Men Know The Stick-shift But Not The Stick
According to new research from the Lloyds Pharmacy Online Doctor, nine in ten men are confident they can locate parts of a car engine but only half can identify the main components of their manhood.
The study, which sought to find out how well men understand the workings of their penis and the health problems that can arise ‘downstairs’, found that men struggle to identify the common causes of erectile dysfunction, the symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection, and are completely in the dark when it comes to pinpointing key parts of their genitals.
While 90% of the 1,500 men interviewed said they could locate a car’s oil dipstick and 89% could find the radiator, just 6% were able to accurately identify all the common causes of erectile dysfunction, and almost a third of men incorrectly thought that wearing skinny jeans could lead to the problem too. Also, a further 9% thought that too much masturbation was a key cause of impotence.
To see whether men paid attention in school sex education classes, the participants were also asked to locate key sex organs, such as the parts responsible for creating semen (the seminal vesicles) and the area that connects the testicles (the vas deferens) – just 52% answered correctly. Worse still, a rather worrying 8% thought they were found in your ear.
The Lloyds Pharmacy Online Doctor has teamed up with the leading male health charity, Men’s Health Forum, to educate men about the importance of safe sexual practice and has launched a new sexual health guide. The launch of the new guide comes after the latest Health Protection Agency report showed a rise in new STI diagnoses from 2010 to 2011 – with young heterosexuals (15-24 years old) and gay men at the highest risk.
Dr Tom Brett, sexual health expert at Lloydspharmacy Online Doctor, said: ‘We all know that two of the most important things for many men are their sex life and their car. If the car’s not performing properly, the British male is usually pretty confident he can get under the bonnet and solve the problem. But when it comes to the mechanics of their sex organs, men are clearly less likely to spot a potential problem. It’s often down to embarrassment and a ‘head in the sand’ attitude.’
‘By working with the Men’s Health Forum to raise awareness of men’s sexual health issues and launching this new educational resource we’re hoping that men will look at their penis in a new light, learning a bit more about how this fascinating organ works and arming themselves with the knowledge they need to take better care of their sexual health.’
From James is a 23 year old Essex boy. Trying to be an Actor, after training at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. 
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