I eat right, keep in shape (still a competitive bodybuilder), but I can't help but notice my refractory period is longer, number of pops has decreased and body parts are starting to dangle.

Aside from that, I am finding that I need more of an emotional component to my rendezvous', whereas before, it would a purely physical experience.  

What are the other psychological and physiological things someone of my advanced age should expect?

Dear soflaguy44,

With the risk of disappointing you, there is no one that can state with ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY what you should or shouldn't expect beyond that which you have already experienced. This is because individual differences play a greater role than previously assumed in terms of aging.

It really depends on how you care for yourself. If you exercise and eat right, then you will experience normative aging processes. If you abuse yourself with drugs/alcohol/tobacco, then these aging processes will occur faster.

I'd worry more about your individual psychological state - you really think that 50 is "advanced age?" Maybe if you compare yourself to a 15 year old; however, 50 is at the very beginning (as you seem to have noticed) of some sexual changes in terms of refractory period, erectile function and sexual appetite - mostly related to slowly declining testosterone levels. All this depends on your baseline and the genetic material you started out with.

So I wouldn't go around "expecting" any particular thing - that could induce way more anxiety than necessary. Instead, keep doing what you're doing - eat right and keep in shape.

One thing is for sure though - as you age, your amygdalic responses are overtaken by activity in your prefrontal cortex - hence you become more reflective, less reactive. All that, plus a slow but gradual decline in Testosterone levels point to that which many of our board readers have observed during their sexual encounters - 'it's the journey, not the destination.'

Happy canoodling,
The Love Goddess

When the gals start offering me a senior discount with my AARP card, I'm there baby.

The fifties and above is often known as the metalic age:

You get gold in your teeth, silver in your hair and lead in your ass.

Eat healthily, exercise and get plenty of nookie and you'll beat the actuaries.

So I guess it's worth the pain.  The prep is worse than the proceedure.  I told my doc...  do the whole deal or count me out.  Last one at 58 didn't find anything!  Whew!
skb
PS Finding early sure beats a resection!

After age 50, an annual physical is more than a good idea, and you should make sure it includes a PSA for possible prostate cancer.

I turn 50 in a few month's and I feel just as good as when I was in my 30's. My eyesight is still the same.,I still get as hard as a rock thank goodness.

It gets more difficult maintaining the same kind of physical shape because it takes longer to recover from very strenuous work. I'm 56 and I've noticed a significant difference from 10 years ago in how long it takes me to recover when I really push things. I can still go at something really hard for a day or two but then I need soem real down time to recover.

Lots more annoying aches and pains. All those little injuries that you didn't take care of when you were in your 20s and 30s start nagging more.

A more nuanced enjoyment of sex. Most of the guys I know my age enjoy sex more now than they ever have before. They may not get as much, although some get more now than ever, but they really enjoy the experience more.

You may become much more attractive to a different type of lady. As you lose some testosterone and focus more on that emotional component, you'll probably become more interested in an intellectual component, too. Ladies who appreciate a more well-rounded male will start to notice you more. It's strange to me but I actually get more interest from ladies in their 20s and 30s now than I did when i was in my 20s and 30s.

Lots more nose hair! Annoying as hell!!

Longer refractory period

Less horny than 5 yeas ago

Fantastic ability to delay my orgasm and allow my partner to use me for her pleasure during intercourse.

Desiring a emotional connection as well as the physical connection more than when I was younger.

Finding that I desire the 30-40 year old woman more than the 20-25 year old.  I love the maturity of the slightly older woman.

Simple touching and petting and massage is very satisfying and does necessarily have to lead to sexual activity.

Spooning brings me great pleasure more than ever.

I feel that I have 'ripened' as a man and that my wisdom has made me more desirable to women.  I'm in good shape but not as good as 10 years ago but my physical attractiveness is only part of the package and the package, overall, is better when you consider my kindness, intelligence, wisdom, experience, and desire to be a good partner in and out of bed.

I'm a better man in my 50's than ever before in so many ways.

I'm 55 and I am better than I was at 45.  First of all, I have found this wonderful "hobby" and have had some good teachers.  Secondly I have become focused on fighting the aging process.  I eat better, I understand the benefits of exercise and sleep.  I am limited to a once and done but the quality is simply better.  As others have said, I enjoy the simple things way better than I did before.

Slow growing cancers have had 20 more years to grow at age 50.

At 52 I am hornier than I ever have been in my entire life.  That being said, I also find that I am doing less experimenting with different ladies and sticking more with a small group of favs who I connect with as more than just a quick lay.

Will my body do what it could do ten or twenty years ago? Alas,no, but I have no complaints and neither do the ladies I see. There IS something to be said for getting the most out of one pop. Taking your time and relaxing as you pleasure her and she pleasures you. That one pop is pretty earth shattering!

Advanced age early 40's??? I am about to turn 60 and i didnt find out about the hobby until 2 years ago - i have had nothing but fun and awesome sexperiences- i have always been active and competitive in sports. started triathlon at 50 and continue with that and ice hockey(very intense sport), basketball, golf etc. i hired a personal trainer for 4 months at the beginning of 2010 to give it one more effort to get in super shape. i had a blood test to check my testosterone and found in mid range - so after some research - began self medicating with testosterone cream and maintain my level at or slighly above the high range. i have my hair colored so i dont look like an old man.  I get lots of wood during the day when i think about hot women.
one of my faves says my body is like 35 and i fuck like i am 25.  At your age, early 40's, dude , you got lots more in the tank if you want. you are so young - enjoy every minute , because life goes by fast......
i just hope time slows down so i may continue these sexperiences.

i enjoy a high income so i enjoy the variety of beautiful women in LA. Just, wish i had gotten started earlier.
i find i always want to connect with the woman iam with and make love to them and give them as much pleasure as i get. the emotions make it seem so much more real.
i'm in love with 5 women now.
good luck old man

The Dr was a hot brunette.  I tried to tip, but it wasn't received well.

As a bodybuilder,  I hope you're not taking steriods. That could affect erection.

You can maintain T-levels by eating a lot of nuts  - peanuts especially.

Try and sleep longer.

Son, stop whining.  Wait until you are sixty.  You'll stop lifting weights and switch to swimming.  I did.  So much better on the joints.  But they call the ED drugs the senior advantage.  Between levitra and androgel sex can be totally satisfying.  A little less intense and a little less frequent.  But still totally satisfying.  Plus practice your kegels, Seriously.

If you substitute the word "man" for "woman" in that last sentence, then you're pretty much describing me as well.  Although I hate the sound of my age right now ... the simple matter is if you're accepting of your age, it's sexier, more orgasmic and being 50 just rocks.  Completely.

Plus, it REALLY helps to not actually look your age!

It takes men until about the age of 50 to have the skill of a spectacular lover.  This isn't a hard and fast rule, but it's pretty damn close to one.