Health Expert Dr. Justin Harmon shares health management news and commentary at HealthCentral.com. HealthCentral.com is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/4246/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/4246/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/4246/index http://www.healthcentral.com/erectile-dysfunction/c/4246/60289/cancer Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:26:00 -0500 Dr. Justin Harmon After robotic prostate surgery that is performed for cancer, the patient will have a foley catheter (a small drain that is placed in the penis to allow the newly sewn connection between the bladder and the tube a male urinates through (the urethra) to heal. The urethra is disrupted by removing the prostate, and the two ends must be sewn back together. Usually, after seven to ten days following the operation, the catheter is removed. On this... http://www.healthcentral.com/erectile-dysfunction/c/4246/60289/cancer http://www.healthcentral.com/erectile-dysfunction/c/4246/54553/ed Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:55:00 -0500 Dr. Justin Harmon One of the first tests to confirm or rule out a vascular (blood vessel) cause of erectile dysfunction involves intracorporeal injections. This is a test performed in the office that requires an injection of the medicine used to treat ED (PGE 1 or a medicine similar) into the penis. PGE 1 has been described in earlier entries, similar to Caverject TM. If the patient cannot achieve an erection after proper dosing administration, he likely has... http://www.healthcentral.com/erectile-dysfunction/c/4246/54553/ed http://www.healthcentral.com/erectile-dysfunction/c/4246/46446/dysfu Mon, 17 Nov 2008 03:27:00 -0500 Dr. Justin Harmon Many men are bothered with urinary problems along with their erectile dysfunction. It has been shown that severe problems with BPH or benign prostatic hypertrophy (the non-cancerous growth of a prostate) can compromise erections. The prostate lives between the bladder (the storage organ for urine) and the urethra (the tube in the penis through which we urinate). Urine must pass through the prostate after it leaves the bladder. The prostate... http://www.healthcentral.com/erectile-dysfunction/c/4246/46446/dysfu http://www.healthcentral.com/erectile-dysfunction/c/4246/43682/cancer Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:35:00 -0400 Dr. Justin Harmon An interest of mine as a robotic surgeon treating prostate cancer is performing nerve sparing prostatectomy (removal of the prostate while preserving the nerves responsible for erectile function). This is perhaps the most difficult portion of the procedure. As described before, this is due to the fact that these nerves are not visible with the naked eye. Even with the magnification offered by robotic surgery, the nerves are only recognized... http://www.healthcentral.com/erectile-dysfunction/c/4246/43682/cancer http://www.healthcentral.com/erectile-dysfunction/c/4246/40091/hypog Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:13:00 -0400 Dr. Justin Harmon To continue the discussion of causes of erectile dysfunction, we were focusing on situations that would result in the testicle producing less testosterone, the male hormone. This is also known as primary hypogonadism (the prefix, hypo-, means low, and the word gonad is another term for sex organ). Testosterone is responsible for giving men their sex drive and contributes to producing an erection. I sometimes tell my patients that, "if the... http://www.healthcentral.com/erectile-dysfunction/c/4246/40091/hypog http://www.healthcentral.com/erectile-dysfunction/c/4246/30489/stress Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:47:00 -0400 Dr. Justin Harmon When a patient first comes into my office with complaints of erectile dysfunction, there are several categories that must be considered.  After a thorough history and physical exam, the patient can typically be placed into one of eight categories based on what is found.  Treatment will depend on the reason or, as we say, "etiology," of the problem.   It is usually difficult to pinpoint the contribution of psychological... http://www.healthcentral.com/erectile-dysfunction/c/4246/30489/stress http://www.healthcentral.com/erectile-dysfunction/c/4246/30490/health Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:49:00 -0400 Dr. Justin Harmon After the proper questions are asked regarding psychological contributions to ED, the focus becomes more on the patient's pre-existing health problems.    The second category of erectile dysfunction relates to problems with blood vessels.  In general terms, there are two types of blood vessels, arteries and veins.  Arteries carry blood away from the heart.  The blood then circulates through the body and tissues... http://www.healthcentral.com/erectile-dysfunction/c/4246/30490/health http://www.healthcentral.com/erectile-dysfunction/c/4246/20794/premat Wed, 16 Apr 2008 12:34:00 -0400 Dr. Justin Harmon An interesting sexual dysfunction question was posted by a young man under the age of 20. He was experiencing sexual relations for the first time. During the first sexual encounter, he did not last longer than two minutes before having an orgasm. This introduces a condition called "premature ejaculation" or "rapid ejaculation." This differs from erectile dysfunction. The two can co-exist, however, in some patients. More... http://www.healthcentral.com/erectile-dysfunction/c/4246/20794/premat http://www.healthcentral.com/erectile-dysfunction/c/4246/25337/erecti Wed, 16 Apr 2008 09:34:00 -0400 Dr. Justin Harmon Obesity in the United States is a serious healthcare concern affecting all systems of the body. The relationship between erectile dysfunction and obesity is multifactoral. Body image plays a significant role in the psychology of erection. Low self esteem from being overweight will give the patient less confidence in achieving the optimal erection. Patients may notice they have better erections when masturbating than during a sexual encounter... http://www.healthcentral.com/erectile-dysfunction/c/4246/25337/erecti http://www.healthcentral.com/erectile-dysfunction/c/4246/25335/erecti Wed, 16 Apr 2008 09:20:00 -0400 Dr. Justin Harmon An interest of mine as a robotic surgeon treating prostate cancer is performing nerve sparing prostatectomy (removal of the prostate while preserving the nerves responsible for erectile function). This is perhaps the most difficult portion of the procedure. As described before, this is due to the fact that these nerves are not visible with the naked eye. Even with the magnification offered by robotic surgery, the nerves are only recognized best... http://www.healthcentral.com/erectile-dysfunction/c/4246/25335/erecti