Sex is super healthy
Some people think of sex after age 45 as men with erectile dysfunction and women with pain during sex. But research shows that people over 45 are quite satisfied with their sex life. And the minuses? You can convert that into pluses.
A lot of research has been done on the sex lives of people over 45. You may be surprised, but this shows that more than half are very satisfied. Experts think that’s because – the older you get – you have more experience and self-confidence. In addition, you feel more comfortable with a partner with whom you have had an intimate relationship for a longer period of time. Only a minority of men and women think their sex lives could be improved.
Less sense, no problem
Just because the over-45s are satisfied doesn’t mean they crave wild sex every day. The sex drive does decrease. This applies to both women and men, but women are clearly in the majority (three to four times more women than men). The menopause – and the associated decline in sex hormones – is largely to blame for this, but conflicts with the partner and medical problems can also play a role. In addition, women often feel that they are less sexually attractive. And if you feel less sexy, you have less need for sex. Having less sense does not have to be a problem at all if both partners are at peace with it.
Men do it more often
Less sense usually does not mean that sexual activities come to a complete standstill. A third of men over 50 still have sex a few times a month and sometimes even a few times a week. Women are less likely to be sexually active. There is a simple explanation for the difference in sexual activity between men and women: there are more single women because women live longer on average. Older men therefore more often have a partner, who is often also younger than him.
Less stress, more sense
To have or make sex drive, there should be no things standing in the way. If you have a lot on your mind, you are less open to sexual stimuli. People who are over 50 often have a less stressful life: they often work fewer hours a week, the children are out, the household takes less time… This can also increase the sex drive.
Problems with sex? No, solutions!
The older you are, the longer it takes to get excited. So it’s just a matter of taking more time for foreplay. Hormone replacement therapy, hormone creams and lubricants can make it easier for women. There is also a lot to do about erectile dysfunction. Most of the people who have sought a solution for their ‘sexual dysfunction’ are satisfied afterwards. They climax more easily and enjoy sex more. And perhaps more importantly, an improved sex life also leads to a better relationship in half of the cases.
The doctor helps the man
Erectile dysfunction is quite common. 13.5 percent of men aged 41 to 50 suffer from it, 23.7 percent of men aged 51 to 60 and 40 percent of 61 to 70 year olds. Yet only 10 percent of men with erectile dysfunction go to the doctor. That is not a good thing, because it can be caused by a health problem, such as diabetes or a cardiovascular disease. Medications can also cause the problem, such as antidepressants, antihistamines, drugs that regulate blood pressure, pain relievers and antacids. If the erectile dysfunction is due to something else, the doctor can prescribe erection pills. Many men benefit from this, because such a pill ensures that more blood flows to the penis and also that it flows out less easily. This makes the erection more powerful and more durable.
There is also help for women
During the menopause, the female body produces less estrogen and progesterone. This gives the male hormone testosterone more influence, which sometimes makes women more interested in sex. Unfortunately, this is only temporary, because after a few years the testosterone levels in the female body also drop. Furthermore, due to the lack of sex hormones, the wall of the vagina can become thinner, more sensitive and less moist, so that you have pain during sex. Fortunately, not all women suffer from their declining hormone levels. If you do, there are solutions, such as hormone replacement therapy, a vaginal hormone cream and even an ordinary lubricant.
Sex is super healthy
Being active in bed is a healthy way to exercise. Research shows that with a solid lovemaking you burn extra calories, boost your metabolism, reduce stress, keep the heart in good shape, strengthen your bones and muscles and boost your immune system. In other words, sex can help you grow old in a healthy way. It is said that middle-aged men who still have sex often are more likely to have a heart attack. But the opposite is true: According to a study published in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior, an active sex life actually reduces the risk of heart problems. Sex is just a great cardio workout. Only men who do not or hardly move have a slightly increased risk during a heavy lovemaking.
Viagra for women?
In 2015, the drug flibanserin was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in the US. It was immediately dubbed “the Viagra pill for women.” However, the effect of this drug is very different from that of the erection pill. Flibanserin increases norepinephrine and dopamine levels in the body, while decreasing serotonin levels. This makes women more interested in sex. The pill is only prescribed for women with a low libido in the US. The pill is not available here because the effect is considered too low. Women who took part in a study only had 0.7 times more sex drive per month. This increase does not outweigh the side effects of flibanserin. Some women become dizzy or drowsy from the drug, or develop low blood pressure. 13 percent of the women developed such severe complaints that they stopped taking it immediately.
Sources):
- Plus Healthy