Although you’ll find people who would argue that ED should never be considered “normal” by men of any age, nearly all medical professionals agree that the presence of some erectile dysfunction symptoms by age 50 is to be expected. The grounds for this appraisal include, but aren’t restricted to, an accelerated decline in testosterone levels (i.e. andropause), weakening of the corpora cavernosa muscle that is responsible for getting and keeping erections and psychological changes related to getting older.
The review of each of the above factors in impotence among aging men follows.
The Onset of Andropause (a.k.a. Male Menopause)
The men’s equivalent to female menopause, andropause has been seen to appear in men in their early 40s, but more typically begins around the age of 50. The state is marked by progressively declining testosterone amounts (a yearly decline of 1.0 to 1.5 percent is typical), depression, low energy and listlessness, weight gain and ED. It’s also extremely usual for men experiencing andropause to suffer from fatigue and irritability – both of which contribute to impotence.
The treatment of andropause remains a topic of much disagreement in the professional medical community since there are doctors who are unconvinced of the condition’s existence (it is frequently pointed out that older men in their 70s have fathered children which, in their judgment, eliminates the prospect of a andropause). The ones who do endorse the idea of andropause are also divided between the group that recommends pharmaceutical drugs as treatment, and the one that promotes hormone replacement therapies.
Atrophy of Sexual Organs
Once a man gets to middle age, the corpora cavernosa that makes the penis hard during an erection generally will start to weaken and atrophy. The extent to which the muscular organ deteriorates varies a bit from one man to another, but at the age of 50 there has ordinarily been enough atrophy of the muscle that the man has noticed a decrease in the hardness and duration of his erections.
Luckily, atrophy of the corpora cavernosa is a problem that may be corrected with Kegel exercises and other erectile dysfunction exercises that are occasionally prescribed by therapists. As is also the case with every other muscle tissue, repeated use of the corpora cavernosa appears to reverse the atrophy and keep the organ vital and healthy much later in life.
Oddly enough, the latest research suggests that the best way to do this is through sexual intercourse. Simply put, if you stay sexually active during your advanced years, the decline of your reproductive function because of getting older will be much slower.
Psychological Issues Related to Aging
Sadly, there is a belief in Western society that it is inappropriate, strange or simply unnatural for elderly people to continue to be sexually active. As every doctor will tell you, this couldn’t be farther from the truth.In fact, there is a lot more proof corroborating the opinion that remaining sexually active into the Golden Years in fact helps you remain healthy and extends your life.
Nevertheless, due to social pressures and attitudes that people take with them into their later years, studies have found that around 50% of men develop unfavorable views of their personal sexuality by the time they get to the age of 60. Researchers from Finland further found that nearly one fourth of men past the age of 70 perceive sex at their age as “shameful and sinful”, thanks mostly to the previously mentioned attitude propagated by society.
From the psychologist’s standpoint, there is a strong correlation between this change in the way a man regards sex as he gets older, and the fact that approximately 36% of men are affected by erectile dysfunction by the point they hit age 70. Given what is known about the corpora cavernosa and many other body organs, the choice to avoid sexual intercourse in later life undeniably quickens the decline of the sexual organs.
Conclusion – Is There an Age Where ED Is Normal?
Depending on which study you listen to, the percentage of men who suffer from erectile dysfunction symptoms jumps to about 18% in men in their 40s and as high as 40% among men in their 60s. Without a doubt this appears to suggest that there are some links between age and the appearance of ED. On the other hand, as discussed in this article, apart from illness, none of the culprits that cause erectile dysfunction in older men are irreversible. In fact, they are quite manageable, so surrendering to erectile dysfunction is in no way inevitable and does not need to be seen as “just a part of the aging process.”
If you’d like to find out more about erectile dysfunction symptoms in older men, or the latest information on erectile dysfunction exercises, stop by Darin Mendanor’s site www.erectile-dysfunction-symptoms.net.
