Can you walk off Erectile dysfunction?

Researchers writing in the medical journal Urology examined questionnaires returned by over 15,000 aging men and found that moderate or severe sexual symptoms occurred in 20% of men 40 to 44 years and that significant symptoms increased with age up to 67% in the men 65 to 69 years. 1

Other researchers writing in The Journal of Sexual Medicine examined sexual function in older adults and noted that 41% of the men were sexually active with an average age between 75 and 87 (yes that says 87). The men who were not sexual active reported erectile dysfunction as the main reason why. Regardless the researchers concluded that desire for sexual activity remained high among men, despite substantial problems with erectile dysfunction. 2

Erectile dysfunction

It is important to understand that dysfunction is not an inevitable aspect of getting older. In fact, it’s more of a side effect of lifestyle than aging.

My initial advice to a man wanting to preserve or restore his sexual function is, instead of drugs, tie on your running shoes and start walking or jogging and change your nutrition. The old adage, “You are what you eat” rings true for sexual health and performance. Nutrition and exercise control the entire physiology of your body, and what you eat and do reflects in your ability to perform in bed.

Aging Men, Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome, Decrease in Total Serum Testosterone Levels
Researchers writing in the Journal of Urology say that their study “…demonstrated that aging men with obesity and the metabolic syndrome have a significant decrease in total serum testosterone levels compared to aging, metabolically healthy men.” Read more

Decreased Testosterone and Erectile Dysfunction
Researchers writing in the Journal of Urology say that their study clearly demonstrated a decrease in testosterone level throughout a 4-year follow up in patients with ED. Read more

Diabetes and ED
Researchers writing in the British Journal of Urology say that about 1 in 3 men newly diagnosed with diabetes had ED. Read more

Is Erectile Dysfunction A Marker For Diabetes?
Researchers writing in the Journal of Urology say that male dysfunction was “an observable marker of diabetes mellitus, strongly so for men 45 years old or younger and likely for men 46 to 65 years old, but it is not a marker for men older than 66 years.” Read more

1. Mäkinen JI, Perheentupa A, Raitakari OT, et al. Sexual symptoms in aging men indicate poor life satisfaction and increased health service consumption Urology. 2007 Dec;70(6):1194-9.

2. Smith LJ, Mulhall JP, Deveci S, Monaghan N, Reid MC. Sex after seventy: a pilot study of sexual function in older persons. J Sex Med. 2007 Sep;4(5):1247-53.

Intimacy, Urinary, and Depressive Problems In Women Who Have Partners With E.D.

Researchers writing in the medical journal World Journal of Urology say that FSD disorders, urinary symptoms and depressive symptoms are common in partners of men with ED.

From the study abstract
Shabsigh R, Anastasiades A, Cooper KL, Rutman MP. Female sexual dysfunction, voiding symptoms and depression: common findings in partners of men with erectile dysfunction. World J Urol. 2006 Nov 3

The researchers sought to “investigate the prevalence of female sexual dysfunction (FSD), urinary symptoms, and depressive symptoms in female partners of men presenting with erectile dysfunction (ED).”

Through a survey 73 women with male patients presenting with ED were surveyed using a questionnaire at their counterpart’s visit. Fifty of the women filled out the questionnaire sufficiently to be studied.

Of the 50 women, the average age was 44.8 years and 38 of the women reported being sexually active

The women reported the following sexual dysfunctions:

• anxiety/inhibition (26%)
• hypoactive desire (20%)
• arousal/lubrication difficulty (30%)
• orgasmic difficulty (24%)
• dyspareunia* (18%)
• incontinence during intercourse (8%)
• sexual dissatisfaction (34%)



In other questions the women reported:
Forty-one women (82%) rated sexual activity as an important part of their lives.
Urinary symptoms of frequency and urgency were reported by 18/50 (36%).
Depressive symptoms were present in 22/50 (44%).

The researchers noted that: “FSD disorders, urinary symptoms and depressive symptoms are common in partners of men with erectile dysfunction.”

*Note added: Painful intercourse

Male and Female Intimacy Dysfunctions

Researchers writing in the medical journal Lancet report on endocrine disease and male and female intimacy dysfunctions.

Bhasin S, Enzlin P, Coviello A, Basson R. Sexual dysfunction in men and women with endocrine disorders. Lancet. 2007 Feb 17;369(9561):597-611

Endocrine disease frequently interrupts sexual function, and sexual dysfunction may signal serious endocrine disease. Diabetic autonomic neuropathy and endothelial dysfunction impair erectile function, and phosphodiesterase inhibition produces only moderate benefit. The effect of diabetes on women’s sexual function is complex: the most consistent finding is a correlation between sexual dysfunction and depression. Reductions in testosterone level in men are associated with low sexual desire and reduced nocturnal erections and ejaculate volume, all of which improve with testosterone supplementation. The age-dependent decline in testosterone production in men is not associated with precise sexual symptoms, and supplementation has not been shown to produce sexual benefit. In women, sexual dysfunction has not been associated with serum testosterone, but this may be confounded by limitations of assays at low concentrations and by the greater importance of intracellular production of testosterone in women than in men. Testosterone supplementation after menopause does improve some aspects of sexual function in women, but long-term outcome data are needed. More research on the sexual effects of abnormal adrenal and thyroid function, hyperprolactinaemia, and metabolic syndrome should also be prioritised. We have good data on local management of the genital consequences of oestrogen lack, but need to better understand the potential role of systemic oestrogen supplementation from menopause onwards in sexually symptomatic women.

