Arthur Burnett - The Manhood RX: Every Mans Guide to Improving Sexual Health and Overall Wellness

Published by Rowman & Littlefield

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Copyright 2023 by Arthur L. Burnett II

All rights reserved . No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote passages in a review.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

ISBN: 978-1-5381-6659-8 (cloth)

ISBN: 978-1-5381-6660-4 (electronic)

The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information SciencesPermanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992

To Rhonice, my loving and always supportive wife

My success as a surgeon-scientist has come about from a nurturing environment of discovery and innovation during my years at Johns Hopkins. Particular acknowledgments go to Drs. Levi Watkins, Donald Coffey, and Solomon Snyder. All were significant mentors who saw potential in me, helped give me the opportunities to succeed, and supported my achievements. Dr. Watkins was a trailblazer in the surgical field. He was a renowned cardiothoracic surgeon at Johns Hopkins and was an early career advisor and inspirational role model. Dr. Coffey directed the research laboratories at the Brady Urological Institute. He was an extraordinary, out-of-the-box thinker, scientist, and philosopher, and yet remained extremely unassuming and practical in conveying ideas. He gave me great encouragement to become a surgeon- scientist, exemplified the meaning of discovery, and was an unwavering supporter of my ideas surrounding nitric oxide function in the penis. Dr. Snyder, a neuroscientist, made huge lifetime achievements in the basic and translational sciences. He instilled in me the value of interdisciplinary collaboration by allowing me to work with his lab team and to partner with him. I give additional thanks to Dr. Patrick Walsh for his leadership and support.

I have been fortunate enough to work with an exceptional team of researchers, scientists, and physician colleagues at Johns Hopkins and beyond. Research associates Drs. Biljana Musicki, Sena Sezen, and Serkan Karakus have been great team members in my lab and have given their absolute commitment to my research programs. Drs. Thomas Chang, Charles Lowenstein, and David Bredt took my original proposals seriously and supported my early penile nitric oxide work. Drs. K. Joseph Hurt, Gerald Rameau, Justin LaFavor, and Akira Sawa were scientific partners with collaborative ideas, advancing my nitric oxide mechanistic studies to the next level. Drs. Trinity Bivalacqua, Hunter Champion, David Kass, and Fabio Henrique da Silva contributed greatly to the scientific effort supporting my priapism basic science research. Drs. James Casella, Belinda Morrison, Uzoma Anele, and Michael DeBaun were instrumental in furthering my priapism translational scientific work. My plastic surgeon colleagues, Drs. Justin Sacks, Richard Redett, and Damon Cooney, collaborated with innovative approaches for penile reconstruction, and Dr. Devin OBrien- Coon provided great expertise during the many gender affirmation surgeries we accomplished together. Lastly, I want to acknowledge the Johns Hopkins University Penile Transplant team: plastic surgeons Drs. Richard Redett and Gerald Brandacher, and urologic surgeon Dr. Trinity Bivalacqua. Collectively, thanks go to numerous mentors, colleagues, as well as trainees within my research laboratory and fellowship training program.

This book would not have been possible without the help of my publishing team. I would like to thank my literary agent, Carol Mann, for finding my work a home and introducing me to Pamela Liflander, who helped me get my ideas onto these pages. Thanks to David Rini, CMI, FAMI, who created the beautiful illustrations. Finally, thanks to the group at Rowman & Littlefield, particularly my editor, Suzanne Strazsak-Silva, who made creating this book a pleasure.

Optimizing sexual function is one of the most important things men can do to increase their overall health and happiness. Healthy sexual function in men generally indicates good health, whereas poor sexual function may be a primary indicator of other existing, often insidious, health concerns. Often, sexual dysfunction can predict the development of another, seemingly unrelated health problem that does not currently exist. A 2005 landmark study proved that erectile dysfunction (ED) is a predictive risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Moreover, optimal sexual health is critical for preserving mental health. ED and other types of sexual dysfunction are associated with anxiety, depression, low self- esteem, emotional stress, poor work performance/absenteeism, and a tendency toward sexual coercion. By improving sexual function, men can boost their mental health.

Yet men are known to be uncomfortable talking about many topics, such as their feelings, and are particularly reluctant to share problems regarding their sexual health. Its not exactly ironic that while men love to talk about sex and their penis, they may be embarrassed to have real conversations about their sexual problems with their health practitioners, partners, or even friends. Too often, men either view sexual dysfunction as an indicator of personal weakness or were raised to believe that sex is a taboo subject. These men are then left to secretively find highly questionable solutions on the Internet, often falling prey to hoaxes and sometimes seriously damaging their health.

So, lets get the facts straight. If you (or your partner) are having a problem with sexual health, it doesnt mean that something is wrong with you or that you are less of a man in any way. Sexual dysfunction is as real and legitimate a health issue as any other disease or medical condition. There may be separate physical bases to the dysfunction, such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease, which are not viewed as causing a loss of dignity.

Men are less likely than women to even see their primary-care physician or nonphysician provider. According to research published in the British Medical Journal , men with health problems are more likely than women to have had no recent contact with a doctor regardless of income or ethnicity. This reluctance to seek medical help means that problems with sexual function in men often go undetected until they have significantly progressed, and this late discovery could have serious consequences.

Over the past thirty- plus years that I have been a practicing urologist, I have seen thousands of men who have had good relationships with their practitioners and yet have never talked to them about their sexual health. Many health providers find it difficult to initiate this discussion or fit that conversation into a fifteen- minute consultation with seemingly more pressing health concerns. Some may feel embarrassed or unequipped to do so because it was not part of their training. This lack of communication means that common conditions such as ED or Peyronies disease (an acquired penile curvature) are often dismissed or simply go unaddressed. Serious skin cancers, penile injuries, and genital infections can go untreated for years. And, doctors lose a valuable tool in predicting other chronic health issues when sexual health isnt discussed. If a health care provider cant talk about the penis or sexual health, men will continue to receive less than optimal healthcare. This inattention may translate into many men unnecessarily living with pain, disappointment, and even depression.