Alternative NamesErection difficulties - age relatedInformationQuestion:Do most men have difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection (impotence) as they grow older?Answer:Getting older does not mean you will experience impotence, although in many men, sexual responses may become slower and less intense. For example, it may take longer to achieve an erection than it did when you were younger. On the other hand, you may maintain an erection for a longer period of time. However, the opposite may also be true.See: Impotencefor more informationReferencesMinaker KL. Common clinical sequelae of aging. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 23.