Be Sexually Healthy
Is sex just for the young? No! It’s true that is not the same as when you were in your 20s, 30s, and 40s but many older adults enjoy sex.
However, as a person gets older, the body experiences different kinds of changes that can affect their sex life. Not everyone experiences the same changes. One of the biggest changes that a women’s body experiences is menopause. While menopause is different for each woman, it is a normal part of life. After menopause, estrogen levels in the body drop greatly causing the vagina to have less lubrication. In addition, as women get older, the vagina becomes shorter and narrower.
The most common sexual issues reported by women include:
- Not being in the mood for sex
- Difficulty becoming aroused and having orgasms
- Experiencing pain during sex or sexual activities
If you are experiencing pain during sex or sexual activities, this is usually caused by the dryness of the vagina. Many over the counter lubricants and moisturizers are available. Lubricants that are water-based are helpful to make sex more enjoyable. However, if you are using condoms avoid using oil base lubricants for example, petroleum jelly, hand lotion and lip balm because they can destroy the strength of the condom and causing them to break. Your doctor can also prescribe medications for this condition.
Men’s body also changes as they age, because testosterone levels decline and changes in sexual function can be experienced. The most common problems for men are:
- Not being in the mood for sex
- Erectile dysfunction (ED) or impotence
- Premature ejaculation
- Inhibited orgasm
If you are experiencing ED is a good idea to visit your doctor, usually a Urologist. Your physician will perform exams and review your medical record to determine the cause of this problem and prescribe medications. ED is manageable and often reversible. Stress and excessive alcohol consumption can also lead to ED. Some medications like hypertension and diabetes medication can cause ED and interfere with sexual problems. Other causes of sexual problems include: arthritis, chronic pain, dementia, diabetes, heart disease, incontinence, stroke, depression, surgery, and medications.
How to face and overcome sexual problems to have a healthy and active sexual lifestyle?
- Sex is not just intercourse. Couples can have pleasure in different ways by enjoying each other’s body. Focus on tenderness and contact. Sex is about emotional, sensory and relationship pleasure. Sex involves intimacy, touching and kissing. Put aside the ideas of what is “should be” or how is “supposed to be”.
- Talk with your partner. It’s always difficult to talk about sex, but by talking about your problems, concerns and desires they can be addressed. Also, make your partner a priority and take the time to understand the different changes that both of you are facing.
- Change your routine. Try different positions, or change the time of the day you have sex to a time when you have the most energy.
- Talk with your doctor. If you have a problem that affects your sex life, don’t be afraid to talk about it with your doctor. Your doctor will most likely suggest a treatment.
- Visit a therapist. Stress and fear can affect your sexual life. Talk with a therapist about your problems to come up with a solution. Some therapists are trained in helping with sexual problems.
Sex and intimacy can still be a rewarding part of your life. Keeping a physically active routine and following a nutritional diet can also help you enjoy a sexual lifestyle. Problems affect by one person can often affect his or her partner. Keep in mind that if you are experiencing any of these problems contact your doctor because many of these problems can be resolved.
