Male Aging

Male sexual problems and aging

Ever wonder how many men have sexual problems? You’ll be surprised how common it actually is. One study conducted in 1992 (Dr. Don Strassberg, Department of Psychology, University of Utah) suggested that in North America, over 40% of men reported having some form of sexual or erectile problem at some point in their lives. This is good news for many of us, because it means we’re not alone and that there is treatment available.

While it is true that erection problems tend to become more common as we age, it is not a natural part of aging – the loss of full sexual function is not an inevitable part of aging. Erection problems are usually the by-products of other issues, meaning that if we address them properly, we can get back much if not all of our sexual performance.

A healthy sex life doesn’t need to dwindle as we age, and now there are ways to prevent it from happening.

Sexual problems associated with aging

Some of the more common issues include flagging sex drive, premature ejaculations, Peyronie’s disease (the ‘bent penis’ disease), and erectile dysfunction (ED).

There are many causes, but most center around (or start with) circulation problems or issues with the cardiovascular system. The other major culprit is lowered levels of testosterone, which is critical in maintaining sex drive, sperm production, and producing full, hard erections.

Men can experience lowered levels of testosterone as a result of alcohol or drug abuse, or due to long term stress or depression, but it also happens naturally as we age. Aging male syndrome (AMS), also known as ‘male menopause’ or ‘andropause’, happens somewhere between age 35 and age 70, most commonly around the early 50’s. It results in hormonal changes that leave men with lower levels of testosterone. Men do not naturally lose their fertility as a result of lower testosterone, but can if their health declines.

Many times men experience sexual problems without realizing that something they’re doing is actually the cause. Medications, especially antidepressants, can cause erectile problems, as can alcohol and nicotine dependency. Certain illnesses like diabetes can also cause erectile problems, usually by creating a testosterone imbalance.

Control over the cause

Most sexual problems start being purely physical, but later include a psychological component as well, often stemming from fear or shaken confidence over lost sexual performance.

These psychological causes can sometimes become more powerful than the physical ones – these culprits are often responsible for much lost performance. Often times a mental stressor translates into a physical one over a long period of time. Here’s a list of several psychological contributors to sexual problems:

Daily stress

The stresses of daily work and life can produce temporary erection problems that can get worse if not looked at. Many times men avoid getting help even for simple problems, which can lead them to avoid sex altogether when a solution is readily available. Relief is available for anyone who is brave enough to look for it. Everyday punishment to the body will take its toll, and it may only take slight alteration of life or work life to solve problems of this kind. Stress compounds other causes.

Relationship issues

Even with a healthy relationship, there come times when things just aren’t working well. These times are ripe opportunities for loss of libido, or even for erection problems to spring forth. Communication problems and emotional stress in a relationship aren’t only a problem for women, but also for men sometimes. Often this discord can show itself in the sex.

Performance anxiety

Fear is a major inhibitor to proper erections and healthy sexual function. Even the slightest physical sexual problem is often made much worse by fear. The bright side is that by increasing your confidence in finding a solution, the solution becomes more effective. Ironic but true.

Attitude and experience

Attitude towards the sexual problem also has a major effect on how bad a problem gets. The impact of lost confidence is major. A man who is experiencing sexual issues for the first time can be crushed under the weight of it, simply because he’s new to it. Dealing with and beating these kinds of temporary problems can result in a more positive attitude if they ever crop up again.

Solutions – Physicians optional…

If one thing is for sure, these problems are definitely NOT ‘all in our heads!’ There is nearly always some physical starting point, a physical problem from which the problem stems. The problem is that once we see a drop in our performance, most men get very upset, even fearful that the problem may not go away. The physical problem is then compounded by our lost confidence and fears about our future performance.

They first key is not to panic. Realize that the problem is likely temporary, especially if you address it properly. For the vast majority of men, sexual problems can be reduced or eliminated with the right treatment.

Second, identify which of the above psychological factors may be adding to the problem and deal with them first. Although we can’t get into each solution in this article, there’s a lot of published material on each of the subjects mentioned above. If you’ve ever experienced a problem, please look into them! 

Seeing a physician is also a very good idea. They can offer advice and prescribe Viagra, Cialis, or Levitra for dealing with erection problems, although more physicians are suggesting herbal medicines as demand increases for less expensive solutions (and without the side effects).

Herbal products are available without a prescription, making them discreet if you wish to keep the problem a secret for a time to see if you can resolve it yourself. Look into VigRX, a world leader in herbal sexual improvement. Other products that work for similar sexual problems include Semenax, and Katana. Look into these if you have concern about privacy or desire to avoid the side effects that accompany the heavier pharmaceuticals.

Vacuum erection devices can also restore physical erections if used with a cock ring, but they don’t solve the related problems with life or the relationship. Once the physical ability to have erections has been restored, any other issues that remain present may still need attention. Most of these are also very curable, often through a combination of sex therapy and a Viagra-type or herbal product.

As an alternative to direct treatment, you can also put extra focus on her pleasure. By using sexual stimulants like Vigorelle you can increase focus on her while you deal with your problem, in effect ‘bridging the gap’ until your performance recovers.

Finally, there is always the option of professional sex therapy. If you’re willing to try it, this can be a very valuable option.

The fact of the matter is whatever you do, make sure you include both mental and physical solutions. The combination of both causes deserves attention to both sides, and with the right knowledge, you’ll have the problem licked in no time.