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 It seems the 50-plus crowd are not only regularly rocking the bed posts, many say they've become friskier and more ferocious in bed than ever. (Sun Media) |
Meet ED. Sounds like a nice, approachable, down-home sort of fella, doesn't it?
Lurking behind the acronym, however, are two words that could startle any man and cause him to jump back like a turtle popping his head back into his shell.
So, before we dive into them, let's wander on over to a happy bit of news that will give silver foxes a reason to bust open the bubbly.
If you've ever heard that sex fades with age, well listen up.
Seems the 50-plus crowd are not only regularly rocking the bed posts, many say they've become friskier and more ferocious in bed than ever.
According to a survey of Canadians 50 and over conducted by Leger Marketing, 45% said their sexual inhibitions have decreased since turning 50 and 40% described themselves as more sexually adventurous.
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Not too bad at all, right?
Oh, but then there's ED -- most commonly known as erectile dysfunction -- kicking about, possibly creeping around the next corner.
ED is a medical condition that affects more than a third of Canadian men, and while aging is one of the biggest culprits tinkering with men's ability to keep a thriving sex life, numerous factors, including poor diet and lifestyle habits, can also play significant roles.
"It's the inability to get or keep an erection," says Dr. Gerald Brock, professor of surgery in the urology department at the University of Western Ontario.
"At a certain point, most men will experience it. Age is a factor, but interestingly, it's probably not an independent factor."
The invasive presence of ED can be hugely stressful for men and their partners, in part because there remains a lack of understanding about the nuts and bolts of the condition, despite widespread public awareness campaigns and marketing efforts by drug companies.
"If a guy tries to have sex and fails, he's less likely to try again the next night," says Gerald Brock, who describes ED "like rolling a rock up a hill."
Then there's this battle to confront: As men age, testosterone -- vital for maintaining lean muscle mass, preventing osteoporosis and heart disease and keeping the libido strong and healthy -- gradually decreases.
Lower testosterone levels is one possible contributor to ED, but less frequent or reliable erections means it's also time to take a good look at the vascular system.
"ED isn't a real disease," says Brock.
"It's a reflection of your body's blood flow."
ED can also be an early warning sign of serious health problems such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes or high blood pressure that could be coming down the pipe in the future.
While Brock estimates about one third of men could reverse ED naturally by increasing exercise, improving diet, quitting smoking and reducing alcohol intake, he says most choose a far easier approach: Swallowing a little pill.
Pills such as Viagra, Cialis and Levitra don't actually boost sexually desire or testosterone levels but they do improve blood flow throughout the body, which can bring along the added bonus of better erections.
TANYA.ENBERG@SUNMEDIA.CA
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LIKE WINE, SEX BETTER WITH AGE
- One third of the Canadian population is over 50
- 27% report that since turning 50, their sex life has improved
- Almost half of Canadians over 50 say they are sexually satisfied and 70% say that sexual spontaneity is important to them
- 33% of Canadians surveyed over 50 say they or their partner have experienced ED
- This past March, Viagra marked its 10th year in the Canadian market
- The easy-to-use Pfizer drug has forever transformed the way erectile dysfunction is treated, leading to a multimillion-dollar industry that's seen the arrival of Eli Lilly's Cialis in 2003 and Bayer's Levitra the following year
- Last year in Canada, $170 million worth of ED drugs were sold
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WHO SAYS CANUCKS ARE STUFFY?
Sexually chilly? Us? No way.
We just may not be big fans of casual sex, is all.
That was one finding from a study released last year, published by Dr. David P. Schmitt of Bradley University, which ranked Canada at No. 10 on the promiscuity list.
When it comes to being comfortable with one-night stands, the U.K. took the top spot, followed by Germany and the Netherlands.
Intrigued by the findings, a study by Lavalife/Durex recently pulled the sheets back on our bedroom lives, revealing the most intimate habits of 1,000 Canadians.
So are we frigid and reserved? A bunch of sex-without-strings floozies? Check out these saucy highlights:
70% said they'd be willing to try anything once
Almost 37% say they masturbate daily
42% clock in solo missions a couple of times a week
Almost 13% seek self satisfaction on a monthly basis 45% of single Canadians wait three to four dates before becoming intimate with a partner 34% make the move after only one date or two 20% wait a month, minimum
42% say a stranger is the best candidate for a threesome 24% a friend is the best for a third
28% said that in the bedroom, three is a crowd
79% said they'd have sex with a stranger for a million bucks
50% said they'd allow their partner to make the same deal