Is ED part of aging?

Canadians are living longer, fuller, healthier lives than ever before, and still enjoying satisfying sex lives. ED is not considered to be a part of normal aging but it is commonly associated with aging. Incidence increases with age; about 5% of 40-year-old men vs. 15% to 25% of 65-year-old men experience ED. In older men, ED generally has a physical cause, such as disease, injury or side effects of drugs. In fact, any disorder that injures the nerves or impairs blood flow in the penis can lead to ED.

Here are some ways that age can have an effect on your sex life, but none of these should get in the way of an active sex life.

  • Your body will change in the way it responds to sexual arousal.
  • You may notice a need for more:
    • direct stimulation to have an erection
    • time to get an erection
    • time between erections
    • orgasms may be less intense

What is the relationship between sex and aging?

The possibility of ED increases as a man gets older because it's part of the process of aging.

A: While it's true that age can be a factor in ED, aging itself is not the cause. In older men, ED generally has a physical cause, such as disease, injury or side effects of drugs.

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