If you have prostate cancer or are beginning treatment for it, new research out this week concluded that those high-dose precision radiation therapies won't interfere with your sex drive or function.

The research looked at 155 men with varying levels of prostate cancer and found that precisely-targeted radiation therapy for those tumors made it possible to not affect nearby tissue. Hence, normal sexual function was affected very little in each procedure.

Targeted medicine and procedures are a holy grail for many medical scientists since diseases can be managed without messing with any other part of the body. In this case, that's an important part most men would rather not have interrupted.

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Women going through menopause who report a decreased interest in sex are more likely to also report trouble sleeping, depression, and night sweats. Although the connections between the symptoms may seem obvious (night sweats and depression can cause trouble sleeping, and fatigue can cause all kinds of problems -- including decreased sex drive), this study marks the first time menopause, sleeping, and low libido have all been connected.

The connection at this point doesn't mean much, other than more studies scheduled and doctors probably being more aware of what side-effects the medications they're prescribing might have. This does, however, strongly reinforce the difficulties many women face when going through menopause, and how symptoms can play off of each other making things even worse.

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Fancy dinners, wine, nice chocolate -- sounds sexy, right?

Apparently not.

When it comes to sex-drive, the key is circulation, circulation, circulation. To get the blood flowing, try foods that are high in Omega-3 fatty acids (like mackerel and salmon), or L-Arginine (like nuts, granola, and chickpeas).

Women should try eating more soy. This binds estrogen receptors, which helps the vaginal area stay lubricated. Men need to know that "anything that's good for your heart, is good for your penis." For instance, artery-cloggers like saturated fats prevent blood flow to a man's genital region, which in turn effects his ability to perform.

And speaking of traditional romance -- fine dining, gourmet chocolates, late night cocktails, etc -- it should also be noted that studies show a very strong correlation between obesity and erectile dysfunction. So, next time you need to spice things up, don't be afraid to try some exercise!

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