Aging changes your body and your sex life, but it does not set an expiration date on sexual activity. When you ask “at what age are men still sexually active”, the most accurate answer is that there is no single age where it suddenly stops. Instead, your health, relationships, and mindset play a much bigger role than the number on your birthday cake.
Below, you will learn what research says about men’s sexual activity at different ages, what typically changes, and what you can do to stay sexually active and satisfied as you grow older.
How long men typically stay sexually active
Researchers look at something called Sexually Active Life Expectancy (SALE), which estimates how many more years you can expect to be sexually active based on your current age and health.
One large University of Chicago analysis found that for men, SALE is usually about 10 years shorter than overall life expectancy. For example, a healthy 30-year-old man can expect to remain sexually active for about 35 more years on average, into his mid 60s (Vinmec).
Other key findings from the same research include:
- Healthy men at age 55 often maintain an active sex life for another 5 to 7 years on average (Vinmec)
- Many men continue to report sexual desire and activity well into older age, with a higher frequency and quality of sexual life than women of the same age group, especially after 75 (Vinmec)
So instead of asking when men stop being sexually active, it is more useful to think in terms of how sexual activity naturally evolves over time, and what you can influence.
What usually happens in each decade
Your sex life follows general patterns across the lifespan, although your own experience can be very different from the average. Health conditions, stress, relationship quality, and medications all matter just as much as age.
Your 20s: High drive, but not always smooth
In your 20s, testosterone is typically at its peak, which often means a strong sex drive. At the same time, about 8 percent of men in this age group report erectile dysfunction (ED), sometimes due to underlying health issues or anxiety about inexperience (WebMD).
You may notice:
- Strong desire and frequent sexual thoughts
- Occasional performance anxiety, especially with new partners
- ED that is more often linked with psychological factors than with aging itself
If you are in this age range, building healthy habits now, like regular exercise and stress management, can protect your sexual health in later years.
Your 30s and early 40s: Gradual change, but still active
Around age 35, testosterone levels begin to decline slowly at about 1 percent per year, but many men maintain a strong sex drive through their 30s and early 40s (WebMD).
During this phase, you may experience:
- Slightly less urgency, but still consistent interest in sex
- More stable confidence and better communication with partners
- Early warning signs if health issues like high blood pressure, diabetes, or obesity start to appear
If you address lifestyle factors at this stage, you are more likely to stay sexually active and satisfied in your 50s and beyond.
Your 50s: Changes begin to show, but activity can stay high
Many men continue to enjoy a fulfilling sex life through their 50s and later. While ED and other sexual problems become more common with age, the main drivers are usually health conditions, not age itself (WebMD).
Typical changes in your 50s can include:
- Erections that take longer to achieve or are less firm
- More time needed between sexual encounters
- Libido that may dip due to stress, medications, or chronic illness
Research from the University of Chicago suggests that healthy men at 55 can often expect 5 to 7 more years of active sexual life, especially if they are in good physical and mental health (Vinmec). In other words, if you take care of your health and your relationships, your 50s can still be a very sexual decade.
Your 60s and 70s: Activity continues for many men
Most men maintain at least some level of sexual interest into their 60s and 70s (Mayo Clinic). Studies such as the Massachusetts Male Aging Study report that while erectile dysfunction affects more than half of men, many remain sexually active, although the nature of their sex life changes (PMC (Medical Sciences)).
For example:
- One review found that 54 percent of men over 70 are still sexually active, even though the frequency often declines with age and with concerns such as ED (Pilot)
- Among men aged 75 to 85, about 72 percent have a partner, and roughly 40 percent remain sexually active, far higher than the rate among women of the same age (Vinmec)
By this time, changes in erection strength, penis sensitivity, and ejaculation are common, but they represent an evolution, not an end, of male sexual function (Hospital Clínic Barcelona).
After 75 and into your 80s and beyond
Research suggests that many men experience a more noticeable decline in regular sexual activity between 75 and 80, but this is not a universal cutoff. Plenty of men stay sexually active into their 80s and even 90s, often with the help of medical support and open communication with partners (Pilot).
A 2025 study of men aged 65 to 90 (average age 75.4) found that:
- Men who maintained good erectile function and satisfying sexual activity had a significantly better quality of life
- An active sex life combined with a sense of happiness notably improved overall life satisfaction in advanced age
- Low mood was strongly linked to a poorer standard of living, underlining the connection between emotional health and sexual well-being (Journal of Men’s Health)
In short, if you still have the desire and you and your partner are comfortable, there is no medically defined age when you must stop being sexually active.
What actually limits sexual activity as you age
Chronological age is only one piece of the puzzle. Research consistently shows that health, relationship status, and lifestyle are more powerful predictors of whether you stay sexually active.
