Sexual problems can creep up as you age but you might be able to take care of minor sexual issues yourself. Sometimes tweaking a few things in your lovemaking repertoire can improve your sex life.
Try self-help materials. Several books and websites have info on nearly every type of sexual issue. Educate yourself on how to make sex even more satisfying for you and your partner. Highlight book passages or send your better half a link to a site with info they can read to help make sex more pleasurable.
Slow lovemaking can be a good thing. Face the facts, aging means you aren’t as spry as you were once upon a time. Your sexual responses will slow down. Arousal and orgasm might take a while to reach. But hold on! Slow sex ain’t a bad thing! Having a lovemaking routine that lasts a while can be stimulating and open up doors to a new kind of fulfilling sexual experience.
Lube it up. Vaginal dryness often comes with aging, but luckily, lubricating liquids and gels are easy fixes for the issue. Don’t hesitate for a minute to whip out your lube to avoid painful sex.
Try cuddling. No lie! It takes energy to have sex, and if you lack it on some days, resort to kissing and cuddling instead. A little smooching and touching can be fun, satisfying, and helps maintain a physical and emotional bond between you and your mate.
Share a fantasy. Writing down your fantasies can help you explore possible activities you think might be a turn-on for both you and your partner. Try thinking of an experience or movie that aroused you, then share the memory with your partner. This exercise is especially helpful for people with low sexual desire.
Use it or lose it. When estrogen drops during menopause, the vaginal walls lose some of their elasticity. You can slow this process or even reverse it by having sex. If intercourse is not an option, then take matters into your own hands by masturbating. Use a vibrator or dildo (an object resembling a penis) to help stretch the vagina. For men, long periods without an erection can deprive the penis of a portion of the oxygen-rich blood it needs to maintain healthy sexual functioning. As a result, something akin to scar tissue develops in muscle cells, which interferes with the penis’s ability to expand when blood flow is increased.
Got no interest in sex? If you’ve tried it all and still have no interest in sex, have a conversation with your doctor. A medical professional can get down to the root of your issue and prescribe an effective treatment. You can also try contacting a sex therapist who can help you explore issues that may stand in the way of a satisfying sex life.
