Introduction

Health and Illness

The ancient Chinese symbols of Yin (dark) and Yang (light) represent the female and male elements in nature and in the human body. Their fitting together in harmony represents health; if the balance is broken, disharmony and illness are the result.     Very few people enjoy perfect health throughout their lives. Most of us sooner or later find ourselves in need of medical attention, if only temporarily. Needless to say, many of the serious diseases that plague and cripple mankind also have a damaging effect on the sexual abilities. Wounds and injuries can destroy the sex organs themselves or lead to the loss of control over parts or all of the body. Inborn chromosomal or hormonal deficiencies may hamper a person’s physical growth and require medical intervention. Certain illnesses can weaken the body to a point where sexual activity becomes difficult or impossible. Usually in such cases, the sexual difficulties are only the by-product of a general infirmity and therefore receive only minor attention. With a full recovery, the sexual capacities are also restored. There are, however, certain physical disorders and diseases that affect human sexual activity and procreation directly. Some of these are easily cured or alleviated. Others are more difficult to treat or even untreatable. Fortunately, even without a recovery the case is not necessarily hopeless. Many permanently disabled and chronically ill patients can now be helped to achieve satisfying sex lives in spite of their problems. In any case, since at any given time many people all over the world are suffering from one or several of these conditions, every sexually mature person should know about them. The following pages provide some basic information about the main physical illnesses and impairments which can interfere with human sexual functioning.