While you’ll find people who would contend that ED shouldn’t be considered “normal” by men at any age, most medical professionals are in agreement that the appearance of some erectile dysfunction symptoms around the age of 50 is to be expected. The explanations for this evaluation include, but aren’t limited to, an increased drop in testosterone levels (i.e. andropause), weakening of the corpora cavernosa muscle that is responsible for achieving and keeping erections and psychological changes associated with getting older.
The review of each of the aforementioned components in impotence problems among older men follows.
The Onset of Andropause (a.k.a. Male Menopause)
The male equivalent to female menopause, andropause has been known to appear in men in their early 40s, but more typically starts at about the age of 50. The condition is denoted by progressively decreasing testosterone levels (a yearly decline of 1.0 to 1.5 percent is common), depression, low energy and lethargy, weight gain and ED. It is also quite normal for men experiencing male menopause to suffer from fatigue and irritability – each of which leads to erectile dysfunction.
Treating andropause is still a subject of much disagreement in the medical community since there are those who are unconvinced of the condition’s existence (it is oftentimes mentioned that older men in their 70s father children which, in their opinion, erases the prospect of a andropause). The ones who do endorse the idea of andropause are also divided between the group that recommends pharmaceuticals as treatment, and the one that promotes hormone replacement therapy.
Sexual Organ Atrophy
By the time a man hits middle age, the corpora cavernosa muscle that gets the penis hard during an erection typically begins to weaken and atrophy. The extent to which the muscle deteriorates can vary somewhat from one man to another, but by the age of 50 there has ordinarily been enough weakening of the organ that the man has observed a decrease in the hardness and staying power of his erections.
Fortunately, weakening of the corpora cavernosa is something that can be corrected with Kegels and other erectile dysfunction exercises that are sometimes recommended by health care providers. As it is with any other muscle, frequent use of the corpora cavernosa appears to reverse the atrophy and make the organ strong and healthy later in one’s life.
Oddly enough, the latest research suggests that the easiest way to do this is by sexual intercourse. In other words, if you stay sexually active during your later years, the decline of your reproductive health as a result of aging will be slower.
Psychological Changes from Aging
Regrettably, there exists a notion in Western society that it is in poor taste, improper or just flat out wrong for elderly people to be sexually active. As every physician will confirm, this could not be any further from the truth.In fact, there is far more evidence supporting the belief that remaining sexually active into the Golden Years actually keeps you healthy and extends your life.
Nevertheless, because of social pressures and beliefs that most people take with them in their advanced years, research studies have shown that approximately 50% of men have negative perceptions of their personal sexuality by the time they reach the age of 60. A Finnish research project further reported that nearly a quarter of males past the age of 70 view sex at their age as “sinful and shameful”, thanks mostly to the previously mentioned view propagated by society.
From a psychologist’s point of view, there is a direct correlation between this transition in the way a man views sex as he gets older, and the point that an estimated 36% of men are afflicted by male impotence by the time they hit age 70. In light of what is known about the corpora cavernosa and other internal organs, the choice to abstain from sex in later life undeniably accelerates the decline of the sexual organs.
Conclusion – Is There a Time in Life When ED Becomes Normal?
Depending on which study you pay attention to, the percentage of males who suffer from erectile dysfunction symptoms climbs to about 18% in men in their 40s and as high as 40% among men in their 60s. Without a doubt this seems to suggest that there are some connections between age and the appearance of ED. On the other hand, as discussed in this article, aside from serious illness, none of the factors that contribute to erectile dysfunction in seniors are irreversible. On the contrary, they’re quite manageable, so giving in to erectile dysfunction is absolutely not inevitable and should not be accepted as “part of aging.”
If you’d like to find out more about erectile dysfunction symptoms in older men, or the latest information on erectile dysfunction in young men, look for future articles from ED authority Darin Mendanor.
