On a calm weekend morning, Li Wei sat on the sofa in the living room, his brow furrowed. The tea in his cup had cooled, but his thoughts were churning like a hot wave. Not long ago, he underwent a minor general anesthesia operation, and although the operation went well, in the days after the operation, he noticed subtle changes in his sexual function. This made him feel uneasy, even a little panicked.
Li Wei is a 50-year-old middle-aged man who is physically strong and has a regular life, and never worries too much about his health. But after this general anesthetic operation, he began to feel more anxious than he had ever felt before. He began to search the Internet for the relationship between general anesthesia and sexual function, and read every article and forum post carefully. But the information is complex and contradictory, which makes Li Wei even more confused.
"Does general anesthesia really affect sexual function?" he asked himself. There are various theories on the Internet about this issue, some insist that general anesthesia can seriously affect sexual function, while others believe that it is completely nonsense. Li Wei fell deeper and deeper into this massive amount of information, unable to distinguish which were scientific conclusions and which were just unfounded rumors.
He decided that this confusion could not continue. He needs to find an authoritative medical expert to solve the mystery that haunts him. He hopes to dispel the gloom in his heart through professional medical knowledge and regain that confident and energetic self.
Li Wei's problem is not unique. The internet is filled with discussions about general anesthesia and sexual function, ranging from scientific analysis to unsubstantiated rumors. When Li Wei typed in "general anesthesia affects sexual function" in a search engine, thousands of search results made him wonder where to start. Some articles claim that general anesthesia can seriously affect sexual function, while others deny it entirely. Li Wei's confusion deepened as a result.
He decided to consult with a few doctor friends. The first was an anesthesiologist, who told Li Wei that general anesthesia is mainly through the central nervous system to temporarily "turn off" the body's response to pain, and the impact on sexual function is not direct. The second was a urologist, who mentioned that although general anesthesia does not directly affect sexual function, the stress of the surgery itself and the physical state during recovery may indirectly affect it. The third is a psychiatrist, who emphasizes that psychological factors play an important role in sexual dysfunction, and psychological stress after general anesthesia may be one of the reasons.
Li Wei's confusion was not relieved. Does general anesthesia affect sexual function? Which one is more scientific?
In the process, Li Wei learned the basic principles of general anesthesia. General anesthesia is a method of anesthesia in which drugs are applied to the brain, leaving the patient pain-free and conscious during the procedure. Its main function is to block nerve signaling, so as to achieve the anesthetic effect. So, will this temporary blockade of nerve signals have long-term effects on male sexual function?
At this point, Li Wei found that the current medical research does not have a clear conclusion. Some studies have shown that the effects of general anesthesia on sex hormone levels are transient and limited. However, other studies have suggested that the stress and recovery period of the surgery itself may have a greater impact on sexual function.
Li Wei's mood was like riding a roller coaster, from the initial worry to the later confusion, his anxiety gradually accumulated to the peak. Finally, he made up his mind to go to a specialized hospital for an in-depth consultation. It was a sunny afternoon, and the lobby of the hospital was full of people, and Li Wei sat nervously and expectantly on a bench outside the outpatient clinic.
"Mr. Li, please come in. A young doctor smiled and beckoned to him. Entering the consultation room, Li Wei unabashedly expressed his concerns: "Doctor, I heard that general anesthesia surgery will affect sexual function, is this true?"
After patiently listening to his account, the doctor began to explain in detail: "First of all, we want to make it clear that general anesthesia is a medical method that temporarily causes the patient to lose consciousness and pain during surgery. It achieves the pain-free state required for surgery through a temporary effect on the central nervous system. There are many misconceptions about the relationship between general anesthesia and sexual function. ”
Li Wei listened intently, and the doctor's words made him feel a little comforted. The doctor continued, "Under normal circumstances, the effect of general anesthesia on sexual function is very small. Of course, individual patients may experience a transient decline in sexual function, but this is more due to the stress of the surgery itself, physiological changes during recovery, or psychological factors. ”
"What about the rumors about general anesthesia?" asked Li Wei eagerly.
The doctor nodded and began to explain one by one: "For example, there are rumors that general anesthesia can cause long-term sexual dysfunction. There is actually no scientific basis for this. Most general anesthetic medications are cleared from the body soon after surgery and do not have long-term effects on sex hormones or sexual function. ”
Li Wei's brows finally stretched a little. "Of course, we can't ignore some of the short-term side effects that can come with general anesthesia, such as nausea, vomiting or fatigue," the doctor added. These symptoms may temporarily affect the patient's libido. But these are temporary, and these symptoms will gradually disappear as recovery progresses. ”
Li Wei felt an unprecedented sense of relief, and he finally understood the true relationship between general anesthesia and sexual function. The doctor finally told him, "The recovery period after surgery is very important. Maintaining a good state of mind, exercising properly, and eating a balanced diet can go a long way in restoring sexual function. If you have any concerns or discomfort, you can always come to us. ”
When he walked out of the hospital, Li Wei's mood was much lighter. He knew he no longer needed to be bothered by rumors that had no scientific basis. He began to plan his recovery plan with hope.