Poll for sexually-active people with penile pain/numbness

[TheWillToBeef]

Do you actually enjoy sex at all, or is it solely performative? In other words, does the act of sex bring you any sense of personal joy, or are you doing it solely for the sake of your partner and/or to convince yourself that you're a "real man"?

I'm not sure if what I have is Peyronie's (I've increasingly come to believe it's something else), but my symptoms include chronic penile pain and loss of libido. One reason why I'm hesitant to get back into dating is that I'm worried sex will become yet another area of my life where I have to sacrifice my own happiness for the sake of performing a social role.

[Mikel7]

When you get into the area of loss of libido, especially at your age, I ask the question is it your testosterone levels? Pain is not associated with loss of libido, that is definitely something else. You should have your free testosterone checked.

[TheWillToBeef]

When you get into the area of loss of libido, especially at your age, I ask the question is it your testosterone levels? Pain is not associated with loss of libido, that is definitely something else. You should have your free testosterone checked.

When I had my testosterone checked in 2022 (I was already symptomatic), it came out to 700 ng/dL, which apparently is actually on the higher end of the standard range.

[Mikel7]

For a total testosterone of 700 that is a good level but that is not the free testosterone. The 700 level is the bound fraction that is bound up - the free testosterone is the one you want. This is supposed to be about 2 to 3 % of that 700 number. This free testosterone is what we call the liquid gold. It can pass through the blood brain barrier and exhibit the powerful effects that we want in our bodies. Some men present themselves as symptomatic with a high normal total testosterone level but their free testosterone is in the tank. If you are having symptoms I would ask specifically for a free T test.

[Hawk]

In answer to your question, I have been married for almost 55 years.  I honestly do not think I have ever had sex solely for the benefit of my partner (although I would if she wanted to and I did not).  

I am driven for reasonably regular sexual intimacy, and I enjoy sex now at least as much as I did 50 years ago with a little less frequency.  I cannot be sure how typical that is, but that's me, and it was probably a driving motivator toward going through the process of getting an implant.