More than 60 percent of Korean men in their 40s or older are suffering from one or more of the three major sexual dysfunctions ­ impotence, premature ejaculation and male menopause, a research of a hospital showed.

The Asan Medical Center in Seoul released the outcome of a survey Thursday of 1,313 men aged 40 or older, who visited the family medicine department of 15 general hospitals from August 2010 to May 2011 across the country. Their age averaged 57.1 years.

The hospital found that 44 percent of the surveyed were impotent, 40 percent ejaculated prematurely and 19 percent suffered from male menopause.

The research team led by Dr. Kim Young-sik said that there were more sexual dysfunctions when they got older and older. The average prevalence ratio of the three diseases was 52 percent for those in their 40s, 66 percent for those in their 50s, 74 percent for 60s and 79 percent for 70s.

But there is no significant age influence on premature ejaculation, doctors said. They said that rather singles or divorcees have the problem more than the married.

And they found that there is close relation between male menopause and abdominal obesity. The sexual dysfunction ratio went up to 1.8 times the men who were obese and 1.6 times those who were suffering diabetics.

Also, the prevalence of impotence was 3.1 times high when men suffered depression, 1.7 times high when they suffered prostate hypertrophy. And the prevalence increased 2.3 times every 10 years.

"The diseases from bad eating habits such as obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes cause men’s sexual dysfunction," said Kim. He stressed that it is mandatory for middle aged men to control chronic diseases and stress to prevent sexual dysfunction.

The study was presented at the opening day of the 19th WONCA (World Organization of Family Doctors) Asia-Pacific Regional Conference on Jeju Island. The conference will continue through May 27.