Medicalisation Flashcards
What is the trend in erectile dysfunction cases?
- All ages can experience it but prevalence increases as they age
- Men are experiencing ED younger
How is the experience of erectile dysfunction linked to psychological factors?
ED is correlated with higher levels of distress, including lower sexual happiness and increased stress.
How common is the use of sexual medication between men and women?
The prevalence of sexual medication use is higher in men than women.
Which subsection of men is more likely to take sexual medication?
Gay and bisexual men are twice as likely to report using medication for sexual performance than straight men
What’s a significant factor in the increasing use of ED medication worldwide?
- availability of direct-to-consumer websites selling ED medication has increased its use in many countries.
- Online pharmacies provide anonymity, which may encourage treatment.
How do young men using ED medications without prescriptions compare to those who don’t?
- Young men who use ED medications without a prescription have similar erection abilities to those who don’t, but they often have lower confidence and sexual satisfaction
- Sex is more of a performative act than pleasurable
- Often ED is caused by anxiety which can be solved through non medical means
How do ED medications affect psychological well-being in young men?
may become psychologically dependent due to anxiety and lack of confidence in their erectile abilities, which can harm their sexual satisfaction.
How has erectile dysfunction been historically framed in relation to masculinity?
- formerly called “impotence”
- Seen as symptom of aging or sign of issues between partners
- only recently seen as medical issue
How effective is medication compared to alternatives?
Meta-analysis results suggest that aerobic exercise can serve as a valuable non-pharmaceutical strategy for managing ED.
What is an example of nations where men use ED meds to relieve specific cultural anxieties about masculinity?
Japan: concerns about low birth rates and changing economic conditions which changed how people thought about gender and fertility
What is an example of nations where men use ED meds to address changing gender norms?
Ethiopia: public interest in medications because of changing gender norms; trying to maintain an upper hand in relationships and fulfill what it means to be a man
What is a key difference in the medicalization of sexual dysfunction between men and women?
Most sexual dysfunction literature focuses on men, while women’s sexual dysfunction, especially low sexual desire, has not been medicalized to the same extent.
What are the common causes of female sexual dysfunction?
- physical factors (illness, hormonal imbalances)
- psychological issues (history of abuse, body image)
- relationship problems
- cultural/religious factors
Why could both men and women be increasingly diagnosed with sexual dysfunction?
- because of the narrowing of the gap of what is considered normal sexual variation
- ED meds strengthens cultural ideals about normative sex, masculinity and how “normal” bodies function rather than challenging them
What misconception did scientists have about female sexual desire?
(What women want reading)
- Scientists once assumed that female desire operated the same as men’s, where desire spontaneously triggered sexual activity.
- now understood to be incorrect.
What is the responsive model of female desire?
(What women want reading)
women often begin by being open to sexual talk or touching, which then leads to arousal and generates desire, rather than experiencing desire first.
How does menopause affect women’s sexual desire?
(What women want reading)
- ower estrogen levels, which can reduce blood flow to the pelvis, causing dryness, pain, and diminished sensation.
- result in hot flashes and sleep disruptions that compound depression and reduce desire.
What is the WHO’s unofficial working definition of sexual health?
(The elusive goal of sexual health)
Sexual health is a state of physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being in relation to sexuality. It is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction, or infirmity. It requires a positive approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, with the possibility of pleasurable and safe experiences, free of coercion, discrimination, and violence.
Why is it important to think of sexual health as a social phenomenon?
(The elusive goal of sexual health)
- exual health affects many people’s lives and relates to issues such as STIs, sexual harassment, and access to birth control
- diff approaches: Sex Positive> promotes safe sexual engagement vs. Sex Negative > encourages repression.
How have social movements impacted the understanding of sexual health?
(The elusive goal of sexual health)
- Movements like the sexual revolution, gay rights, and second-wave feminism have greatly influenced society’s understanding of sex
- HIV/AIDS epidemic also increased public awareness of sexual health and led to the term ‘Sexual Health’ being used esp. around gay sexuality
How have sexual health advocacy groups contributed to changes in medical practice?
(The elusive goal of sexual health)
have pushed for physicians to be trained in taking sexual health histories including discussions of sexual health during medical visits, such as asking about sexual partners, practices, and STI prevention methods
What does “optimizing the self” in relation to sexual health refer to?
(The elusive goal of sexual health)
- The desire to treat one’s life as an ongoing project of self-improvement, particularly through bodily enhancement like cosmetic surgeries/products aimed at enhancing sexual gratification.
eg. laser vaginal rejuvenation surgery, penis enlargement - Links consumerism to sex life.
