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10 Tips for Good Relationship

Relationship in couples takes a lot of effort. Following are some tips to remember in making your relationship work with your couple.

1. Quality time

If you want to make a difference in your relationship, make time for you love one. The quality and exclusivity of it will really make it count, not just about how much time is spent together. Go with the flow and the mood of the day, you may surprise yourselves.


2. Compromise

To any couple, a healthy dose of give and take is a good recipe. Getting it right takes time and practice. Used as ai integral building block in a healthy relationship, it can give a couple balance and a sense of security.


3. Dependence and Independence

Maintaining a sense of individuality without disregarding a partner is always a good idea. It’s socially unattractive to become something of an appendage to a partner. Accepting your own and your partner’s shortcomings can be difficult but putting in the effort will, no doubt, make a significant difference.


Many thrive on the feeling of being needed. The trick is not to become needy and clingy. Having a clear idea about who you are, goals and ambitions are all important factors that not only draw a couple together, but can also help to maintain interest.


4. Communication

No good can come out of unspoken resentments or discomfort. Open communication can help to eliminate the build up of discontentment that often finds its way into sparking fights and rifts. “The only way out is through” at the end of the day.

5. Money

Borrowing, lending, over-indulging and impulse buying. Often a thorn in the side of many a couple, finances are high on the list causing conflict. Whether joint or independent from one another, finances should be addressed early on, particularly where the interests of both parties are concerned.


6. Acceptance and Forgiveness

Some things about a person are inherently part of their make-up. They simply won’t change. If they’re bad enough, it’s possibly a good idea to give the relationship the boot. Not everything is worth living unhappily with. Some little annoyances or character traits that are not so desirable in a partner cannot and should not be changed. Forcing a hand will only cause damage. Forgiveness, too, can be liberating in a relationship. Where possible, it can truly change the level of respect each has for one another.


7. Growing Pains

It’s only natural for each phase of a person’s life to develop and change. Most of all, it’s meant to be. This is where communication and open observance play a huge role. Making an effort to continuously get to know 1 another every so often can help couples to remain in tune with each other, growing as individuals and together.


8. Surprise!

Getting creative from time to time can not only be fun but also help to strengthen a special bond with a partner. Surprise him / her with thoughtful gifts, messages or quality time together. It’ll give the redundancy of routine a much-needed facelift.


9. Affection

A showing of affection can provide great assurance to a couple, strengthening the bond between them. It’s a process of discovery and it is important to remember this is personal to every individual.


10. Praise

Showing interest and expressing praise every so often can do wonders for the strengthening of a bond between couples too. Celebrate each other’s achievements whether great or small. These shows of support will invariably bring the 2 of you closer together.


In Conclusion

Many will offer advice and all sorts of ideas, even when not having been asked to provide it. The tried and true way to maintain any healthy relationship is to focus on the one at hand and experience it. Experiences differ and each will tell a slightly different version. Learn, respect and embrace each experience, and who knows, relationships could very well prove to go the distance.


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Leaving Him Breathless: What Men Like in Oral Sex

Oral sex is exactly that — using your mouth, including your lips, tongue, and teeth, to give your partner sexual satisfaction.

Not too long ago, many people considered oral sex a perversion, while today more and more people are engaging in oral sex. Many young people even consider it an intermediary step to sex, rather than the real thing.


Oral sex performed on a man is called fellatio. (It doesn’t matter whether a man or woman is performing this act on the man.) This licking and sucking of a man’s penis can be used as a precursor to intercourse (to arouse a man so he gets an erection), or it can continue until he has an orgasm.


Though a common word for an erection is a hard-on, and certainly an erect penis is harder than a flaccid one, you must remember that a penis is not actually hard, but is made of flesh and blood, and so it can be damaged. If a penis is handled too roughly, the man could develop what is called Peyronie’s disease, which means that a kink may develop, or even several kinks. So anyone performing fellatio has a duty to be relatively gentle.


