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Exercise, drugs, and possibly joint replacement surgery may help relieve this pain. Joint pain due to arthritis can make sexual contact uncomfortable. Too much alcohol can cause erection problems in men and delay orgasm in women.Īrthritis. Some illnesses, disabilities, medicines, and surgeries can affect your ability to have and enjoy sex.Īlcohol. Women using hormone therapy to treat hot flashes or other menopausal symptoms may experience a considerable boost in sexual interest and drive. The desire to have sex may increase or decrease. These can include hot flashes, trouble falling and staying asleep, and mood changes. During a woman’s menopausal transition, which can last for a number of years and ends when she has not had a period in 12 months, there may be a variety of symptoms. Menopause is another change that may affect sexuality and intimacy in older adults. ED is not a problem if it happens every now and then, but if it occurs often, talk with your doctor. ED is the loss of ability to have and keep an erection, and the erection may not be as firm or as large as it used to be. With age, impotence (also called erectile dysfunction, or ED) also becomes more common.
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These changes could make certain types of sexual activity, such as vaginal penetration, painful or less desirable. For most, there will be less vaginal lubrication, and it may take more time for the vagina to naturally lubricate itself. The vagina can shorten and narrow, and the vaginal walls can become thinner and stiffer. Two common changes that older adults experience are related to the sex organs.
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Health conditions can cause physical problems, along with stress and worry, that can get in the way of intimacy or enjoying a fulfilling sex life. They may worry that their partner will no longer find them attractive. Some older adults don’t feel comfortable in their aging bodies. As we age, our bodies change, including our weight, skin, and muscle tone. Normal aging also brings physical changes that can sometimes interfere with the ability to have and enjoy sex. They also may be better able to express what they want and need, which can offer an opportunity for greater intimacy and connection. They may have fewer distractions, more time and privacy, and no worries about getting pregnant. Many older couples find greater satisfaction in their sex lives than they did when they were younger. How you physically feel may affect what you are able to do and how you emotionally feel may affect what you want to do. Sexuality is often affected by one’s emotional and physical state. Included are common aging-related challenges and opportunities, and approaches to consider making the most of individual situations in these areas. The following information is for older adults who want sexuality and intimacy in their lives. Some older adults strive for both a sexual and intimate relationship, some are content with one without the other, and still others may choose to avoid these types of connections. Intimacy is a feeling of closeness and connectedness in a relationship that can occur with or without a physical component.Īging brings life transitions that can create opportunities for older adults to redefine what sexuality and intimacy mean to them. It involves feelings, desires, actions, and identity, and can include many different types of physical touch or stimulation. Sexuality is the way we experience and express ourselves sexually. Are you too old to worry about safe sex?.