Men’s Sexual Health
Women are not the only ones who experience changes in sexual health as they age. As men grow older, their levels of testosterone (the male sexual hormone) naturally decline, causing changes in their sexual health, sexual function and emotions.
Signs of Aging
All men have different experiences – some men experience dramatic fluctuations in their hormone levels while others notice relatively little change. Here are some common physical signs of aging that a man may experience:
- Less firm or less frequent erections
- Increased ‘recovery time’ or time between erections
- Decreased force of ejaculation
- Urinary incontinence (when urine accidentally leaks)
- Decreased sexual desire and arousal
- Increased risk of prostate cancer
Until recently, there was little discussion about men’s sexual health and aging. Men were not encouraged to talk with one another about their experiences or to seek help with their sexual health changes. The underlying message was “It is not ‘manly’ to admit you are noticing a decline in your sexual prowess. Men should always be interested in sex and ready to go.” Thankfully this is changing as more men speak out about changes to their sexual functioning and new information and treatments become available for various sexual health issues, including erectile dysfunction (see erectile dysfunction) and prostate cancer.
Erectile Dysfunction
As men age, their ability to get erections is affected. An erection may take longer to attain, and may not be as firm as in their youth. You may find it difficult to get an erection at all. Causes can by physiological or psychological, but as men age, for many the physical causes become more common.
If you are having problems getting or sustaining an erection, talk to your doctor. There are many options to help you out such as sex toys, therapy and medication. One of the best things about growing older is that you have more time and flexibility to enjoy life without the stresses of career demands and/or family needs. Be spontaneous. Take advantage of your erection when you have one and enjoy!
What is erectile dysfunction (ED)?
Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is different from having a hard time getting it up or maintaining an erection because you drank too much, are tired, or feeling distracted by other concerns. The College of Family Physicians of Canada (2007) defines erectile dysfunction as “…when a man can’t get and keep an erection long enough to have sex on at least 50% of tries”. The Canadian Male Sexual Health Council defines ED as a problem that persists for more than three months. It is a common problem, affecting about one in every three men on a regular basis. It is more common in men over age 65 but it affects middle-aged and younger men as well.
What causes erectile dysfunction?
A lot of males are embarrassed to talk about ED because they assume it is some kind of sexual inadequacy on their part but this is not true. It can be your body or mind’s way of indicating there is an issue that needs addressing. There are a number of physical causes and medications that can cause ED.
Physical causes usually stem from damage to the blood vessels that carry blood to the penis or to the nerves that carry signals of arousal from the brain to the blood vessels themselves. For example, ED can be caused by a stroke, diabetes, hardening of the arteries, smoking, Parkinson’s disease, alcoholism, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), liver or kidney failure, brain or spinal-cord injuries, Hypogonadism, or radiation to the testicles (treatment for prostate cancer).
However, ED is not just a physical health problem. The mind-body connection is strong, and how a man feels or what he thinks has direct impact on what his body does. Mental causes of ED include stress, anxiety, depression and grief. For example, a man who has experienced ED once may begin to worry that it will happen again. The anxiety he feels becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy because he cannot relax and his body responds by shutting down.
If this is happening, remove the goal of penetration altogether from your next several sexual encounters. Once your mind learns not to anticipate it, it will stop letting you get so anxious.
Try to maintain perspective. It’s perfectly normal and okay for your sexual drive to slow as you age. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself to be sexual in the exact same ways you were when you were younger. Look at this as an opportunity to rediscover your sexual self as an adult.
Is there help?
Yes – there is something you can do about ED. One thing you can do is practise relaxation techniques to ease your mind and remind yourself that you are not alone. Boost up the foreplay with your partner and take the focus off penetration. You don’t have to “perform” in order to have a sexually satisfying relationship.
Other treatments depend on what the cause is. Your doctor can run some tests and may recommend hormone shots or medication such as Viagra, Levitra or Cialis. It is important, however, that you consult a physician before taking medications to stimulate arousal so that you fully understand the risks and benefits of various options. In July of 2005, Health Canada issued a health warning to men who take Viagra, Levitra or Cialis about risks of vision loss or impairment caused by blockages to the optic nerve. Any man who notices sudden vision loss or vision-related problems while taking these drugs needs to seek immediate medical treatment.
Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the most common form of Cancer diagnosed in Canadian men. The risk of developing it increases with age 1, but if diagnosed early it can usually be cured and managed more easily.
What is the prostate?
The prostate is a gland that sits close to the rectum just below the bladder. It makes whitish fluid that mixes with sperm from the testicles to make semen and it helps to control urine flow.2
What causes prostate cancer?
There is no one single cause of prostate cancer but there are risk factors including age, family history, racial ancestry and possibly diet3. The risks increase as you age. Some prostate cancers grow very slowly and you may have it for some time without noticing any health problems. All men over the age of 50 should be tested. A man may want to start earlier if he has had other risk factors such as a family history of cancer.
What is involved in testing for prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer can be managed and even cured if detected early so it is important to talk with your health care provider about having a prostate screening test. There are two basic tests that can help to detect prostate cancer early on: DRE and PSA.
During your annual physical check-up, you may receive or ask for a digital rectal examination (DRE). The doctor inserts his or her gloved finger into the rectum to feel the prostate gland. Click here for more information. This may feel a bit uncomfortable but it may help to remember that most doctors have done this hundreds of times.
