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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
As I write this, I’m pushing 70. That’s the younger side of old as demographers define it. But sexually, I’m elderly—and familiar with the changes that afflict aging men, notably gradual erection loss. This problem is more prevalent than many men admit. Fortunately, with a few adjustments, elder sex can feel as fulfilling as ever—maybe even better.Surprise: Few Elder Men Take Erection DrugsIf elder men can raise erections, they usually owe them to Viagra, Cialis, or Levitra. However, for many (most?) men over 65, the drugs turn out to be a disappointment:No more than 20 percent of men over 60 have tried erection medication, let alone become regular users. The CVS Pharmacy chain tracks the demographics of its prescription drug sales. Among the minority of elder men who have tried Viagra, men over 60 account for only around one-third of sales. Most users are in their forties or fifties.The pharmaceutical industry has exaggerated the drugs’ effectiveness. In pre-approval trials, they claimed benefit—that is, firmness sufficient for intercourse—in around 70 percent of users. But several recent studies conclude it’s closer to 50 percent, with effectiveness declining with age, especially after 60. So the drugs help only a minority of elder men.The drugs improve blood flow into the penis but do nothing for libido and arousal, which become increasingly problematic for men over 65.Pre-approval trials called the drugs’ side effects minor, uncommon, and transient. Post-approval studies have documented persistent annoying side effects in around 40 percent of users. Side effects increase with the dosage—and most men over 65 must take high doses. As a result, only around half of all men refill their prescriptions and only a minority of elder men.Even when men over 65 love erection medication, they are typically involved with women around their age, who develop post-menopausal dryness and vaginal tissue thinning (atrophy) that can make intercourse uncomfortable or painful even with plenty of lubricant.Bottom line: Most men over 65 bid farewell to erections and penis-in-vagina intercourse and opt for other pleasures; mutual genital hand massage, oral sex, and toys.Healthy Lifestyle Helps—Until It Doesn’tMeanwhile, for 43 years, I’ve been
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