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The thought of getting old crosses the mind like
a dreaded hobgoblin as one approaches his/her mid thirties. Reasons:
wrinkling faces, reduced stamina, corroded vigor and disinteresting
sex life and so on. Is there anything worth cherishing in the old
age except the past memories? And what about the sex life?
There is a widespread tendency to assume that old
people are too old for sex. People find it difficult to assume that
men and women in their old age can have an enjoyable and fulfilling
sexual life. This attitude is ill-founded and grossly unfair and
stems largely from the society's current emphasis on youth and youthful
attractiveness.
People, who have enjoyed sex earlier in life, can
and continue to do so in their old age. Although the ageing process
may make it necessary to adapt their love-making to some extent,
most old people remain capable of intercourse for as long as their
general health permits.
People, who choose to be sexually active in their
later years, must understand the bodily changes that are occurring
in them, due to the ageing process. It should come as no surprise
to them to realize that sexual anatomy and physiology are also subject
to change with age.
The ability to enjoy sex can continue well into
old age, particularly if a couple make an effort to understand and
respond to the various changes that age brings to the natural pattern
of sexual response. All too often, older people give up intercourse
because they mistakenly interpret these changes as signs of impending
impotence. Love-making may have to be a more leisurely affair as
a couple gets older, but the benefits of maintaining the sexual
aspect of the relationship into old age can be great.
Sexual changes with growing age.
Men
In the old age the penile erection usually becomes problematic
and takes longer time. Maintaining an erection may be doubly problematic
and may require more direct tactile and intense physical stimulation.
Psychological stimulation (sexual thoughts, sexual fantasies), may
not be as affective in producing an erection as it used to be in
the younger days. Even the ability to perceive the touch declines
with age. An elderly man may require not only physical (tactile)
but also prolonged stimulation.
Due to a decline in perceiving tactile sensations,
an elderly man may have some difficulty in regaining an erection,
if he has not ejaculated. Contractions of the penis and other glands
during climax are not as strong as in younger age and hence the
force of ejaculation is reduced. The seminal fluid is thinner, pale
in color and reduced in quality. Even so, orgasm (climax) remains
a pleasurable experience. After an ejaculation, the elderly man
tends to lose his erection very quickly and it may be some time
(from couple of hours to few days) before he could be capable of
another erection.
Erectile problems can be taken care of with the
use of erectile dysfunction treating drugs like Levitra; however
one must consult his doctor before taking the drug.
Women
In elderly women, sexual arousal may take a longer time.
Menopause does not usually reduce a woman's sex drive. Intercourse
may, however, be painful due to vaginal dryness and thinning of
the vaginal walls. These changes are caused owing to the reduced
production oestrogen, resulting in insufficient lubrication of vagina
hence leaving it dry. Low estrogen levels also lead to a reduction
in the tissue elasticity of the vaginal walls making them thin and
thereby furthering the shrinkage of the vaginal barrel. This shrinkage
may be further accelerated by lack of regular sexual intercourse.
All changes can produce discomfort and in some cases, pain during
sexual intercourse. Vaginal dryness, discomfort and pain can be
overcome by taking hormone pills and/or local application of hormone
creams in the vagina. Regularity of sexual intercourse helps a great
deal in preventing the vaginal shrinkage and maintaining good sexual
health.
The golden rule to enjoy old age sex is to feel young at heart.
Regular attention to the general health, a little exercise, suitable
diet and understanding of the bodily changes occurring with the
old age may go a long way in making your sex life a fulfilling experience
during your twilight years. The regularity of sexual intercourse
may be a great help towards making the sexual intercourse less painful
and more enjoying experience for the elderly people.
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