Not sure what to do? Try this basic approach and improvise as needed (I suggest a few fun techniques to try along the way):


1. Both partners should be in comfortable positions.

You may have seen pictures of a woman on her knees while the man stands above her, and this position has its advantages, as I explain below. But if a woman is uncomfortable in this position and this is a way of the man proving his domination, then that’s not a good idea. However if she’s kneeling on a pillow, this position can work comfortably for both partners.


2. The partner giving oral sex starts by gently fondling the man’s penis with his or her hands.

Some men will have an erection just from the expectation of receiving oral sex, while others, particularly older men, use oral sex as a means of obtaining an erection. In the latter cases, oral sex may be thought of as foreplay to intercourse.


3. After the man starts to get an erection, lick the penis or place it in your mouth.

While the tongue is certainly an important part of the process, you can lightly nibble the penis with your teeth, give light kisses with your lips, or suck the penis with your mouth. But please, no biting.


The movie Deep Throat put pressure on partners to swallow the man’s entire penis while not gagging. Of course in the movie, the penis was particularly large, but real life is not the movies, and no one should feel pressured into trying to copy what they see on-screen. Because the most sensitive part of a man’s penis is the head of the penis, deep throating his penis isn’t going to give him much more pleasure and is really more an act of humiliation than anything else. I’m not saying that couples shouldn’t do this if both partners are willing to try, but one’s abilities to perform fellatio don’t depend on being able to perform circus tricks.


4. Stimulate the underside of the head of the penis, the place where he has the most sensitivity.

If you’re facing the man, as you are when on your knees while he is standing, then your tongue will be in the right place to do this. If you’re upside down, such as in the 69 position, you may want to use your fingers to add arousal to that area.


5. Continue using your hands to touch the penis, stroke the shaft, and gently fondle the testicles.

Don’t be reserved about exploring beyond the head of the penis while performing oral sex. These touches are not only permitted but encouraged.


Be careful when it comes to his testicles because they are sensitive. Too much pressure causes him pain, which puts a quick end to these activities. If the man enjoys it, you can also insert a finger into his rectum.


6. If oral sex is not being used as foreplay, the man is going to ejaculate as a result of oral sex.

There’s no harm if he ejaculates in your mouth, but it’s also not necessary. If you don’t want that to happen, the man should tell you that he is about to ejaculate and you can use your hands to help him reach his climax.


Communication is key to doing a good job, as it is with any sexual position. You can’t guess what feels best to your partner. You have to ask him, and he has to be able to articulate his needs.


If you’re not ready to perform oral sex on your partner yet, but you think it’s something that you want to try, you can simulate the real thing by practicing on an ice cream cone. By licking the ice cream sensuously you’ll develop a good understanding of what you should do when the flavor goes from vanilla to male appendage.

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What Women Like in Oral Sex

Oral sex performed on a woman is called cunnilingus, though not by many people cause the average person prefers terms that are easier to pronounce. Like fellatio, oral sex can be done as part of foreplay, or it can be done to bring a woman to climax. If you use oral sex as foreplay, both partners must be in synch with regards to where the woman is on the orgasmic scale. The woman has to let her partner know when she is very close to having an orgasm. When she gives him the signal, he should stop oral sex and begin intercourse.

As I’ve said, women require direct stimulation to their clitoris to have an orgasm, and the tongue and lips offer an excellent means of doing just that, better than fingers, which can be rough. In fact, some women can only have an orgasm from oral sex. Here’s what to do:


1. Both partners should be in a comfortable position.

Many women are most comfortable lying on their backs with their partner kneeling or lying in between their legs so he can easily put his head between her thighs.


2. The partner giving oral sex should begin by rubbing the woman’s legs, thighs, and vulva with his or her hands.

These caresses tell your partner’s body that some really amazing stuff is about to happen, so she should begin getting aroused. As a result of her excitement, she should start producing lubricant, which helps prevent irritation to the delicate clitoris and vagina. But your saliva is also a lubricant.


3. Spread the lips of the vulva and find the clitoris. Gently begin licking.

The tongue can be used in many different ways, from short rapid thrusts to long, slow licks. The tongue can be thrust into the vagina as well as used all around its edge.


