The biggest concern Dr. Ruth has come across when it comes to sex as you age has to do with erectile dysfunction (ED), she told Life Extension. But what men need to know about their sexual health as they age is that ED could be a result of something physical or psychological, and medication doesn’t always have to be the first course of action. From feeling unattractive and bruised egos to just plain embarrassment, a lot of things might be at play. “There are many men who have a problem that is not physical at all, rather it’s psychological. I think the pills can be wonderful if a man is the right candidate for them, but they may not be necessary.”
That being said, it is important to address any physical reasons why erection is a problem, added Dr. Ruth. Prostate issues, heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, sleep disorders, certain medications, depression, smoking, alcohol use, and chronic sleep conditions can all be to blame. ED is most common between ages 40 and 70, and symptoms include difficulty getting and maintaining an erection, requiring a lot of stimulation to get aroused, and a complete lack of erection.
If stimulation is the concern, asking your significant other to touch you to help with an erection doesn’t have to be embarrassing, according to Dr. Ruth (via Dummies). “Instead of being ashamed, let yourself get carried away by it, learn to enjoy it, and work it into being a pleasant part of foreplay.”