FirstMed Consulting Blog

The quality and nature of a man’s erection alters with age. As a result of these changes, many men, wrongly accept Erectile Dysfunction as a normal part of the aging process and do not seek or receive adequate advice or treatment.

The increase in the incidence of ED in old age is primarily related to the increased rate of health problems, rather than old age per se. Several recent studies examining the prevalence of erectile dysfunction found that, while age was the variable most strongly associated with erectile dysfunction, following adjustment for age, a higher probability was noted with heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and associated medications.

This said, there are some changes that inevitably come with age. As aging increases, desire may not always result in sexual excitement. The triggers for sexual excitement become more specifically sexual and may require intimate body contact and manual stimulation. The intensity of sexual fantasies decreases and it may take a man longer to achieve an erection and following ejaculation more time before an erection is possible. Men often notice some distinct changes, like:

* Increased time required to produce a full erection
* The erection may not be as firm or as large as in earlier years.
* A decrease in the time that erections can be maintained prior to ejaculation
* A decrease in the force of ejaculation, and an increase in the duration of the refractory phase.
* The feeling that an ejaculation is about to happen may be shorter.
* The loss of erection after orgasm may be more rapid or it may take longer before an erection is again possible.
* Some men may find they need more manual stimulation

In addition, older men experience anatomical changes, including thinning of the pubic hair, laxity of scrotal tissue, atrophy of the perineal muscles, loss of collagen tissue and occasionally weight gain. The phase of ejaculation undergoes changes which result in a decline in the intensity of orgasm and in the propulsive force of ejaculation. The volume of the ejaculate may be reduced by 50%. Sex drive and performance vary widely between individuals of the same group and the maintenance of sexual activity depends on factors such as regular sexual activity, the presence of a willing sexual partner, the absence of a major physical illness and the integrity of the relationship.