SEX and the Senior

Sexuality Later in Life
Provided By: The Caring Space

Senior citizens experience many changes as they grow older which may affect their sex life. Women may find sex more enjoyable after menopause has occurred or if they have undergone a hysterectomy because there is less risk of pregnancy. Some women may worry about being desirable to a sexual partner as they age. They may feel less feminine, thus resulting in less enjoyable sex.

While women may feel differently about sex depending on their attitudes about their bodies and aging, they will inevitably experience physical changes. The vagina shortens and narrows with aging, and less vaginal lubrication is produced which could also influence how pleasurable a sexual encounter is for an older woman.

Men also experience higher susceptibility to impotence which is the loss of the ability to have or keep an erection hard enough for sexual intercourse. Men who also have heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes may experience impotence as a result of medications used to treat these conditions. Some men may find it harder to get an erection, have as hard or large of an erection as they used to, or ejaculate as much as they used to.

Common Challenges

Although aging and illness can affect the ability to have sex, there are methods of maintaining a satisfying sex life, regardless. The following are some common challenges to sex that some senior citizens experience and some tips to overcome them:

Arthritis. Sometimes joint pain can make physical activity like sex uncomfortable. However, your doctor can recommend joint replacement surgery or other medications that can alleviate this pain. You can try to exercise, get a good amount of rest, take warm baths, or avoid strenuous positions in sexual activity to avoid arthritis pain.

Chronic pain. Some people experience recurring pain due to bone and muscle conditions, shingles, poor blood circulation, and blood vessel problems. This can make moving around in general quite painful. If you tell your doctor, he can recommend treatment options available to reduce this pain and improve ability for physical activity including sexual intercourse.

Diabetes. Although some men do not experience any sexual problems, diabetes can cause impotence at times. Physicians can prescribe medications that can help this.

Heart disease. Damaged blood vessels or high blood pressure in men can lead to difficulties with getting or maintaining an erection. Some people are more afraid that sex can induce a heart attack; however, this effect is rare. After experiencing a heart attack, most people can start having sex once they are deemed stable and their physician agrees that that level of physical activity is not too dangerous for that patient.

Incontinence. People who have bladder control problems may be embarrassed or anxious about participating in sex due to the increased pressure on the abdomen that can occur. This condition can be treated by your physician.

Stroke. This can lead to problems in men getting erections or other problems due to paralysis caused by stroke. Sex does not usually induce strokes in people who have had them.

Hysterectomy. While the removal of the uterus in women does not affect the ability to have sex, some people may find the mental implications more of a problem. Women who experience less enjoyment from sex or men who feel that their sexual partner is less feminine after this surgery may be helped with counseling.

Mastectomy. Women whose breasts have been removed are still capable of sexual response, but they may feel less desirable or enjoy sex less as a result. It can be helpful to talk to other women who have also experienced this type of surgery or seek medical advice for breast reconstruction. Some men also may experience lower sex drive from hormone therapy after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Prostatectomy. While the removal of the prostate for medical reasons may cause impotence or incontinence, some surgical procedures allow nerves leading to the penis to be spared, making an erection possible after recovery. Men can discuss options with their doctor before surgery in order to continue having a satisfying sex life afterwards.

Medications. Blood pressure medications, antihistamines, antidepressants, tranquilizers, appetite suppressants, diabetes drugs, and ulcer medications can lead to impotence in men or make it hard to ejaculate. Some women experience a decrease in sexual desire. Talk to your doctor about options to reduce these side effects.

Alcohol. Alcohol abuse can reduce sexual performance in both men and women.

Maintaining a Healthy Sex Life

Practicing safe sex is important for all ages. Women can still become pregnant until menopause occurs (when she has not got her period for 12 months). Also, senior citizens are still susceptible to STDs like syphilis, gonorrhea, Chlamydial infection, genital herpes, hepatitis B, genital warts, and trichomaniasis.

Senior citizens are still at risk for HIV, the virus that can eventually lead to AIDS. People with more than one sexual partner or people who have unprotected sex are more at risk for contracting HIV. Wearing a condom during sex can prevent transmission of HIV and other STDs.

Sexual intercourse involves both physical and emotional health. Senior citizens who are anxious about how their age affects their sex life either because of physical ability or attractiveness can experience sexual dysfunction that is a result of this stress and worrying. Being open about these concerns, talking to your sexual partner, or seeking professional help with a counselor are all good ways of avoiding dissatisfying sex due to these stressors.

Older sexual partners can engage in multiple activities to keep an active and healthy sex life. It is important to make each other a high priority and be attentive to the other’s needs and feelings about changes that are occurring in their bodies. Couples may explore different kinds of positions, take more time to induce arousal, or try having sex in the morning when energy is maximized. Some senior citizens who are widowed, divorced, or have ill partners may find masturbation an effective way to elongate sexual activity as they age.

Women may find it harder to maintain sexual activity as they age because they usually live longer than men. Although female senior citizens outnumber men, they can try different activities that will help them meet more people like mall walking, enrolling in adult education programs at a community college, or attending senior citizen centers.

Older women usually experience something called dyspareunia or painful sexual intercourse due to lack of vaginal lubrication. Physicians can treat this fairly easily by recommending a lubricant or prescribing estrogen supplements that will help with this issue.

Older men can experience impotence, for which they can take a pill called sildenafil that can help with this. They may also try vacuum device, self-injection of drugs that can induce erection, or penile implants.

Senior citizens should try to live healthier lifestyles in order to have a more enjoyable sex life. Doing things like exercise, eating well, drinking plenty of water, and avoiding smoking and alcohol can help maintain a pleasurable sex life. Asking for help from a physician and remembering that sex can be a positive, enjoyable facet of life for people of all ages is of the utmost importance.



For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524