There’s no definitive figure for how prevalent erectile dysfunction is at 50 or any other age. That’s because there’s no universally agreed-upon criteria for what exactly qualifies as erectile dysfunction.
Is erectile dysfunction inevitable with age? Far from it!
If erection problems prevent sexual activity more than half the time, and this situation lasts for three months or longer, a doctor will probably diagnose erectile dysfunction, either by itself, or as part of a constellation of physical conditions. For example, erectile dysfunction is more common in men with obesity, diabetes, and high cholesterol levels.
That said, a 2003 study published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine found the following correlation between age and erectile dysfunction:
Age Percentage of men reporting first ED experience
Under 40 ——02%
40-49 ——–04%
50-59 ——–26%
60-69 ——–40%
One of the most eye-opening findings of this study was that in men age 65 to 79, chronic disease and unhealthy lifestyle habits (like smoking) had the most pronounced effect on the presence of erectile dysfunction. Older men who exercised at least three hours per week had a 30% lower chance of having erectile dysfunction compared to sedentary men in the same age group. Overall, the study concluded that erectile dysfunction affects up to 20 million American men across all age groups.
Following are some of the most frequently asked questions about age and erectile dysfunction.