A hook to the liver and...to sex

Abstract

People have heard about hepatic diseases, but others less fortunate are suffering from them; their causes may be gallbladder stones, hepatitis, alcoholism, etc. When such diseases become chronic and lack any medical treatment they may turn into cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is the last phase of chronic liver diseases altering the whole liver architecture and function with pronounced fibrosis. Cirrhotic patients may be beyond recovery and the prognosis is disheartening. Liver is the largest organ in the human body, it is important since it stores and metabolizes carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, and fat; which in fact is required to be dissolved by the bile acids. Bile acids along with bilirubin constitute the bile produced by liver; if normal bile flow is stopped (cholestasis) their constituents will pass into the blood stream causing jaundice. Moreover, liver metabolizes drugs and alcohol; in fact, alcohol metabolism generates toxic derivatives that provoke liver injury. Liver is related to sexual health: first, liver damaged by alcoholism in men induces testicular dysfunction, low testosterone levels, sexual impotence and infertility. Second, chronic self-medication in women or the intake of high doses of oral contraceptives without medical observation may worsen a previous liver disease, as it is the case of alcoholic women whom are prone to worse hepatic infections. It is imperative to advice that alcohol abuse must be controlled to avoid not only hepatic damage but also sexual health injury; in addition, oral contraceptives intake by women shall be under strict medical surveillance along with prior hepatic check. Therefore, people may drink a glass of wine and women should be able to take the pill, but in a responsible manner, so they keep away from a hook to the liver and…to sex