Although the human tongue is nowhere as rough as a cat’s, after a few minutes of performing oral sex, your tongue may become dry and will seem much rougher to the very sensitive clitoris. When performing oral sex, make sure that your tongue is well coated with saliva.


Between the saliva and a woman’s natural lubrication, which should be flowing if she’s very aroused, quite a puddle can form under her after a long session of oral sex. Rather than worry about it, I suggest placing a towel underneath her.


4. Try sucking the area around the clitoris or some light nibbling (but teeth shouldn’t play a large role in performing oral sex on a woman).A sudden puff of air may be pleasurable, too.


The seat of a woman’s orgasm is her clitoris, but the clitoris can sometimes become overstimulated so that a woman won’t want it to be touched directly. You need to be mindful of that if she complains, and either lessen the strength of the stimulation or stop any direct simulation altogether.


5. Ask her what she likes.

Perhaps even more so than with men, communication is the key to doing,a good job at oral sex on a woman. A woman’s ability to orgasm is more delicate than a man’s, and she may require very specific types of stimulation in order to have an orgasm. So you have to pay careful attention to her directions, which may be verbalized, with commands such as “harder” or “softer,” or done by moving your head to a certain part of her anatomy.


6. Take a short break if your mouth and tongue become tired.

Try using your nose as a stimulator while the other muscles get a chance to relax. Or reach up and stimulate her breasts for a little while. Many women enjoy having a finger or two inserted into their vagina during oral sex, but some may find it too distracting. The same is true with anal stimulation.


7. Adjust your stimulation as she approaches orgasm.

Some women, as they’re near orgasm, find that their clitoris becomes extra sensitive. You may assume that more stimulation should be pro- vided to her clitoris as she reaches this point, but sometimes just the opposite is true, and only the area around the clitoris should be licked. Make sure that you don’t get so lost in the heat of the moment that you stop communicating.


You may have heard rumors about the danger of blowing into the vagina during oral sex. This danger only comes into play if the woman is very pregnant. When everything is distended down there, it becomes technically possible to blow an air bubble through the wall of a vein or artery that has been stretched superthin, which could be deadly. I don’t know whether this has ever happened, but some doctors warn pregnant women about this, and so I’m passing it on, mostly so that all of you performing oral sex on nonpregnant women don’t have to worry about it.


A man will usually have an erection when he begins giving oral sex to a woman, but if the process stretches out a bit, there’s a good chance that he will lose his erection. That’s only natural because he’s concentrating on her pleasure, not his. Some men, who worry that an lost erection won’t return, may want to engage in intercourse the moment they feel their penis start to soften. But if the man hasn’t ejaculated, in most cases with a few tender ministrations from his partner later on, his erection should come back, so men don’t need to react to a shrinking penis.


Dealing with Some Delicate Details

If even after reading everything in this article, you’re still hesitant about trying oral sex, I can guess why. I address some common concerns in the following sections.


Tidying up down there

More people might engage in oral sex if the organs involved weren’t also the organs from which people urinate. Some people don’t give that fact a second thought and dive right in, so to speak, while others think about this dual role and that gives them the heebie-jeebies, even though urine is actually more germ free than saliva.


My advice to people who worry about cleanliness is to begin oral sex in the bathroom. Oral sex doesn’t have to begin there, but a thorough cleaning ofthe genitals should take place. I’ve found, in advising patients, that many who object to oral sex discover that their objection goes down the drain after they’ve thoroughly washed the potentially offending sex organ. The above advice may be particularly important when the man hasn’t been circumcised. A buildup under the foreskin, called smegma, can develop, which definitely isn’t sexy. All uncircumcised men need to be careful when cleaning their penis to make sure that they do a good job under the foreskin, but this attention to cleanliness is especially important to any man expecting his partner to give him oral sex. (Women should also clean under their clitoral hood because a smegma-like substance can also collect there.)


Whether it’s because women are having more oral sex or because women are just wearing smaller and smaller bikinis, it’s become more common for women to shave or wax their pubic hair. Most men who perform oral sex on their partner probably appreciate this.


Of course, men with beards or mustaches may cause the sensitive area around a woman’s genitals to become chafed while performing oral sex. Any man with facial hair, or even just stubble, should be careful not to hurt his partner.


