Can Regular Sex Prevent Erectile Dysfunction?

Find out what two erectile dysfunction experts think about a recent study that suggests it might.

Erectile dysfunction, or ED, is more common in older men, but erection problems are not a normal part of aging. A recent study published in The American Journal of Medicine suggests that men between the ages of 55 and 75 may be able to cut down their risk of erectile dysfunction by having sexual intercourse at least once a week.

The study, which was done in Finland, followed 989 men for five years and questioned them about any ED symptoms. The mean age of the men was 59.2 years. None of the men had erection problems when they entered the study. After five years, men who reported having sexual intercourse less than once per week were twice as likely to experience erection problems as men who had sexual intercourse at least once per week.

What Might This Study Mean for You?

The researchers concluded that, for men aged 55 to 75, regular sexual intercourse protects against ED. If you fit that category, the study could be telling you to "use it or lose it." But as with most problems, the solution to erectile problems is probably not so simple. Sexual issues that contribute to ED include many social, emotional, and physical factors.

It makes sense that men who are in good relationships and in good physical and mental shape tend to have sex more often. But does that mean that the actual act of sexual intercourse, or for that matter masturbation, really protects them against erectile dysfunction?