Erection protection

ool calendars are so popular, with all those fine socket wenches-that is, wrenches-they display? A man, quite rightly, is known for his appreciation of tools, their proper maintenance and their most effective use.

Which makes it that much more shocking that we fail to properly maintain our own carnal implements, whether they are mini-drivers or diamond-studded 12-inch drill bits. From puberty onward, our tools suffer all kinds of self- and outward abuse, from overexcitement in tight Levi's to weekend-long binges with women from whom we caught everything but their names. The result, long term, can be a dulled edge, a balky ball bearing, a flexible extension for the wrench when only a rigid one will do the job.

But here we are with tool-saving tips-seven of them, in fact- that can keep you sharp well into your master-craftsman days. If you're not careful, the woman in your life just might invoke the inviolable rule of tools, the scariest and most accurate one of all: "If you want something done right, hire a handyman."

Avoid penis shrinkers

In a study conducted at the University of Kentucky, researchers found that when asked to rate their sex lives on a scale of one to 10, men who smoked averaged about a five- a far cry from nonsmokers, who rated theirs at nine.

One reason, of course, is that smoking is a known cause of impotence. And there's some evidence that smoking affects erection size. In one study, researchers found that smokers' penises are significantly smaller than nonsmokers'. "Smoking clogs the arteries supplying blood to the penis in the same way as it blocks arteries supplying blood to the heart. It affects the tissue indirectly by reducing its blood supply and making it less elastic," says Dr Anshuman Agarwal, senior consultant, urology, Fortis. Do you still want to hear a better reason to quit?

Get a vasectomy

If you're finished producing offspring (or you're sure you don't want kids), consider investing in permanent renovations at the sperm factory. "Contraceptive failure can be a source of anxiety to both partners. Most contraceptive failures occur due to improper use or omission of a dose of oral contraceptive. It is of significant concern to the male in case of illegitimate contact," says Dr Agarwal. That anxiety can, in turn, lead to erection problems-and cause the same vicious circle that makes performance anxiety such a mood killer.

Fire your mistress

It's common for men who start having affairs to stop having erections-so common, in fact, that doctors who treat erectile dysfunction often ask their patients if they're getting any action on the side. Unless your wife knows about, approves of, and participates in your new sex life-in which case, we'd like to meet her-you're bound to feel at least a little guilty about it when you're with her. Guilt can turn to anxiety and that can kill an erection.

Start walking

In one recent study, researchers found that men who walked just three kilometres a day had half the rate of erection problems of more sedentary men, says Dr Agarwal.

Deposits that clog or stiffen penile arteries can wilt an erection really fast. "Exercise plays a beneficial role as it improves circulation in blood vessels. It also helps in weight-loss, which is an independent factor responsible for erectile dysfunction," says Dr Agarwal. The more you exercise, the healthier, cleaner and more flexible the linings get.

Lose your fat gut

Besides the monastery, having diabetes is the quickest route to a lifetime of celibacy. In fact, more than 50 per cent of all men with diabetes are impotent. The disease hits the penis with a double whammy. It accelerates the process of arterial disease, and it slows the transmission of stimuli along nerves throughout your body. And, trust us, a numb penis is not a happy penis.

Staying trim is the best way to avoid diabetes. If it's too late for that, be vigilant in checking your blood sugar. Men who are sloppy about controlling their levels have 70 per cent more erection problems than those who stay on top of it, according to a recent Italian study.