ResearchIt
Active Member
What age is "normal" for a healthy man's sexual function to begin to decline? I always thought it would be like age 55 or so.
At age 43 here, I have the "I don't feel like I used to" feeling a lot of the time now. This has surprised me because I have had excellent sexual function my entire life and am still healthy! But sexual function has changed a bit in the last year or two for the worse. I didn't expect this.
I don't drink, don't smoke, don't do drugs, don't watch porn, have 13% body fat, pretty active, eat healthy, have a healthy long-term relationship, etc.
I have decent natural lab levels too (I have never been on TRT). The last lab came back 702 TT, 14.9 FT (direct), 425 DHEA, 4.6 Prolactin, 24.5 Estradiol Sensitive, 64 DHT, although my SHBG is on the higher end, usually in the high 40s.
I rarely have morning erections anymore. While I don't have ED, my erections aren't as good all the time like they used to be. I don't have delayed orgasm, but some days it takes longer and isn't as intense. My libido and interest are certainly still there, but I don't feel the uncontrollable drive to pursue sex like I used to. Even the pleasurable sensation from something like touch or a massage isn't as great as it used to be. Also my penis when flacid feels different, less full, almost somewhat shriveled. My scrotum is even a little saggier.
Everything still works alright I guess, but it's just not like it was when I was 30 or 35 or even 40. It seems my sexual function started declining just after age 40, but I didn't realize it at the time. It took until I was about 42 to realize something had changed.
The more I talk with guys my age, the more I hear and suspect what's happening to me is the norm rather than the exception. Is this true? Or are these changes happening earlier than normal for me?
If I started degrading in my early 40s, I am concerned about what my 50s will be like.
I know it's probably a little different for everyone, but any thoughts or feedback on this?
At age 43 here, I have the "I don't feel like I used to" feeling a lot of the time now. This has surprised me because I have had excellent sexual function my entire life and am still healthy! But sexual function has changed a bit in the last year or two for the worse. I didn't expect this.
I don't drink, don't smoke, don't do drugs, don't watch porn, have 13% body fat, pretty active, eat healthy, have a healthy long-term relationship, etc.
I have decent natural lab levels too (I have never been on TRT). The last lab came back 702 TT, 14.9 FT (direct), 425 DHEA, 4.6 Prolactin, 24.5 Estradiol Sensitive, 64 DHT, although my SHBG is on the higher end, usually in the high 40s.
I rarely have morning erections anymore. While I don't have ED, my erections aren't as good all the time like they used to be. I don't have delayed orgasm, but some days it takes longer and isn't as intense. My libido and interest are certainly still there, but I don't feel the uncontrollable drive to pursue sex like I used to. Even the pleasurable sensation from something like touch or a massage isn't as great as it used to be. Also my penis when flacid feels different, less full, almost somewhat shriveled. My scrotum is even a little saggier.
Everything still works alright I guess, but it's just not like it was when I was 30 or 35 or even 40. It seems my sexual function started declining just after age 40, but I didn't realize it at the time. It took until I was about 42 to realize something had changed.
The more I talk with guys my age, the more I hear and suspect what's happening to me is the norm rather than the exception. Is this true? Or are these changes happening earlier than normal for me?
If I started degrading in my early 40s, I am concerned about what my 50s will be like.
I know it's probably a little different for everyone, but any thoughts or feedback on this?
