Lifestyle, Health Related to a Good Sex Life As Men Age, Says the Harvard Men's Health Watch
Posted on: Monday, 6 March 2006, 06:00 CST
BOSTON, March 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Chronic illness and the medications used to treat them account for many of the sexual problems of older men, found the Harvard Health Professionals Follow-up Study. The new data offer insight on how men can maintain a satisfying sex life as they age, according to the March issue of the Harvard Men's Health Watch.
Sexual dysfunction was most prevalent in men with illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, and even depression. The Harvard Men's Health Watch points out that one of the striking results of the study was that men with prostate cancer are 10-15 times more likely to experience sexual dysfunction than men without the disease -- however, these sexual difficulties typically stem from the treatment rather than the cancer itself.
Even in healthy men, each aspect of sexual function showed progressive problems with age. Although libido decreased with age, sexual desire was preserved substantially better than erectile function. Although testosterone levels fall just as many men begin to experience sexual dysfunction, the Harvard Men's Health Watch reports that most men have plenty of testosterone to spare -- levels remain in the normal range in at least 75% of senior citizens.
"All in all, men who remain well are less likely to develop sexual dysfunction with age than men who fall ill," says Harvey B. Simon, M.D., editor of the Harvard Men's Health Watch. "And men who take good care of themselves enjoy substantial protection from both illness and sexual decline. The secret to preserving sexuality is to stay healthy and to build healthy relationships -- and both require a series of wise choices throughout life."
Also in this issue: * Treating symptoms of osteoarthritis * Zinc and prostate cancer * A doctor answers: Penile length and self-image
Harvard Men's Health Watch is available from Harvard Health Publications, the publishing division of Harvard Medical School, for $24 per year. Subscribe at http://www.health.harvard.edu/men or by calling 1-877-649-9457 (toll free).
Harvard Men's Health Watch
CONTACT: Christine Junge of Harvard Health Publications,+1-617-432-4717, Christine_Junge@hms.harvard.edu
Web site: http://www.health.harvard.edu/
Source: PRNewswire
Related Articles
- Fighting the Gassy Effects of Good Eating, From the Harvard Health Letter
- Gather.Com, Harvard Health and LifeMasters Launch ''Living With...(TM)'' Series Featuring 35 Health-Specific Online Communities
- Achieving Vibrant Health: New Book Guides Readers Through Healthy Living to Age 140 and Beyond
- How to Be Healthy and 'Green,' From the Harvard Health Letter
- Looking Back at 30 Years of Medicine -- and Looking Forward to Another 30: The Harvard Health Letter Celebrates Its 30th Anniversary
- Health Site Watch: August 11, 2005
- Vegetarians, Elderly Should Be Sure to Get Enough Vitamin B12, Says The Harvard Health Letter
- Urban Sprawl and Public Health: Designing, Planning, and Building for Healthy Communities
- The Prostate Test That Has 90pc Success ; Could This Breakthrough Lead to National Screening for Men? ;GOOD HEALTH
- The Harvard Health Letter's Top 10 Health Stories of 2004
 |
 |
User Comments (0)
RSS Feeds