In the days before the "pills" came on to the market, no-one knew how many men suffered from erectile dysfunction. Now that men are slightly more honest about their sexual experiences, it’s possible to get a better count of the number affected. The emerging evidence from continuing research projects confirms the traditional view that, as men age, they grow more likely to experience some degree of erectile dysfunction. If you go back fifty years, life expectancy in the US was less than spectacular with the majority of men dying in their sixties. Today, the average life expectancy is creeping up through the seventies (it’s over eighty for women). So when we read that men over the age of seventy are the most likely group to experience erectile dysfunction, this is now viewed as a more serious social problem. People who are building up to retirement expect to enjoy some leisure time (which includes sex). They have saved up and, as soon as their 401k accounts have recovered from the battering they took during the recession, the boomers will quit their jobs and look for a little fun. How will they get on?

There have been two recently published medical studies into the relationship between age and sexual activity. In one sense, they say nothing new, fitting into our expectations. But they are useful confirmation of basic common sense. The first looks at patterns of sexual activity as men age. Those in stable relationships report that activity levels off after the first few years of lust. For a variety of reasons, some men find that sex slows down and stops. This can be because their partners fall ill or die. Following death, they do not immediately go out on to the singles scene. But levels of libido can change around the time of the menopause. Habits and interests also change. The researchers confirm that men who fail to engage in regular sex can find difficulties later on. Muscles lose their tone. The spongy tissue inside the penis breaks down and cannot absorb enough blood to form a hard erection. Performance anxiety is the final nail in the coffin. The second piece of research confirms that men who exercise regularly and keep fit also enjoy a better sex life. In part, this is keeping the body healthy and the blood circulation at better levels. But it’s also about attitude. They have a better quality of life and find sex more enjoyable.

For an older man, this is encouraging news. For those prepared to make time for regular exercise, the fear of poor sexual performance will recede. You will look good, feel better and find sex great. For those who lack the motivation to leave the couch, this is discouraging news. If you still expect regular sex, you should think about laying in a supply of levitra — just in case. All the evidence from the clinical trials shows this medication is the strongest of the drugs on the market. It has the best results in older men, particularly where there may have been some damage from surgery or a disease like diabetes. To set aside any performance anxiety, buy levitra to keep your self-confidence high and your sexual activity at its most satisfying.