Your overall physical health
Men in very good or excellent health are:
- More likely to be sexually active
- More likely to have sex at least once a week
- More likely to extend their sexually active years well beyond 55, sometimes by 5 to 7 additional years (Pilot)
Health conditions that often affect sexual activity include:
- Cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Obesity and lack of physical activity
- Hormonal imbalances such as low testosterone
- Side effects from medications
The good news is that improving your physical health, with your doctor’s support, often improves your sexual health too.
Your partner and relationship status
Having a partner makes a big difference in whether you remain sexually active. One study showed that among older men:
- About 49.5 percent of those with a current partner were sexually active in the previous six months
- Only 13.7 percent of those without a partner reported recent sexual activity, especially in men over 70 (Pilot)
If you do have a partner, the quality of your relationship, communication about sex, and shared expectations matter as much as physical ability.
Your mental health and stress level
Loss of sex drive is sometimes tied to:
- Depression
- Ongoing stress
- Fatigue
- Alcohol misuse or illicit drug use
These issues can affect your sex life at any age, not just later in life (Mayo Clinic).
Addressing mental health through therapy, stress management, and lifestyle changes can restore desire and help you feel more connected to your partner.
Hormone levels and testosterone
Testosterone gradually declines with age, and low levels can reduce libido. However, studies show that this decline does not predict sexual problems on its own. Some older men with low testosterone maintain a normal sex drive, while others with only mild drops notice a big change (WebMD, PMC (Medical Sciences)).
If you suspect low testosterone, a doctor can:
- Test your hormone levels
- Look for causes such as endocrine disorders or sleep apnea
- Discuss options like testosterone replacement when appropriate, which can help restore sex drive in some men (Mayo Clinic)
Many experts now emphasize that male sexuality in later life does not disappear, it evolves. With the right support, you can keep a satisfying intimate life well into older age (Hospital Clínic Barcelona).
How to stay sexually active and satisfied at any age
You cannot control how many birthdays you have, but you can strongly influence how your sex life feels as the years go by.
Protect your heart, protect your erection
Your blood vessels and your heart are directly linked to erectile function. Steps that keep your cardiovascular system healthy will usually benefit your sexual performance.
You can:
- Aim for regular physical activity that you enjoy
- Maintain a moderate weight and balanced diet
- Manage blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar with your healthcare provider’s help
- Quit smoking, which damages blood vessels and worsens ED
If you notice new or worsening ED, it is worth seeing a doctor. ED can be an early sign of heart disease, and treating the underlying condition can often improve your sex life too.
Address erectile difficulties instead of ignoring them
ED becomes more common with age. Some studies estimate that:
- About 39 percent of men aged 50 to 90 experience some degree of ED, with the likelihood increasing by around 10 percent each decade
- Severe erectile dysfunction rises from 5 percent at age 40 to 15 percent at age 70 (Pilot, PMC (Medical Sciences))
ED does not mean your sex life is over. Many options are available, including:
- Prescription medications
- Treatment of underlying conditions
- Sex therapy or couples counseling for performance anxiety or communication issues
The sooner you speak with a professional, the more options you will have.
Focus on pleasure, not just performance
As you age, orgasm intensity, ejaculation volume, and erection firmness may change (Hospital Clínic Barcelona). Instead of seeing these changes as failure, you can shift your focus to:
- Broader forms of intimacy like kissing, touching, and massage
- Longer foreplay and more varied sexual activities
- Open conversations with your partner about what feels good now
When you treat sex as a shared experience rather than a performance test, it becomes easier to adapt to physical changes.
Talk openly with health professionals
Many older men still avoid talking about sex with their doctors, but research is clear that open discussion and professional guidance are key to maintaining sexual activity later in life (Hospital Clínic Barcelona).
You can bring up topics like:
- Changes in erection quality or desire
- Pain, discomfort, or fatigue during sex
- Side effects of medications
- Concerns about testosterone or hormone levels
Your doctor’s role is to help you stay healthy and improve your quality of life, and that includes your sexual health at every age.
The bottom line: There is no fixed “stop” age
When you look at the research, the answer to “at what age are men still sexually active” is clear:
- Many men remain sexually active into their 70s, 80s, and beyond
- There is no specific age when sexual activity must or should stop
- Your overall health, your relationship status, your mental well-being, and your willingness to seek help matter far more than your birthday
If you want to stay sexually active as you age, focus on caring for your body, strengthening your relationships, and being honest with yourself and your healthcare providers. Aging does not have to mean the end of your sex life. With the right support, it can simply be the start of a different, and often more meaningful, chapter.