Desire, Arousal, and Satisfaction in Aging Women

Researchers writing ion the medical journal Minerva Ginecologica examined issues related to aging and desire and arousal.

Nappi RE, Albani F, Valentino V, Polatti F, Chiovato L, Genazzani AR. Aging and sexuality in women. Minerva Ginecol. 2007 Jun;59(3):287-298.

A large number of biological, psycho-relational and socio-cultural factors are related to women’s sexual health and they may negatively affect the entire sexual response cycle inducing significant changes in sexual desire, arousal, orgasm and satisfaction during the entire reproductive life span.

In spite of the high prevalence of sexual problems with increasing age, sexual retirement is not an inevitable consequence of the passage of time and a high proportion of men and women remains sexually active well into later life, a result of changing attitudes toward sexuality and the availability of effective treatments for sexual dysfunction.

Population-based studies reported an age-related decline of sexual functioning and an additional adverse effect of menopausal status. Ageing per se interferes with the level of sexual performance, but sexual behaviour of midlife and older women is highly dependent on several factors such as general physical and mental well-being, quality of relationship and life situation.

Sex hormones, mainly low levels of estradiol, are relevant for the lack of sexual awareness and vaginal receptivity in naturally menopausal women.

Even diminished levels of androgens, as it more frequently occurs in surgically menopausal women, has a negative impact on desire and sexual responsiveness.

Several hormonal treatments have been used locally or systemically to alleviate sexual symptoms, especially by using estrogen plus androgen preparations and tibolone, with noticeable results on drive, enjoyment, lubrication, ability to reach orgasm and initiation of sex. However, sexual counseling and individualized management is mandatory to obtain meaningful and long-lasting results in clinical practice.

Intimacy and Libido

Quality of Life Issues
Finnish researchers asked women between 42-46 and other women between 52-56 years old, how important issues of libido and intimacy where to their quality of life. The reported their findings in Health and Quality of Life Outcomes.

Sexual activity and perceived health among Finnish middle-aged women.

Ojanlatva A, Makinen J, Helenius H, Korkeila K, Sundell J, Rautava P. Sexual activity and perceived health among Finnish middle-aged women. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2006 May 10;4:29

BACKGROUND: An increasing awareness of the need to address sexual and orgasm experiences as part of life quality and an understanding of the great individual differences between women play roles in women’s health and medical care across the specialities.

Information is lacking as to how negative attitude toward self (NATS) and performance impairment (PI) are associated with sexual activity of middle-aged women. We examined the associations of sexual experience, orgasm experience, and lack of sexual desire with perceived health and potential explanatory variables of NATS and PI.

METHODS: Questionnaire was mailed to 2 population-based random samples of menopausal or soon-to-be menopausal women (n = 5510, 70% response) stratified according to age (42-46 and 52-56 years). In multivariate analyses of the associations with the outcome variables, perceived health, NATS, and PI were used as covariates in 6 models in which exercise, menstrual symptoms, and illness indicators were taken into account as well.

RESULTS: Sexual activity variables were associated with perceived health. When present, NATS formed associations with sexual and orgasm experiences, whereas strenuous exercise formed associations with orgasm among 42-46-year-old women alone. Strenuous exercise was not associated with orgasm experience among older women.

CONCLUSION: NATS and PI are closely tied to orgasm experiences and the meaning of the roles needs to be exposed. Sexual activity deserves to be addressed more actively in patient contact at least with perimenopausal women.

Loss of Libido

Sexual activity and perceived health – middle-aged women
Finnish researchers asked women between 42-46 and other women between 52-56 years old, how important issues of libido and intimacy where to their quality of life. The reported their findings in Health and Quality of Life Outcomes.

Testosterone and Libido in Post Menopausal Women
Researchers writing in the medical journal Gynecological Endocrinology say that there is emerging evidence that androgens are significant independent determinants affecting libido and satisfaction, as well as mood, energy and other components of women’s health.

Testosterone in postmenopausal women
An article in the medical journal Current Opinion in Obstetrics & Gynecology says that testosterone therapy is a promising option for treating women with HSDD (very low libido or desire)

Older Men and Testosterone
From the study abstract: “Male hypogonadism is a clinical situation characterized by a low serum testosterone level in combination with a diversity of symptoms and signs such as reduced libido and vitality, decreased muscle mass, increased fat mass and depression.

Dr. Darrow Interviewed on KCAL-9
CBS News August 3, 2006

Desire, Arousal, and Satisfaction in Aging Women
Researchers writing ion the medical journal Minerva ginecologica examined issues related to aging and desire and arousal.

Male and Female Intimacy Dysfunctions
Researchers writing in the medical journal Lancet report on endocrine disease and male and female intimacy dysfunctions.

Intimacy, Urinary, and Depressive Problems In Women Who Have Partners With E.D.
Researchers writing in the medical journal World Journal of Urology say that FSD disorders, urinary symptoms and depressive symptoms are common in partners of men with ED.