To swallow or not to swallow

Some women are concerned about getting the ejaculate in their mouth. Now, a few drops of Cowper’s fluid will be secreted at the head of the erect male penis, but most women worry about the actual quantity of ejaculate that is propelled from the penis upon orgasm. Nothing in a man’s ejaculate is harmful (assuming that he is disease free), and to anyone who complains about the calories, I say “Enough!” But you don’t need an excuse to want to avoid this.


If you really want to avoid coming in contact with ejaculate, try the following:

Ask your partner to let you know when he is close to having his orgasm. This is the best way to avoid the ejaculate. When he lets you know his orgasm is imminent, you can move your mouth out of range while continuing to help him climax with your hands and fingers.


Watch for the signs of impending orgasm. A man’s erection strengthens when he is near orgasm and his scrotum will tighten up, pushing his testicles up against his body. When you notice this, duck out of the way. Keep a towel or tissue close by. If your partner does ejaculate into your mouth, you can easily spit it out without swallowing it.


Many people ask me whether they can do anything to change the taste of their or their partner’s semen. Although anecdotal evidence indicates that what you eat plays a part in what your ejaculate tastes like, I haven’t seen any scientific research that proves that. On the other hand, nothing is stopping you from doing your own research. Not only might it be educational, but it could also be a lot of fun. If a partner really objects to the taste but wants to proceed, I suggest having a breath mint handy so she can quickly change the taste in her mouth.


The porn industry has introduced a new facet to oral sex: the facial, where the man ejaculates onto his partner’s face. In my opinion, this is humiliating and not sexy. Each individual must set his or her limits, but I wouldn’t want the average person contemplating oral sex to think that a facial is a necessary part of the act.


But I’m having my period

Most men avoid performing oral sex on a woman who is menstruating, but the fact is that nothing dangerous is present in menstrual blood (unless she has an STD). If you and your partner want to engage in oral sex at that time of the month, you have no reason not to go ahead (pun intended!).


Avoiding lockjaw, lip languor, tongue tiredness

Oral sex may be becoming part of the norm, but it’s still not entirely a “normal” activity because the mouth must engage in vigorous movements for a length of time that it’s not often called on to do. In other words, oral sex can be tiring.


Most men don’t require extended oral sex, though some do, especially as they get older. But some women require extended stimulation in order to have an orgasm. Although they can’t do anything about that, women must not lose focus of their partner’s well-being. Their partner will need a break after a while because lengthy tongue and lip action can become uncomfortable, if not painful. I understand that a woman who is close to having an orgasm won’t want to stop receiving stimulation, so she may want to give her partner a break before she reaches that point. The couple should talk about her needs and how to best arrive at the destination they both seek.


Simplifying sexual slang

Because I’m always telling you not to be boring, I thought I’d help you out by including some other phrases you can use when talking about the activities described in this article.


Cunnilingus: canyon yodeling, carpet munching, dining at the Y, eating hair pie, egg McMuff, going down, going way down south in Dixie, making mouth music, muff diving, scarfing down, sipping at the fuzzy cup, sitting on one’s face.


Fellatio: blowing, deep throating, frenching, getting a facial, giving head, giving lip service, hoovering, putting lipstick on one’s dipstick, señoreata, soiling one’s knees, sucking off, talking into the mike, worshipping at the altar.

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Assuming the Position in Oral Sex

I haven’t given you many specifics about the positions that you can use for oral sex. Certainly there is no right or wrong position. One partner can be seated or standing and the other on his or her knees, or the recipient can lie on his back while his or her partner leans in over the genitals. Just choose whatever is most comfortable. If the woman kneels down and straddles her partner’s head while he is lying on his back, she will gain some control over how much stimulation she is getting because this position allows her to pull back or push forward. To make sure that her partner doesn’t have to strain his neck, he should place as many pillows as necessary under his head until he can reach her clitoris without straining.

Although you’re free to name any position you may use during oral sex, one position already has a name of its own — 69, which refers to partners performing and receiving oral sex at the same time. The name comes from the shape of the two bodies as they lie on top of and upside down to one another.


