If you’re healthy, you’re probably going to your doctor(s) only once a year for a checkup. But when’s the last time your general practitioner asked how your sex life was? Or your gynecologist wanted to know if your libido changed or you were experiencing any pain or discomfort during sex?
According to a recent blog post on BetterThanIEverExpected.blogspot.com, about half of all sexually active men and women aged 57 to 85 in the United States report at least one bothersome sexual problem; one third report at least two. Yet only 38 percent of men and 22 percent of women reported having discussed sex with a physician since the age of 50 years, the blog reported.
At one of author Joan Price’s recent talks mentioned in the blog, “Talking about Senior Sex: A Presentation for Medical Professionals, Therapists, and Others Working Professionally with the Older-Age Population,” one participant in the discussion said her nurse practitioner at Kaiser Permanente simply asked if she was happy with her sex life and, after the woman affirmed that she was, proceeded to tell her that orgasms were good for her vaginal health (and psyche) and encouraged her to take charge of her pleasure because it would help make perimenopause easier to take, keep her bladder where it belongs, and generally support her wellbeing. The patient said, “I knew this, but what was even better was that she made it clear that she was there to help. My sexual health was not some secondary aspect. It was a full-fledged piece of my gynecological workup.”
While it might seem like you only have a few minutes with your doctor when you get face to face, it’s wise to utilize that time with questions you’ve thought of before your appointment about addressing any physical and emotional problems or concerns you have. Here, we’ll cover a few things your docs might not be talking about that you should be aware of for a happier, healthier sex life for years to come.
1. It keeps getting better!
A 2012 study published in the American Journal of Medicine reveals that women’s satisfaction in the bedroom increases with age, even as sexual desire wanes, according to an article on HuffingtonPost.com. The study analyzed sexual activity, desire, and satisfaction in a group of 806 women, age 40 or older, with a median age of 67 years. According to the HuffingtonPost.com article, the majority of women–including sexually active and sexually inactive respondents–were moderately or very satisfied with their sex lives, and the frequency at which women were very satisfied with their sex lives increased with respondents’ ages. Nearly two-thirds of the women reported at least moderate satisfaction with their sexual relationships.
2. Menopause probably interfered with your sex drive and pleasure
In this article I wrote for HealthAdvisor.com about how “Menopause Affects Your Whole Health,” I gathered information from online health resources about how lower hormone levels could decrease your sex drive and affect your ability to have an orgasm. A lack of estrogen in your body can also make your vagina drier—which could lead to painful sex. To fix the painful sex problem, use a water-based, vaginal lubricant to make sex more comfortable. Women who used lubrication during sex reported that it made the experience substantially more enjoyable in a research study out of Indiana University’s Kinsey Institute. You might also want to try an over-the-counter vaginal moisturizer every few days to see if that helps. Check out our previous blog post about how exercise can help improve your libido as well.
3. You can and should use a vibrator.
In her blog “Sex Toys at Our Age? Yes!” on HuffingtonPost.com, Joan Price covers some misconceptions women might have about vibrators and why they can be especially beneficially to women as we age. In the blog, Price addresses the question of whether a vibrator can decrease sensitivity so you don’t orgasm as easily: Actually, it’s the opposite. As we age, we get less blood flow to the clitoris and vagina, and the vaginal walls get thinner. Most of us need more arousal time and more time to reach orgasm after we’re aroused. Vibrators enhance sensitivity by increasing blood flow to the genitals quickly and powerfully, and by directly stimulating the clitoris.”
4. You need to protect yourself against HIV/AIDs.
Okay, so this tip only applies to those of you who are back in the dating pool—but it’s a big health risk your doc might skip over, especially since they’re probably unaware of your relationship status. According to the Administration On Aging, 17% of all new HIV/AIDS cases occur among people over 50, and the CDC says that older Americans are more likely than younger Americans to be diagnosed with HIV infection later in the course of their disease. The risks are higher amongst older Americans because many divorced or widowed adults are dating again and sexually active—but they don’t have knowledge about how to prevent HIV transmission, aren’t using condoms consistently, and are having multiple partners. Women who aren’t worried about getting pregnant may be less likely to use a condom, but it’s important to know that age-related thinning and dryness of vaginal tissue may raise older women’s risk for HIV infection, according to the CDC. Bottom line: Use a condom every time if you’re sexually active, get tested (National HIV Testing Day is June 27th!), and have an open and honest conversation with your partner if you plan to stop using protection. Other than that, have fun!
The post 4 Things Your Doctor Won’t Tell You About Sex As You Age appeared first on Revel Body Blog.
