Understanding When Men Experience a Decrease in Sexual Activity

Sex is not as taboo a topic as it used to be. In fact, many people are becoming more and more curious about the various aspects of sex. As people become more open-minded towards all topics related to sex, a few common questions present themselves. One of the most frequent questions many men and women have regarding sex is “what age do men stop being sexually active?” 

Previously it was primarily believed that men stopped having sexual interactions after they entered into their senior years. Yet, recent studies have busted this popular myth as it has been proven that men remain sexually active throughout their lives. However, there are a few pertinent factors that influence when a man stops having sex. 

Sex is a crucial activity for all adults as there are many health benefits associated with frequently doing the deed. Admittedly, a person’s sex drive changes as they become older, and once a man passes the age of fifty, they may notice a few notable changes. 

If you’re interested in discovering what research has to say about the age that men stop being sexually active and a few other notably related topics, keep reading. 

At What Age Do Men Become Sexually Active?

Virginia Department of Health

Before we can look at when a man stops being sexually active, we need to establish when men become sexually active. According to recent research, both men and women are capable of participating in sexual activities and responses during their teenage years. A 2010 study demonstrated that many Americans engage in vaginal and oral sex by the time they reach their early 20s. 

Medical studies have shown that most men experience their first ejaculation between the ages of 12 and 14, with younger males managing to achieve an erection quicker than older men. Yet this is not always the case. A survey by the National Health and Social Life Survey found that approximately 31% of men that are between 18 and 59 experience sexual dysfunction. This statistic affects the age at which that percentage of men first engage in sexual activity. 

Furthermore, a report by the Virginia Department of Health in America found that the average age of sexual initiation to be 15.6 years old. Researchers learned that men are sexually initiated at an earlier age than women. 22% of males involved in the study experienced a sexual initiation on average between the ages of 10 and 13 years old. In contrast, 16% of females experienced their first sexual initiation between 10 and 13 years old. 

At What Age Do Men Stop Being Sexually Active?

Many people previously believed that men stopped being sexually active once they entered into their senior years. A curious study from the University of Chicago Medical Center has since disproved this theory. After studying a group of men and women, they uncovered that men and women are sexually active much longer than was previously thought. 

Interestingly, men have a shorter life expectancy than women, but they have a longer sexual life expectancy. The findings from the study stated that at the age of 55, men should experience an additional 15 years of sexual activity as long as there are no underlying health concerns. In comparison, women who are 55 years old should only expect to experience 11 years or less of sexual activity. 

The study also pointed out that men in good physical health could add five to seven years on top of their 15 years expected sexual life expectancy. In contrast, women in good health could add three to five years on top of the 11 years expected sexual life expectancy after reaching 55 years of age. 

Ultimately this means that men can look at being sexually active up until the age of 77 if they are in good health, while women can expect to be sexually active up until age 72. Of course, this is only one scientific study, but many others have shown that most men continue to lead healthy sex lives well into their 70s. Moreover, this is not set in stone as each man and woman is different. Some could continue having a healthy sex life well into their senior years. 

What Is the Ideal Age for Men To Become Sexually Active?

For years, scientists and medical researchers have tried to determine the ideal age for men to become sexually active. After years without an answer, a study has uncovered that the best age for men to become sexually active is 18-years-old. According to the study, there are several reasons why 18 was found to be the ideal age. 

Essentially, the primary reasons revolved around mental maturity and physical maturity. Those who had sex at an age younger than 18 faced more physical and mental issues than those who had waited until being 18-years-old. 

How Sex Drives Change for Men as They Age

Firstly it’s important to know what a sex drive is before we can analyze how it changes as men age. Essentially, when someone is referring to their sex drive, they are referencing their libido. A person can have a low or high sex drive based on their libido. A person’s sex drive will usually depend on their desire to have sexual intercourse.

However, it’s important to note that psychological and medical factors often influence a person’s sex drive. Now that we know what a sex drive is, we can look at how it changes as men age. Below you will find a few milestone years when a male’s sex drive changes. 

