Editorial
Written byMen's Health Istanbul Editorial Team
Medical reviewProf. Dr. Ege Can Şerefoğlu
Last medical reviewAwaiting reviewer sign-off
Key takeaways
- Erections often take longer, need more direct stimulation and may be less firm with age. That is common, but it is not inevitable.
- Erectile problems become more common with age, largely because of blood vessel health, diabetes and medicines.
- Desire, orgasm and recovery time can change too. Relationship and mood matter as much as physiology.
- Most sexual problems at this age have effective treatments. Talking to a doctor is the first step.
What commonly changes
Sexual function changes gradually over a lifetime, and the fifties are often when men first notice. Common changes include:
- erections that take longer to develop and need more direct touch;
- erections that are less firm, or that fade more easily;
- a longer recovery time before another erection is possible;
- changes in the intensity of orgasm or the volume of ejaculate.
None of these means sex is over. Many couples find that slowing down, more foreplay and less focus on penetration make sex more satisfying, not less.
What is not simply "getting older"
The Massachusetts Male Aging Study, one of the best-known surveys of men aged 40 to 70, found that erectile difficulties became more common with each decade. It also found that they were linked with heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, some medicines and low mood. In other words, much of what is blamed on age is really about health, and much of that can be improved.
Erectile problems can also be an early sign of blood vessel disease. We explain why in Why erectile dysfunction can be an early health warning.
Medicines and sexual function
Several common medicines can affect desire, erections or ejaculation, including some blood pressure tablets, antidepressants and treatments for an enlarged prostate. Never stop a prescribed medicine on your own, but do ask the prescriber whether it might be contributing; there is often an alternative.
Desire, mood and relationships
Sex drive depends on hormones, but also on energy, stress, sleep, self-image and how things are in a relationship. Retirement, illness in either partner and changes in a partner's own sexual health are all part of the picture at this age. Talking openly, as uncomfortable as it can feel, often helps more than anything else.
Where help starts
If changes are bothering you or your partner, a doctor can look for treatable causes and talk through options, from lifestyle changes and tablets to other treatments. Our overview of male sexual health covers the main conditions and treatments in one place.
References
- Feldman HA, Goldstein I, Hatzichristou DG, Krane RJ, McKinlay JB. Impotence and its medical and psychosocial correlates: results of the Massachusetts Male Aging Study. J Urol. 1994;151(1):54–61.
- European Association of Urology. EAU Guidelines on Sexual and Reproductive Health. Source
This article is general health information. It does not replace an individual medical consultation, examination or diagnosis. Read our editorial policy and medical review policy.
