Doctor's Advice: Should my erections be stronger at 19?

Q I am a 19-year-old student, and I feel that my erection is not what it used to be. When I was 14, an incident occurred when I was helping my uncle carry some buckets of mortar around our house.

He stopped me after the first bucket and asked me if I didn't want to have any children. About a year after that, I figured out what he was saying.

Much later, I realised that my erection was not as rock-hard as it used to be. So I told my grandmother, and we went to the doctor together. He said it was my 'nerves', and added that there was nothing wrong with me.

I'm not saying that my sex life isn't good, Doc, but I know that my erection is not what it used to be. Also, I know for sure that it isn't my nerves. Please help me.

A Sorry to hear that you have been fretting. I have not been able to figure out exactly what you mean in describing that incident involving the buckets of mortar. Do you mean that your uncle suggested your penis was small? If so, then that was a rather unwise thing for him to say. It is just the sort of remark on which young boys tend to brood.

A long time after that you went to a doctor because you felt that your erections weren't as hard as they used to be. Presumably, he examined you and he said that there was nothing physically wrong with you.

I have to say that the probability is that the doctor was quite right. I do not know of any physical condition which makes a young man have weaker erection. However, it is pretty common for teenage guys to get poor erection, simply because of the fact that they are worrying far too much about becoming stiff.

You see, when a person is fretting, that makes the body release excessive amounts of a hormone called nor-adrenaline. The effect of that hormone is to make it difficult for the body to get a really good erection. And unfortunately, there is no easy way of blocking the output of this 'worry hormone'. The best thing is simply to train yourself to quit fretting about your erections.

I am afraid that this is what you must do. Simply stop worrying about the hardness of your organ and everything should be OK. You seem to imply that your sex life is good. So I do not think it is at all likely that you have any physical disorder.

Q Earlier this year, I decided to try the contraceptive injection. Since then, I have had no menses. I went to a doctor, and much to my relief, she assured me that I was not pregnant.

So why have my periods disappeared?

A The 'jab' or 'shot' is a good method of contraception. It's very nearly 100 per cent effective.

However, in about 40 per cent of women, it does affect the periods. Very commonly, the menses disappear altogether for a few months.

So there is nothing to fret about. Your menstruation should return when you stop taking the injection.

Q I am a 19-year-old female, and I have a very low sex drive. My boyfriend and I have been together for a year, and I never seem to be in the mood for sex with him.

He is very good in bed, and when we have intercourse, it's great. But we only do it once a month, or maybe every two months, because I'm usually not in the mood.

It's becoming a real strain on our relationship. Any advice?

A Sorry to hear about this. The first thing I must say to you is that a very high proportion of young women are like you, and are not very interested in sex until they have been doing it for some years.

People think that teenage girls should be sex bombs, but that is not the case at all! Research has shown that many females under the age of 21 are much keener on romance and on being loved than they are on being sexually penetrated. This is a big contrast with the attitude of most males.

There is no medication that can make a young woman become interested in sex. So I am afraid that you must just be patient. As time goes by, you will gradually find that you enjoy it more. In the meantime, when you do have intercourse, please make sure that you are using a safe method of contraception.

Email questions to Doc at saturdaylife@gleanerjm.com and read more in the Outlook Magazine tomorrow.