It really doesn’t matter which partner is on top, but the man usually gets on his hands and knees because he is likely to have to strain his neck more if he is on the bottom. (Although, as I said above, a pillow under his head can help.) The 69 position may be most comfortable for both partners if done while lying on their sides.


Oral sex, especially fellatio, offers a couple the opportunity to give orgasms without removing any clothing. All a man has to do is stick his penis outside of his zipper and his partner can perform oral sex. This allows couples to perform a sexual act in places not normally thought of as appropriate, such as hallways and park benches. Although I know this goes on, I urge you to exercise some caution. You may think that no one can see you and be very, very wrong. So if you give in to this temptation, do it cautiously.


And although I know the thought of giving a man an orgasm while driving in a car may be tempting, please don’t ever do anything as distracting as that while in a moving vehicle.


Addressing the Safety Issue
Many people have the erroneous notion that oral sex is completely safe because no one ever became pregnant through oral sex. But oral sex is not entirely safe when it comes to sexually transmitted diseases, although oral sex is safer than intercourse or anal sex in terms of transmitting germs and viruses. I offer more information on STDs, but here I want you to know that diseases can be transmitted orally. With more and more people engaging in oral sex, the transmission of disease through oral sex is rising, so much so that now doctors are finding cases of genital herpes that were caused by the virus for oral herpes, something that had not been noted before.


A partner performing fellatio can protect herself or himself by making sure that a condom is placed on her or his partner’s penis. But when performing oral sex on a woman, preventing the transmission of disease is much more difficult. Some people recommend using dental dams, which are small squares of latex, or a sheet of plastic wrap held over the woman’s vagina during oral sex. But the odds of keeping the dental dam in place, so no bodily fluids are exchanged during passionate sex, seem pretty remote. And plastic wrap, which is so thin, seems likely to break, although some brands are stronger than others. Very thin underwear (you can even get an edible variety that comes in flavors) can also act as a barrier.


Although it’s tempting to say that using either dental dam or plastic wrap is better than nothing, I think that would be an error. If you think you’re protected when you’re not, you’re much more likely to do something that you shouldn’t. So the only way to make sure that you won’t get a disease when performing cunnilingus is to only do it with a partner who has been tested for STDs (and given a negative result). I could add “or who is a virgin,” except that so many teens who consider themselves virgins have had oral sex and may have already gotten an STD. Virginity these days is not necessarily a form of protection.

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Skin Care Tips: Natural Skin care 4 Natural Hair Loss Remedy

There are many products on the market that claim to help regrow hair but for one reason or another, you may not want to deal with having to take pills or deal with surgical treatments. Natural hair loss treatments may be the answer you are looking for. Going with natural treatments doesn't have the risks that can be involved with pills or surgery.


Eating a healthy diet is one natural treatment that can be used right away. Certain vitamins and minerals actually help to promote healthy hair growth such as B-vitamins, iron, Vitamin E, zinc, and many more. You can get your daily recommended allowance from healthy foods (fruits, vegetables, lean meats) as well as a multivitamin supplement.


Herbal remedies and nutritional supplements are also an option for natural hair loss treatments. Flaxseed oil is known to improve hair texture and keep hair from drying out. Folic acid and silica may help to maintain the thickness and color of hair.Essential oils are also known to help prevent hair loss and actually regrow hair. Essential oils of thyme, rosemary, lavendar, cedarwood, and jojoba oil are some examples that can be combined and applied to the scalp. The oils are massaged into the scalp for 3 to 5 minutes. They should not be consumed but only used externally.


Traditional Chinese medicine is another option. You can visit a Chinese medicine shop and inquire about hair tonics or other tonics that may help with hair growth.As you can see, you have several options for natural hair loss treatments. They are relatively safe to try and can be done right away to prevent anymore hair loss and increase hair growth.Hair loss can occur in men and women for any reason and at any time. Most of the time there is no way to figure out what is exactly causing hair loss. Many times it is hereditary or caused by an unhealthy lifestyle. Whatever the reason, there are ways to prevent hair loss and get your hair growing again.
The following tips will provide some simple tips that you can begin using to help prevent further hair loss and promote healthy hair growth once a gain. The best part is you can implement these tips right away.


