Lilith
02-21-2006, 05:30 PM
Men in their 50s have more satisfying sex lives than men in their 30s,
a survey suggests.
A team from Norway and the US surveyed 1,185 men aged between 20 and
79, and found more problems with impotence and declining sex drive in
older men.
But despite this, men in their 50s reported similar levels of
satisfaction with their sex lives as those in their 20s.
Details are published in the urology journal BJU International.
Although men experience more problems and less sexual function as they
get older, it doesn't necessarily follow that they are less satisfied
with their sex lives as a result
Professor Sophie Fossa
The men, who responded to a postal questionnaire, were asked to rate
their satisfaction with various aspects of their sex life on a scale of
zero to four, with four representing good sexual function and no
problems.
Men in their 20s recorded an average overall satisfaction level of
2.79, while the second highest level was among those in their 50s, who
recorded an average of 2.77.
Men in their 30s only reached 2.55, and men in their 40s averaged 2.72.
After the age of 59, overall satisfaction fell significantly to 2.46
for men in their 60s and to 2.14 for men in their 70s.
However, when it came to sexual function, each of the scores moved
steadily downwards toward zero as the respondents got older, indicating
lower levels of function and more problems.
* The average score for satisfaction with sexual drive was 2.19 out
of four, ranging from 2.79 for men in their 20s to 1.54 for men in
their 70s
* Satisfaction with erections averaged 2.83, falling sharply once
men reached their 50s; men in their 20s scored 3.63, men in their 50s
3.03 and men in their 70s 1.6
* Satisfaction with ejaculation averaged 3.28 and showed a more
measured decline with age, falling more sharply for men in their 60s and
70s. Men in their 20s averaged 3.85 while men in their 70s averaged 2.32
'Less hung up'
Researcher Professor Sophie Fossa, from the
Rikshospitalet-Radiumhospitalet Trust in Oslo, said: "The results showed a very strong correlation
between men getting older and reduced sexual functioning, but not
between age and sexual satisfaction.
"Age accounted for a 22% variance in sexual drive, a 33% variance in
erection issues and a 23% variance in ejaculation issues.
"But age only accounted for a variance of 3% in overall satisfaction.
"Our results show that, although men experience more problems and less
sexual function as they get older, it doesn't necessarily follow that
they are less satisfied with their sex lives as a result."
Ronald Bracey, a psychologist with a special interest in male
sexuality, told the BBC News website he was not surprised by the results.
"Men in their 30s and 40s are often too stressed by things such as
being successful in their career to enjoy sex.
"But by the time men get into their 50s, they have usually adjusted to
what they want out of life, and tend to be less hung up, less concerned
by what other people think of them, and less prone to performance
anxiety."
a survey suggests.
A team from Norway and the US surveyed 1,185 men aged between 20 and
79, and found more problems with impotence and declining sex drive in
older men.
But despite this, men in their 50s reported similar levels of
satisfaction with their sex lives as those in their 20s.
Details are published in the urology journal BJU International.
Although men experience more problems and less sexual function as they
get older, it doesn't necessarily follow that they are less satisfied
with their sex lives as a result
Professor Sophie Fossa
The men, who responded to a postal questionnaire, were asked to rate
their satisfaction with various aspects of their sex life on a scale of
zero to four, with four representing good sexual function and no
problems.
Men in their 20s recorded an average overall satisfaction level of
2.79, while the second highest level was among those in their 50s, who
recorded an average of 2.77.
Men in their 30s only reached 2.55, and men in their 40s averaged 2.72.
After the age of 59, overall satisfaction fell significantly to 2.46
for men in their 60s and to 2.14 for men in their 70s.
However, when it came to sexual function, each of the scores moved
steadily downwards toward zero as the respondents got older, indicating
lower levels of function and more problems.
* The average score for satisfaction with sexual drive was 2.19 out
of four, ranging from 2.79 for men in their 20s to 1.54 for men in
their 70s
* Satisfaction with erections averaged 2.83, falling sharply once
men reached their 50s; men in their 20s scored 3.63, men in their 50s
3.03 and men in their 70s 1.6
* Satisfaction with ejaculation averaged 3.28 and showed a more
measured decline with age, falling more sharply for men in their 60s and
70s. Men in their 20s averaged 3.85 while men in their 70s averaged 2.32
'Less hung up'
Researcher Professor Sophie Fossa, from the
Rikshospitalet-Radiumhospitalet Trust in Oslo, said: "The results showed a very strong correlation
between men getting older and reduced sexual functioning, but not
between age and sexual satisfaction.
"Age accounted for a 22% variance in sexual drive, a 33% variance in
erection issues and a 23% variance in ejaculation issues.
"But age only accounted for a variance of 3% in overall satisfaction.
"Our results show that, although men experience more problems and less
sexual function as they get older, it doesn't necessarily follow that
they are less satisfied with their sex lives as a result."
Ronald Bracey, a psychologist with a special interest in male
sexuality, told the BBC News website he was not surprised by the results.
"Men in their 30s and 40s are often too stressed by things such as
being successful in their career to enjoy sex.
"But by the time men get into their 50s, they have usually adjusted to
what they want out of life, and tend to be less hung up, less concerned
by what other people think of them, and less prone to performance
anxiety."