According to recent studies, the old “use it or lose it” wives tale may be true. Finnish researchers have released statements upon new studies, showing that men who have sex at least once a week, in comparison to men who have sex less than once a week, are at a lower risk of developing erectile dysfunction.
This new study was conducted on a group of over nine hundred men, all ranging from 55 to 75 years old. Cases of erectile dysfunction surfaced widely among the group of men who had sex less than once a week… but why? Disuse Atrophy may be the cause and is defined as occurring when a muscle (or organ) is no longer as active as usual. When no longer in use, they slowly become weaker. Eventually, they begin to shrink.
Researchers noted that a lack of morning erections could be an early warning sign to the complete development of erectile dysfunction, later in life. Boston Medical Group Telemedicine checks for signs such as these in assessing sexual function.
Patients who had undergone rehabilitation after prostate cancer surgery were found to have more regular activity of oxygenation to the penis. It seems as though regular blood flow to the penis promotes healthy erectile function.
This study was solely conducted upon the basis of intercourse. However, researchers have reason to believe that the act of regular masturbation will promote the same healthy blood flow as intercourse, itself.