It's been reported that more than half of men between the ages of 40 and 70 experience some form of ED. So take comfort in knowing that you are not alone. Experiencing difficulty with erections from time to time is usually no cause for concern.
Erectile dysfunction is the most common sexual issue for men, affecting approximately 30 to 50 million adult men in the United States—that's more than half of men aged 40 to 70 (Sooriyamoorthy, 2021).
ED can happen at any age, but it's more common in older men. By the time a man is in his 40s, he has about a 40% chance of having experienced ED. That risk increases by about 10% for each decade of life—a 50% chance in his 50s, a 60% chance in his 60s, and so on (Ferrini, 2017).
Less than 2% of men with erection problems reported their symptoms first started before the age of 40. Only 4% reported symptoms of ED starting between 40 and 49 years of age. About 1 in 4 said their ED symptoms started between the ages of 50 to 59. Two in five men reported their symptoms started between age 60 and 69.
A man with ED may emotionally feel arousal, but the penis may be unable to maintain an erection. This may lead to frustration, feelings of inadequacy, emasculation, and shame. A person may fear being unable to fulfill the sexual needs of their partner.
When you have trouble achieving or maintaining an erection with a partner, it can be embarrassing – especially if it is happening for the first time. When something like this happens, it is easy to close yourself off and wallow in your worry and self-pity.
Recent studies have found that exercise, especially moderate to vigorous aerobic activity, can improve erectile dysfunction. Even less strenuous, regular exercise might reduce the risk of erectile dysfunction. Increasing your level of activity might also further reduce your risk.
However, as you get older, your risk can increase. This is not only because erections take longer to develop, but also that other contributing factors may come into play. Physical issues like heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and smoking can all cause erectile dysfunction.
Erectile dysfunction is a common issue for men in their 50s. It can occur for a variety of reasons, from physical health problems to depression, anxiety or your use of certain medications.
In many cases, yes, erectile dysfunction can be reversed. A study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found a remission rate of 29 percent after 5 years. It is important to note that even when ED cannot be cured, the right treatment can reduce or eliminate symptoms.
How can you maintain an erection? Healthy lifestyle habits can help your erections feel healthier and last longer. Eating well, exercising, abstaining from smoking or drinking alcohol, getting enough sleep, communicating with your partner, and reducing stress can all play a role in improving your sexual responsiveness.
A study published in May 2014 in The Journal of Sexual Medicine found that some men can reverse erectile dysfunction with healthy lifestyle changes, such as exercise, weight loss, a varied diet, and good sleep.
"Tell him it's really OK if the two of you don't have intercourse tonight. Maybe he's not ready yet,"—and "yet" is the key word. Sometimes, he says, just removing that pressure makes the penis change its mind. "If that happens, tell him you're happy he's feeling better."
Erectile dysfunction is common, and there are many things you can do to manage it. A variety of factors may be causing your ED. These include your lifestyle, alcohol intake, some medications, diseases, disorders, and psychological stress. Depending on the cause, several effective strategies and treatments exist.
While there is no definite age at which male ejaculation ceases, it has been suggested that it may happen when a man reaches his late 40s or early 50s. It is important to note, however, that this is not a universal rule and some men may continue to ejaculate at a later age.
Pfizer, the company that manufactures this drug, has confirmed that the typical Viagra user is on average 53 years old. The company does not keep records of users younger than 33 years. The drug should not be used in young men who do not have erection problems.
Is There a Way To Tell if a Man is Taking Viagra? Wondering if your man is taking a pill to keep up his energy in bed? You could check his medicine cabinet, send an email to his doctor asking what prescription drugs he's on, or have his blood tested.
Most cases of ED are caused by physical problems alone or in combination with emotional ones. Just about any medical condition that affects your nerves or blood vessels could hurt your ability to have erections. High blood pressure, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, kidney disease, and diabetes can all lead to ED.