More sex may prevent erectile dysfunction

TAMPERE, Finland, July 3 (UPI) -- Finnish researchers have given new meaning to the phrase "use it or lose it," reporting that more sexual intercourse may help prevent erectile dysfunction.

A study published in the July issue of The American Journal of Medicine found erectile dysfunction incidence was 79 cases per 1,000 in men who had reported having sexual intercourse less than once per week -- dropping to 32 cases per 1,000 in men reporting intercourse once per week and falling further to 16 per 1,000 in those reporting intercourse three or more times per week.

Dr. Juha Koskimaki of Tampere University Hospital analyzed a five-year study of 989 men ages 55 to 75 from Pirkanmaa, Finland. The investigators observed that men reporting intercourse less than once per week at baseline had twice the incidence of erectile dysfunction compared with those reporting intercourse once per week.

Further, the risk of erectile dysfunction was inversely related to the frequency of intercourse.

Other factors that may affect the incidence of erectile dysfunction, such as age, body mass index and smoking, chronic medical conditions -- diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, cerebrovascular disease and depression -- were included in the analysis of the data.