Sexual functioning in a population-based study of men aged 40-69 years: the good news

The aim of the study was to provide cross-sectional data on age-related sexual functioning of men aged 40-69 y. The study was a randomised age-stratified community-based sample survey. In all, 799 men from two comparable middle-sized areas of Belgium participated in the study. Trained male nurses visited each participant at home and conducted a structured interview during which the participants filled out the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF). The main outcome measures were scores on the IIEF questionnaire at item level. This study showed that 69% of the sample attempted to have intercourse during the past 4 weeks with an age-related increase in the proportion of sexually inactive men (11% at age 40-49 y; 25% at age 50-59 y; 52% at age 60-69 y; P=0.0001). Almost 90% of sexually active men reported to be able to get and keep an erection until completion of intercourse, to ejaculate with a feeling of orgasm, and reported to be satisfied with their sexual partner relation and their overall sex life. About 75% of sexually active men reported to be (very) highly confident about their erectile functioning. Only 15% of sexually inactive men reported a high to very high frequency and strong to very strong level of sexual desire. Whereas 26% still reported high to very high confidence in their erectile capacity, 34% reported to be moderately to (very) satisfied with their sexual life. This study showed that sexuality still matters at middle to high age and that it deserves to be regarded as an important and continuing aspect of the overall adaptation to getting older.