Final answer:
The effects of age on men's sexual functioning typically manifest as slower sexual response and decreased sexual activity, due to the decline in testosterone levels and an increased prevalence of erectile dysfunction as men age.
Step-by-step explanation:
In men, the effects of age on sexual functioning are most accurately seen in slower sexual response and decreased sexual activity. This is due to a variety of physiological changes that occur with aging, including the decline in testosterone levels, a condition referred to as andropause, which is similar to menopause in women but without a clear sign such as the cessation of menstruation to denote its beginning. Symptoms of andropause can include feelings of fatigue, depression, irritability, reduced muscle mass, loss of libido, and insomnia.
Moreover, erectile dysfunction (ED) is more prevalent in aging men, with significant increases in incidence from the age of 40 to 70. Factors such as Leydig cell decline leading to reduced testosterone and the impact of other health conditions contribute to this trend. Although some societal narratives emphasize the medicalization of these issues, there are also shifts in how aging men experience and express their masculinity.