever invented.

Before you choose any type of testosterone replacement therapy, it is important to consult your healthcare provider and understand the risks. Just because it is easy to apply and you can do it from your own home, doesn’t mean is necessarily the right option for you.

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