General Sex Questions

Is it normal for men my age (35 y/o) to experience erections that are less strong? Are there any supplements I can take to reverse or improve this?

Many men notice that as they get older, their erections are not as intense as they were in their youth and this can cause some distress. The risk for erectile dysfunction - the difficulty in getting and maintaining erections - does increase with age, but there are also many other factors that contribute to this condition. For example, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes, as well as hormone issues, can contribute to erectile dysfunction. It is important to note that erectile dysfunction can occur for many reasons. Sometimes it can be attributed to a side effect of a particular medication. Job stress, relationship problems, or depression can also contribute to ED (Erectile dysfunction (impotence), 2023).

There are many treatments out there for erectile dysfunction, ranging from medication to therapy, but there are also some lifestyle changes you can make that could help improve your health and your sex life. Exercising regularly, even just 30 minutes of walking a day, has been linked with a 41% drop in risk for erectile dysfunction (Gerbild et al., 2018). Making sure your diet has a lot of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and fish and less red and processed meats and refined grains can also decrease your likelihood of getting erectile dysfunction (Bauer et al., 2020).

Supplements can also be helpful in treating erectile dysfunction, but it is very important to communicate with your doctor about taking these supplements, as they come with their own side effects, can interact with other medications, and vary in their effectiveness. The supplement with the most evidence for effectiveness and least risk associated with it is dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), which can increase libido in women and can help erectile dysfunction in men. DHEA appears to be safe at low doses, however it can cause acne (El-Sakka, 2018). One study of Panax ginseng showed it improved sexual function in men with erectile dysfunction. It appears to be safe to use on a short-term basis, but insomnia, headaches and vertigo are common side effects (Lee et al., 2021).

References:

Bauer, S. R., Breyer, B. N., Stampfer, M. J., Rimm, E. B., Giovannucci, E. L., & Kenfield, S. A. (2020). Association of diet with erectile dysfunction among men in the health professionals follow-up study. JAMA Network Open, 3(11). https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.21701

El-Sakka, A. I. (2018). Dehydroepiandrosterone and erectile function: A Review. The World Journal of Men’s Health, 36(3), 183. https://doi.org/10.5534/wjmh.180005

Gerbild, H., Larsen, C. M., Graugaard, C., & Areskoug Josefsson, K. (2018). Physical activity to improve erectile function: A systematic review of Intervention Studies. Sexual Medicine, 6(2), 75–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esxm.2018.02.001

Lee, H. W., Lee, M. S., Kim, T.-H., Alraek, T., Zaslawski, C., Kim, J. W., & Moon, D. G. (2021). Ginseng for erectile dysfunction. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2021(4). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd012654.pub2

NHS. (2023). Erectile dysfunction (impotence). NHS choices. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/erection-problems-erectile-dysfunction/