Get Your Vitamins - It's crucial to maintain a healthy lifestyle but most of all, it's important to get your daily recommended allowance of vitamins and minerals.


Avoid Harsh Chemicals - While you may be tempted to color your hair or use chemicals to curl or straighten it, try to avoid it as much as possible. Harsh chemicals damage hair and cause breakage.


Avoid Heating Tools - Hair dryers, curling irons, flat irons, and hot combs can all cause hair breakage from overheating the hair. Try not to use these tools much if at all.


Exercise Regularly - Exercise stimulates circulation which in turn stimulates your scalp. Scalp stimulation can help promote hair growth.


Avoid Stress - Stress can play a role in hair loss among other health problems so it's important to avoid it as much as possible.


You can prevent hair loss and promote hair growth by keeping the tips above in mind and by maintaining a healthy lifestyle.


If you have found the loss of your hair to be something you just can't seem to control, then you may want to consider how to stop hair loss naturally.


It can be one of the most rewarding things you can do for your hair, as many hair loss products on the market often are way too expensive and lead to side effects. No one wants to have to pay a ton of money or risk their health right?


So one of the things that I've found that must be done in order to see added hair growth naturally is by attacking one of the main root causes of thinning hair. This root cause is due to a hormone called dihydrotestosterone , or DHT for short.


DHT comes about from a loss of estrogen in women and a loss of testosterone in men. It will bind to your hair follicle cells and eventually weaken them till they no longer are able to produce more hair for you. Instead of relying on those products that you know are a waste of time and money, one way to reduce DHT in the scalp is by taking herbs.


Two great ones that have been found to reduce DHT and treat hair loss are saw palmetto and green tea. Drinking four cups of green tea daily has scientifically been proven to cut DHT in the body.


Saw palmetto when taken as part of your daily supplement routine produces some amazing effects in blocking the formation of this hormone. Both herbs provide a very fast solution to those who are losing their hair.


There's a dirty little hidden secret that 90% of those losing hair have no idea exists.

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Osteoporosis

What is it?

Osteoporosis means ‘porous bones’. Inside the thick outer shell, bones are like a honeycomb. Osteoporosis occurs when the holes in the honeycomb get too big and bones can break.


What are the symptoms?

A broken bone after a minor bump or fall is the most obvious sign of osteoporosis. Other warning signs include height loss and curvature of the spine.



What's the risk?

It can effect people of all ages but although it’s not an inevitable result of ageing, it does become more common as you get older and affects 1 in 5 men over 50.


What causes it?

Genetic factors are very important – some 80% of the risk is hereditary.


It may be a side-effect of another disease such as hyperthyroidism (an over-active thyroid gland), hyperparathyroidism (too much of the parathyroid hormone) or coeliac disease or Crohn’s disease or other medical conditions which affect the absorption of nutrients from food.


Other factors include low levels of testosterone, drug side-effects (particularly from corticosteroids) and alcohol.


How can I prevent it?

- Keeping up calcium intake in the diet (best done through a balanced diet that includes low-fat milk, cheese and yoghurt, leafy green veg, fish bones and dried fruit which are all good sources of calcium rather than supplements)


- Keeping up vitamin D levels – vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and is most easily found in the natural sunlight (but don’t get sun-burned),


- Avoiding smoking


- Taking plenty of exercise – bone is living tissue and needs weight-bearing exercise to maintain its strength. This doesn’t mean you need to lift weights – your own body weight will do so walk. jog, dance etc. Check out our online gym.


Should I see a doctor?

If you have any of the symptoms, risk conditions or a family history, it is worth seeing your GP.


What are the main treatments?

The main treatment are drugs called bisphosphonates, one of which (alendronate) is licensed for men. Calcitonin, which comes as a nasal spray or an injection, may also be prescribed for pain relief.


Testosterone replacement therapy is possible for men in which low testosterone levels are the cause of their osteoporosis.


Supplements of calcium and vitamin D might also be recommended if you have diagnosis of osteoporosis


Who else can help?

