According to Turkish scientists, regular exercise can increase men's sexual prowess - the researchers say physical activity might also boost erections in old age.
The study by researchers at the Vakif Gureba Research and Education Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey, involved using two-year-old rats, which equates to 60 years in human terms.
The rats were made to exercise in a water tank for 30 minutes for five days each week, over an eight week period, after which they were compared to untrained rats who done no extra exercise.
It was found there was increased testosterone levels and improved activity in the way the exercised rats processed the chemicals responsible for causing an erection.
The researchers led by Dr. E. Ozbek say regular exercise may improve an erection by increasing penile neurotransmitter and plasma testosterone levels in both young and aged rats.
The study was also conducted with a group of younger rats aged four months old and again the exercised rats showed the same results.
Sexual health experts say that exercise can improve the way that blood vessels work and by improving vascular health, cardiac health is improved along with the quality of life.
The results of the Turkish study were presented at the Congress of the European and International Societies for Sexual Medicine in Brussels, Belgium, this week.
