Previous studies of sexual function in the elderly male have often been biased. Some studies have beeii conducted on a population of patients; others, though conducted on the general population, have failed to consider the subject's physical condition. This survey concerns the sexual function and medical status of a population of elderly men who were not patients.
METHOD OF STUDYConsecutive veterans applying for a Part I11 pension were studied, although examinees with urologic complaints were excluded. The sexual and urologic history, and the results of physical examination and urinalysis were recorded. The presence of other significant disease was noted. Finkle's definition of potcncy was used, ie., coitus even once annually served as evidence of potency (1).
FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONThe study included 157 men whose ages ranged from 60 through 74 years. Fifty-five per cent were potent. With the increase of age from 60 to 74 the incidence of impotence increased from 28 per cent to 61 per cent ( Table 1). (In all tables the number of men involved in calculating percentages is indicated within the parentheses). The incidence of impotence in our series was similar to that in the study by Finkle et al. (2) of 101 clinic patients. They found potency in 65 per cent of patients aged 55 to 69 and in 34 per cent of those aged 70 and over (2). Kinsey et al. (3) found a slightly lower incidence of impotence, namely, 5 per cent at age 60, 27 per cent at age 70, and 55 per cent at age 75; however, Iiinsey's definition of impotence is not clear. In general, the incidence of impotence seems to rise sharply after the late 60's.Among the potent men, the average frequency of coitus per year was 20.7, and no decline in sexual activity with advancing years was evident. Among the impotent men, the average age at the time of the last coitus was 61.8 years. Progressively older impotent men remembered that event as occurring at a progressively older age; evidently, with time, memory is charitable ( Table 2).All men were questioned regarding the presence of urologic symptoms (nocturia, dysuria, or hesitancy) or a past history of urologic disease (kidney, bladder, prostate, or testicular disturbances or operation). The incidence of urologic symptoms was identical for the impotent and potent groups-66 per cent (Tahle 3). The incidence of urologic disease in the past was also similar for both * 'lddress: GU Clinic, B-109, Veterans Administration Hospital, Hines, Illinois.
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BOWERS, CROSS AND LLOYD