National Osteoporosis Society

Camerton, Bath BA2 0PJ

tel: 01761 471771

fax: 01761 471104

helpline: 0845 450 0230 (Monday to Friday 10am to 3pm)

website: www.nos.org.uk

e-mail: info@nos.org.uk

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Hair Loss

Most men don't need to be told – it's the loss of hair resulting in decreasing coverage of the scalp.


What are the main symptoms?

Male pattern baldness (also known as genetic hair loss or alopecia androgenetica) is the most common form of hair loss in men. It usually develops very gradually, typically involving the appearance of a bald spot on the crown of the scalp accompanied by thinning at the temples. Although this problem can strike any man at any time, many first become aware of it as they approach their thirties.


What's the risk?

· Two-thirds of all men will eventually be affected by male pattern baldness – in the UK, this means that 7.4 million men are losing their hair at any one time.

· There are racial differences, however, in the incidence of male pattern baldness. The highest rates are found among Caucasians, followed by Afro-Caribbeans. Chinese and Japanese men have the lowest rates. For some unknown reason, this form of hair loss is does not occur among Native Americans.

· Male pattern baldness runs in the family. If your grandfather, father or brothers went bald early, the chances are that you will too. The strongest influence is on the mother's side: if your maternal grandfather went bald, that's probably a better indicator that you will too than if your father's father lost his hair.


What causes it?

There is only a tiny grain of truth in the myth that bald men are more virile because they have more of the male sex hormone testosterone.

This idea probably grew from the observation that eunuchs never became bald and, having being castrated, they didn't, of course, produce very much testosterone.

Yes, testosterone is involved in male pattern baldness, but its relationship with hair loss is complicated and not completely understood. Testosterone is naturally converted in the body to a related sex hormone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This stimulates the growth of facial and body hair, as well as acting on the prostate gland. There is good evidence that male pattern baldness results from an over-sensitivity of scalp hair follicles to DHT, rather than raised levels of either sex hormone in the blood.


How can I prevent it?

You cannot prevent male pattern baldness, although there may be ways of slowing down the process or disguising the problem.


Should I see a doctor?

· To get advice and treatment for hair loss, you should always start with either your GP or a professionally qualified trichologist.

· Until very recently, male pattern balding was seen as a natural process and you may find your doctor to be neither sympathetic nor helpful if you consult him/her about it. But things may be changing. An increasing number of doctors realise that hair loss can have psychological consequences that significantly diminish quality of life, especially for younger men, and they may be more willing to take the problem seriously.


If you are lucky enough to have an enlightened GP, by all means seek their advice – at the very least, you'll get a referral to a reliable trichologist (although you'll probably have to pay for any treatment you receive).



A trichologist, by the way, is a hair specialist whose training covers both the cosmetic and the medical aspects of the subject. Some trichologists are also trained hairdressers, but they are not usually medically qualified. The Institute of Trichologists keeps a register of properly qualified people: look for the letters AIT (Associate), MIT (Member) or FIT (Fellow) after their name.




Other types of hair loss, such as alopecia areata, are taken seriously as medical conditions and you should seek your GP's advice as you would for any other medical problem.



What are the main treatments?

There is no cure for male pattern baldness, but there are both drug and surgical treatments available which may lead to some improvements.



Minoxidil (sold as Regaine)

· This is the only topical treatment (one that you rub into the skin) which is actually licensed for the treatment of male pattern baldness in the UK. It was originally developed (in tablet form) as a drug for high blood pressure. Doctors noticed that people on minoxidil sometimes grew new hair, so the drug was reformulated for this purpose.

· Regaine comes as 2% or 5% lotions which you rub, daily, into your scalp. It is best to start with the 2% lotion and after three months, if you have not seen significant growth of hair, upgrade to the 5% lotion. In the UK, Reagine is a Pharmacy Only medicine, which means you can obtain it from a pharmacy without a prescription, but only when a pharmacist is on the premises. The pharmacist should check that Regaine is appropriate for you before selling it (for instance, you shouldn't use it without medical supervision if you have high blood pressure).

