Even as we age, overall good health would offer sexual wellness to us all. One may easily continue to have an active sex life if he or she is in good physical and mental health. The age at which men start becoming sexually inactive depends on multiple factors, like overall health, daily lifestyle, and also their personal preferences. However, there are studies saying, that the ability to achieve and maintain an erection, which is one of the most basic requirements of having sex, typically tends to get lower and lower with age. Let us understand the phenomenon meticulously.
What is Considered as Being Sexually Active?
In terms of medical science, ‘being sexually active’ is the capability of engaging in various sexual activities, which become possible due to the effects of hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. The levels of estrogen and progesterone are primarily associated with women’s sexual desire; whereas Testosterone is associated with libido control in both men and women.
There are many benefits to remaining sexually active. Sexual activity reduces stress, helps build your immune system, and it’s believed to reduce the risk of prostate cancer.
At what Age, Men are most Sexually Active?
Usually, as per their biological setup, men are found to be most sexually active in their late teens and early twenties, with sexual activity and desire tending to decline gradually after that. Having said that, many men are unable to maintain a healthy sex life even in this age group.
Till what Age Man is Sexually Active?
There is no specific age, till when men can remain sexually active. There is no definite answer to a question like at what age does a man stop being sexually active. This is because it may vary from person to person, as per their respective physical and mental conditions. On one hand, there are some men, who may experience a decline in sexual functions at an earlier stage in life due to some health or lifestyle factors, or even some psychological issues; whereas on the other there are men who continue to have great sexual life even at their later years, with the help of some medical interventions or some lifestyle changes.
But of course, we cannot ignore the fact that sexual dysfunction does become a common phenomenon as we age. Speaking of which erectile dysfunction (ED) or impotence becomes quite common in aging men. The frequency or duration of erections might keep declining or even turn to be less firm, or the sexual drive might just slow down, with growing age.
At what age do men stop being sexually active? What exactly slows down men?
Sex drive or libido, tends to decrease with age in both men and women. Once men reach their 50s and 60s, their body is going through a range of changes that can impact how sexually active they are later in life. A few of the most common physical health changes include:
- Lower-quality erections
- Reduced ejaculate volume
- Lower overall sexual functioning
Though hormone levels indeed decline with age, scientists do not know exactly how this affects sex drive. In the case of men, this is due to natural changes in their production of testosterone that occur as they get old, but there are a few other key factors that contribute as well; like medical conditions, medications, and even mental health.
To many of our’s surprise, there are some men with “low” testosterone who show regular sex drive, while others with high levels have sexual problems. Other medical issues, physical fitness, and mental health could be more important factors.
The most important factor to understand here is that it is not just the age itself that is causing these problems, rather it is the existence of some kind of health problems that become more and more persistent with age; like heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, or being under the treatment of certain drugs, which eventually hamper or deteriorate one’s sex life. Let us look into how all these factors work together and influence one’s sex drive.
(i) Testosterone Levels
Testosterone is responsible for things like the pitch of one’s voice, the muscle mass developed, and most importantly for regulating a man’s sex drive. For most men, the production of testosterone starts declining after the age of 30 years, by about one percent every year.
(ii) Medical Conditions
Fellas, it’s a natural part of life as we get older, we stop being as spry as we used to be. Medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and others become more prevalent, and some of them can and do have a negative effect on sexual performance and libido.
(iii) Medications
There are certain medications like those based on nitrates or blood pressure medications or antidepressants, affect sex drive. Check the side effects of your current medications and ask a healthcare provider questions about what libido issues you might experience.
(iv) Mental Health
Mental health is extremely important! Not just for libido, but for overall well-being. Mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and stress, which often develop in middle age or later in life, can also have a much adverse effect on the sexual desire of both men and women.
Research and Analysis on Age Limit of Men Being Sexually Active
Studies have shown that about 54% of men over 70 can still be sexually active. However, the same research also showed a direct correlation between sexual health concerns and older age. For men specifically, erectile dysfunction (ED) is one of the most commonly reported challenges when it comes to having sex, experienced by 39% of men aged 50 to 90 years in a study published in 2015.
Other research has shown that the risk of developing ED is even higher as men age and rises by 10% for each decade of life. This means that by the time men reach their 60s, there is about a 60% chance of being affected by ED or other sexual problems.
In 2010, researchers from the University of Chicago conducted a vast study of data gathered from surveys about men and women across the US regarding their sex life. It showed that nearly 40% of men in the age group of 75 to 85 years old were still sexually active.
One of the other big factors that influence the desire for sex later in life is our overall well-being. There is a US study that supports that older men who maintain good overall health were more likely to be sexually active.
By monitoring health conditions, and daily diet, it is actually possible to add five to seven years of sexually active life, even after reaching 50s. Again, overall health has a significant role to play in how likely you are to retain a healthy sex life. Chronic health conditions, weight gain, and other health concerns are some of the big contributing factors that can see a drop in sexual activity during the 50s and 60s.
Men’s sex life in their 70s and Beyond
As you’d expect, your sex drive in your 70s tends to be the lowest of your life. This is due to a number of reasons, like a higher risk of being affected by ED or any other chronic illness and managing several health conditions.
Another interesting factor that determines how sexually active men are, in their later life, is whether or not they have a steady partner. A study of older men’s sexual activity levels found that 49.5% of men with steady partners were sexually active in the past six months, as compared to 13.7% of men without partners.
Crux of the story, having a healthy and long-lasting sex life is still possible even after reaching 70 years, if attention is given to overall well-being with the help of some authorized healthcare experts.
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- 10 Things to Try in Bedroom to Spice Up Your Relationship
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