Q:
Is erectile dysfunction common with age?
A:
The research, published in the August 2003 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine, shows that ED is common among older men and sexual function sharply decreases after age 50.
Results showed that age played a primary role in men who said they had ED. The older the men, the higher the reports of ED. The reports ranged from “good” function among younger men to a steady decline to “poor” among the older group.
The majority of younger men (74%) rated sexual function as good or very good; only 10% of men older than 80 rated sexual function the same. Only 12% of younger men reported big or moderate problems. But nearly a quarter to a third of men older than 50 reported this degree of severity in sexual function.
- 2% reported first experiencing ED before age 40
- 4% reported first experiencing ED between ages 40 to 49
- 26% reported first experiencing ED between ages 50 to 59
- 40% reported first experiencing ED between ages 60 to 69
Men with a healthy lifestyle and no chronic disease had the lowest risk for erectile dysfunction. Obesity, smoking, and excessive TV watching were also associated with having a greater risk of erectile dysfunction.
Keyword: erectile dysfunction age
