Lifestyle
No matter how many supplements and green juices you put into your body, no matter how often you overhaul your wardrobe, you can’t escape the inevitable aging process.
While women are basically conditioned from childhood to begin an endless cycle of tightening, toning, and dyeing their bodies to prevent a gradual process of physiological decline, the changes that men experience are It’s not talked about much.
In addition to thinning (and graying) hair, bursting beer bellies, and a sudden interest in gardening, the aging process causes a variety of physiological changes in men’s sexual health and function.
So what do the two main functions of the penis actually do: urination and sex?
Fortunately, Associate Professor Tim Moss and his 20 years of experience in the field have joined Body+Soul and succeeded in setting the record straight.
Here we answer the most common questions about your penis as you age.
#1. Is your urination problem caused by your penis?
If you understand an older man’s penis health based on what you see on TV, you probably imagine someone standing in the bathroom late at night, trying to urinate more and more.
Although it’s easy to guess, urinary problems usually aren’t directly caused by the penis, Moss explains.
“Most men develop an enlarged prostate as they age, which obstructs the flow of urine,” Moss says, adding that the muscles in the bladder and pelvic floor can also weaken with age.
Although the prostate may enlarge, the actual shape and size of the penis rarely changes during adulthood.
However, there is a lack of research conducted to definitively rule out that possibility.
#2. Is male menopause real?
The term “andropause” has rapidly gained attention in recent years, but how accurate is this concept?
Moss says that while the aging process in men can certainly be defined by important physiological opportunities, it’s not entirely comparable to what women experience during menopause.
“Men don’t have the same rapid changes in sex hormone levels as they age that women do,” Moss says. “There’s a lot of talk about declining testosterone levels, but if you maintain good health as you age, your testosterone levels will not decline.”
A more likely explanation for the rapid decline in testosterone levels with age may be uncontrolled chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.
#3. Are men fertile forever?
Throughout history, a woman’s ability to successfully give birth has been determined primarily by her biological clock, and aging has been one of the greatest barriers to a healthy pregnancy and fetal development. Men, on the other hand, constantly produce sperm, which is the object of the trade.
However, although men’s reproductive schedules are much less restrictive than women’s, their ability to have children eventually declines with age.
“There’s a misconception that male fertility lasts forever,” Moss explains. “In fact, older men take longer to impregnate their partners. There is a link between the father’s age at conception and the child’s neurodevelopmental problems.”
Experts say DNA breaks become more common as we age and can affect pregnancy experience and the health of the fetus.
That said, sperm count and quality do decline with age.
#4. What causes erectile dysfunction?
The causes of erectile dysfunction (ED) usually vary depending on the age of the individual.
For younger men, ED is associated with psychological indicators such as anxiety, while older men are more likely to experience ED as a result of physical health problems associated with deterioration in the function of nerves and blood vessels. .
“The nerves and blood vessels that increase blood flow to the penis to cause an erection lose function with age and disease,” Moss explains. “In fact, the ability to get an erection is a good indicator of cardiovascular health. People with erectile dysfunction are more likely than normal to have a heart attack or stroke.”
Many people believe that all cases of ED can be easily “cured” with a pill, but Moss says that belief is wrong.
Considering its main causes, experts recommend lifestyle management techniques that promote cardiovascular function and reduce stress.
#5. Is erectile dysfunction inevitable?
About one in 10 men under the age of 40 experience ED, Moss said, but nearly all men over the age of 85 suffer from it.
While statistics show that all men are likely to experience some form of erectile dysfunction throughout their lives, there are several reasons why erectile dysfunction may be more prevalent later in life, and aging does not necessarily mean It’s not the cause.
“From what we know about the causes of erectile dysfunction, it’s not aging itself, but health issues like cardiovascular disease and diabetes,” Moss says, adding that erectile dysfunction suddenly becomes more severe at an age when It added that there were no relevant limits. problem.
Additionally, changes in erectile function usually occur gradually.
You may notice that your erections naturally occur less frequently, take longer to get, are unable to maintain an erection for long, or are not as hard as they used to be.
#6. What will happen to your sexual desire?
A big question that everyone has.
While it’s common for sex drive to decline with age, changes in sex drive in adults occur all the time for a variety of reasons, Moss explains.
“Your sex drive goes down when you’re unwell or stressed, but it goes up when you’re happy and relaxed or have a new partner,” he says.
Additionally, the sensations you feel during sex can also change with age.
“As we age, the sensitivity of the penis tends to decrease, it tends to take longer to ejaculate, it tends to take longer to be able to get an erection again after orgasm, and the “force” during ejaculation becomes weaker. I feel it,” Moss explains.
#7. Can something be reversed?
While encouraging a healthy lifestyle for all ages, Moss explains that there is a limit to how much our bodies can tolerate before they no longer function properly.
“The penis is like any other part of a man’s body. It is affected by aging, but keeping it healthy is the best way to prevent or slow down the changes that come with it.”
This means it’s important to incorporate regular exercise and healthy eating into your routine from a young age to keep your penis “happy” through healthy cardiovascular function.
#8. What is the worst thing you can do?
In general, people have a pretty good idea of what activities and luxuries have a beneficial effect on their health, and what habits should generally be avoided.
Well, according to Moss, penises react to things like that as well.
“One thing that a lot of people do that clearly has a negative effect on their penis is smoking,” Moss explains. “Nerve and blood vessel damage from smoking is a serious problem. Excessive drinking is also bad.”
Aside from continuously smoking Marlboros and achieving a six-pack every night, the worst thing anyone can do is ignore suspicious symptoms.
“Men seem to tolerate symptoms of the disease for a while before seeking help,” Moss said. “Seeing your doctor if you notice a small problem is the best way to prevent it from becoming a big problem.”
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