Men in Their 20s

Most men tend to have a high sex drive in their 20s due to high testosterone levels and because they become aroused more quickly. During their 20s, many men are sexually active much more than when they are in their teen years. This is mainly due to factors such as lifestyle changes, physical changes, and psychological changes. 

Although most men have high sex drives in their 20s, up to 8% of men suffer from erectile dysfunction during their 20s. This condition can be associated with both mental and physical health problems. 

Men in Their 30s and Early 40s

In their 30s and 40s, many men continue to have healthy sex drives. However, from 35 years old, a man’s testosterone levels begin to decrease slowly. On average each year after 35 a man’s testosterone decreases by 1%. 

Scientifically speaking, this can slightly impact a man’s sex drive and can cause his libido and sexual needs to decrease. Additionally, besides the fact that a man’s testosterone hormones begin to decline, many men are faced with incredible lifestyle stresses and work commitments that could also cause a drop in libido. 

Men in Their 50s and Beyond

As we now know, men can continue having a healthy sex life well into their 50s if they are in excellent health. However, many men suffer from softer erections or erectile dysfunction after they reach 50 years of age. Usually, it is not because a man is getting older that he experiences this condition but rather because of underlying health concerns.  

Unsurprisingly, as a man ages, he is more prone to becoming obese or developing diabetes, heart disease, and high cholesterol. These conditions significantly contribute to whether or not a man will experience erectile dysfunction.  

Another concern that affects how a man’s sexual drive changes as they go beyond age 50 is premature ejaculation. A study demonstrated that a shocking 31% of men in their 50s and 30% in their early 60s suffer from premature ejaculations. Moreover, the study found that 28% of men between the ages of 65 and 70 and 22% of men between 75 and 85 also experienced premature ejaculation. 

The Advantages of Maintaining a Healthy Sex Life

There are many advantages associated with maintaining a healthy sex life. Below we have listed a few of the most common benefits men can look forward to if they continue having sex throughout their lives. 

• A stronger immune system: According to many sexual health experts participating in frequent sexual activities boosts a person’s immune system. Essentially, those with busier sex lives have a stronger immune system than those who rarely participate in sexual activities. This is because it has been proven that those who have sex have higher levels of specific antibodies that defend against germs and viruses. 
• Decreases the risk of having a heart attack: Many studies have shown that sex is good for a person’s heart. Participating in frequent sexual activity will ensure you raise your heart rate and keep your testosterone and estrogen levels in balance. If one of these hormones is too low, a man can experience many health concerns such as heart disease and osteoporosis. Additionally, a study found that men who had sex at least twice a week were half as likely to die from heart disease. In contrast, their counterparts who rarely participated in sexual activities were more likely to develop heart disease. 
• Could decrease a man’s chances of developing prostate cancer: A recent study published in the respected Journal of The American Medical Association curiously found that men who ejaculated at least 21 times each month were much less likely to develop prostate cancer. To lessen the likelihood of prostate cancer, the study found that there was no specific way that a man had to ejaculate. Masturbation and sexual intercourse with a partner are both acceptable. 
• Helps with pain management: It might not seem believable but having sex actually lessens pain. When a male has an orgasm, it releases a hormone that helps raise a person’s pain threshold. Additionally, even if a man cannot orgasm, stimulation alone can sometimes trigger the release of the hormone. So, the next time you have a bad headache or are experiencing arthritic pain, consider engaging in sexual activity. 

Now You Know the Age That Men Stop Being Sexually Active

Interestingly, most men are sexually initiated at an incredibly young age which is not always best for them mentally. Ideally, men should be at least 18 years old before they begin engaging in sexual activity. Although men are beginning their sexual journey at a young age, it’s apparent that there is no real age that men stop being sexually active. 

According to the latest research, most men can look forward to experiencing healthy sex lives well into their 70s as long as they are in excellent health. Moreover, we now know that men go through several different sex drive changes as they grow older. We are also now aware of the fact that if men frequently participate in sexual activity, they experience many health benefits. Ultimately the more sex you have, the more likely you are to live a longer and happier life.