· Regaine cannot work miracles. About one-third of men using it get good hair growth on the bald patches, one-third get a fine, downy regrowth, while the rest will get little or no response. The majority of men using it find that at least they don't lose much more hair – but as soon as you stop using it, hair loss resumes its course.

· Expect to wait up to four months before you get any response from Regaine (be patient), but if nothing happens after, say, a year, you may as well give it up. Incidentally, never pay large sums of money to a private trichologist or over the internet for Regaine – the usual price is around £30 for a month's supply.


Finesteride (marketed as Propecia)

· This is a treatment for male pattern baldness which is licenced in the UK but only on private prescription, not on the NHS. It is one of a class of drugs called 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors. Since 5-alpha-reductase is the enzyme which causes the conversion of testosterone into DHT, inhibiting this with finesteride should, in theory, stop hair loss. In fact, finesteride was originally developed for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a condition in which the prostate gland becomes enlarged through the action of DHT.

· Although there have been no clinical studies directly comparing low dose finesteride and Regaine, the data suggests that the two products may be similarly effective as a treatment for hair loss. Finesteride can lead to side effects in up to 2% of users such as impotence, reduced sex drive and reduced semen volume. (These side-effects are reversible when the treatment stops.)

· Propecia can be obtained from your GP or dermatologist on private prescription.


Anti-androgen therapy

· Another way of tackling male pattern baldness is to directly block the action of DHT using a variety of hormonal drugs. Some of these are similar to oral contraceptives and female hormone replacement therapy. They should only be applied under the supervision of an endocrinologist (hormone specialist) or a dermatologist with expertise in hormone therapy.


Hair transplant surgery

· Surgery offers the possibility of a longer-term solution to your hair loss problem. But it doesn't come cheap and it can be hard to find a skilled and reputable surgeon. Put simply, hair surgery involves rearranging your scalp skin so as to minimise the bald areas and maximise those where hair is still growing.

· In the UK most hair surgeons use grafts, which involves transferring skin from the hair-bearing area at the back of the head to the bald parts at the front. Hair grafts work because the section of skin transferred retains its own characteristics (i.e. hair grows) rather than acquiring those of the place it is transferred to (where hair does not grow).

· The most natural results come from transferring plugs of skin bearing 3–6 hairs (minigrafts) or just one hair (micrografts). The surgeon makes tiny slits or pinholes in the recipient area into which the plugs are inserted. A new hairline can be built up by using rows of micrografts at the front and minigrafts a few rows further back.

· When considering surgery, you must remember that your hair loss could well continue around the reconstructed areas. This may look unsightly unless you're prepared to invest in further surgery in a few years time.

· Hair surgery usually involves considerable financial investment and you are also involving yourself in a medical procedure. So choose your surgeon carefully, preferably via personal recommendation or through the Institute of Trichologists. He or she should carry one or more of the following qualifications:

1. FRCS (Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons)

2. BAAPS (British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons)

3. BACS (British Association of Cosmetic Surgeons)


Remember, a good hair surgeon probably doesn't need to advertise.


Other treatments

As far as other treatments are concerned, be very wary. There are many bogus operators out there who are only too keen to exploit people with hair loss.


How can I help myself?

Making changes in your hair care routine and overall lifestyle may help minimise the appearance of hair loss.

· Treat your remaining hair with a bit more respect. Most people are too rough with their hair. It's better to use a comb, not a brush, and to avoid tightly fitting caps or hats. Hair is more fragile when it's wet, so handle it with care.

· Some shampoos and other hair cosmetics can make your hair look thicker and fuller. Ask your hairdresser for advice.

· Short hair minimises the contrast between balding and non-balding areas. Long hair has the reverse effect and is very ageing. It shouldn't need saying, but combing hair over a bald spot is not a good idea.

· Include sufficient protein in your diet, especially if you are vegan or vegetarian (hair loss sometimes starts when people give up meat). Ensure that you do not become anaemic by eating plenty of iron-rich foods like liver, eggs and green vegetables.


What's the outlook?

There's no cure for male pattern baldness, although other forms of male hair loss are often reversible.

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