At what age does erectile dysfunction usually start?

Erectile dysfunction can begin at any age, but it becomes significantly more common as men get older. While ED is relatively uncommon in men under 40, affecting only around 2-8% of men in their 20s and 30s, the prevalence rises sharply from the 40s onwards, with roughly 1 in 10 men in their 40s experiencing it, increasing to over a third of men in their 50s. By age 60 and beyond, ED affects the majority of men, with prevalence reaching around 50-55% in men aged 40-70 and up to 80% in men in their 70s.

Key points:

ED can occur at any age, though around 26% of new diagnoses in younger men occur before age 40.
Risk increases steadily with age, with a particularly sharp rise between the 30s and 40s.
Psychological factors such as stress and anxiety are more common causes in younger men, while physical conditions become more prevalent with age.
Age alone does not determine whether a man will experience ED, as overall health, lifestyle, and underlying medical conditions also play significant roles.

This text has been fact-checked for accuracy by Sorin Romaniuc, Pharmacist at medino.