Sex and ageing – Changes in sexuality and compensating these changes

Ageing is the natural process of your body. It takes a toll on the health of a person and many a times affects the sexual life of a person. But, this does not mean that a person in his old age needs to stop having sex. A few changes here and there and seniors are as ready to enjoy sex as their young counterparts. Older adults and sex – It’s good for them For older adults, sex can be pleasurable and also act as a therapy. This is true for both men and women. Sexual activity in adults stimulates the release of various substances that not only help strengthen the immune system but also provide relief from pain. The release of substances like endorphins also helps alleviate stress and anxiety. As sex is a physical activity, regular sex helps improve breathing and blood circulation. This helps relax the body and as a result the person experiences a feeling of satisfaction. This is great news for older adults as their bodies need all the relaxation that they can get. Sex is not just for the young You might have a misconception that sex is only for the young and not for the old. People on the wrong side of forty start worrying about their ability to perform in bed and their non performance, at times, is blamed on their age. People tend to back away from sexual activity because of advanced age. But this is a wrong way of going about things. When you are young, a case can be made for your sexual performance being more vigorous, but this does not mean that you can’t perform adequately if you are no longer young. Age interferes with your sexuality only if you allow it to have an effect on your thoughts and attitude towards sex. Both, ageing men and women can lead satisfying sex lives, if they take proper care and work around their age related problems. Ageing and changes in our sexuality Young sexuality is more physical as compared to sexuality in older people. Due to ageing, people develop more awareness about their sexuality and tend to explore it better. Physical sexuality at times can take a back seat, as men and women age, and sex develops an emotional significance. Various changes occur in your body, which affects your sexuality.

• Changes in Women
Most of the changes occurring in women during middle age are a result of a decrease in the production of hormones. Some of these changes are actually symptoms of menopause in women. These include low levels of sexual desire, sleeping trouble, dry skin, vaginal dryness, vaginal itching, behavioural changes, excess weight and an increased tendency to feel hungry. These changes affect the sex life of women. But they aren’t changes that cannot be worked around.
• Changes in men
As men get older, they start to experience erection problems. They find it difficult to get an erection or sustain it for a longer time. This is a normal occurrence and most men experience this problem at some point of time in their life, irrespective of whether they are young or old. Men also tend to suffer from heart trouble, which can also affect their sex lives. Even men can suffer from a loss of libido, and might lose interest in sex because of various reasons; however, these changes can be worked around.

Compensating the changes Modern medicine and therapeutic procedures have an answer for many conditions that men or women are susceptible to, in old age. There are specific treatment options available that can help both men and women enjoy sex even in their old age.

• For women
As a woman, you might be suffering from the symptoms of menopause. In such cases, it’s important to gain awareness about these symptoms and talk to your doctor about them. If you are suffering from vaginal dryness, you can sort out the problem by using a water based lubricant during sex. A more long term solution can be in the form of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) which includes tablets and topical solutions amongst other things. There are also various alternative therapies available in the form of herbal pills, devices and exercises that can help your manage your age related problems.
• For men
If you are experiencing erectile difficulty, you can treat the symptoms using prescription erectile dysfunction medications. Low libido can be treated by reading erotic literature and finding new ways of stimulation amongst various others things. It’s important for older men to stop focussing on their performance in bed and put more importance on enjoying their sexual activity. Eating healthy and being physically active is also one of the ways of remaining fit and enjoying sex as you grow older.

Improving your sex life Improving your sex life is about addressing your health concerns and working around these problems to have a satisfying sex life. You will first need to recognize the fact that you are experiencing certain changes that are affecting your sex life. You can then identify the problem area and seek a solution for it. You need to discuss your problems with your partner and work towards a solution together. In order to improve your sex life, you don’t need to judge yourself too harshly. You need to understand that such problems are natural and most people of your age are prone to having these problems. Don’t panic and put pressure on your body to perform. Putting such pressure might just exacerbate your problem further. There are effective medical treatment options available for most conditions, so all you need to do is speak with your doctor. Your doctor is the best person to help you search for a solution to your problem.