The years after you turn 50 are a time of great change, but some of the biggest changes don’t get discussed as openly as perhaps they should.
As our bodies and minds mature and change, our relationships — and our sexual health — changes as well. But what if we told you that there are many things you can do to keep things lively in the bedroom, even as you enter into your later years.
Courtesy of Renewed Vitality, here are five simple ways to improve your sex life after 50.
Go With the Flow
The physical changes that accompany aging are inevitable, but they don’t have to drastically affect your libido, desire, drive, or ability to perform.
According to the North American Menopause Society, up to 45 percent of postmenopausal wonen find sex painful due, in part, to increased vaginal dryness. One great way to combat this natural and common side-effect of aging is good-quality lubricant.
As you age, try making lube a regular part of your sex life. Doing so is a simple and inexpensive way to make sex feel physically comfortable again.
Additionally, small dietary changes, like eating more soy products, flax seeds, fruits, and vegetables can make a big difference in the bedroom for older couples. This is due to the natural phytoestrogens found in those foods, which may help women raise their estrogen levels.
Be Open and Honest
One of the most important aspects to a healthy sexual relationship is trust and understanding. By offering judgement-free, open communication about sex with your partner, you can unlock a whole new world of experiences.
For example, did you know that it is common for couples to have mismatched sex drives? If you find this to be the case in your relationship, you and your partner should always speak frankly about what is important for both of you sexually. Always work towards a compromise that tries to meet both of your needs.
In addition, don’t be ashamed to talk about experiences like erectile dysfunction, which can make it difficult for a man to achieve or sustain an erection during sexual intercourse. For many men, this experience can be an embarrassing ego killer and a source of serious emotional stress.
If ED is something that concerns you or your partner during sex, try respectfully and soothingly talking to them about the many effective medical treatments, lifestly changes, and therapies that can help with this issue.
Replace Quickies With Romance
For both men and women, getting in the mood can be a challenge as you age. Sure, when you were younger quickies and one-offs may have been fun and satisfactory; but as you mature, you may find that slower, more intimate, and more romantic sex is the way to go.
Joan Price, an advocate for ageless sexuality and the author of The Ultimate Guide to Sex After Fifty: How to Maintain — or Regain — a Spicy, Satisfying Sex Life, has this to say on the subject.
“As we age, our sexual needs and preferences may change. Where we like being touched, how we like being touched, even who we want to touch us may change. Let the changes be an opportunity to explore. Make a date with yourself or your partner to rediscover how your body responds. In a private, relaxed setting, spend a long, languid, sensual time touching without any goal except to experience sensation and pleasure.”
Live a Healthy Lifestyle
As we age, it can become more and more of a challenge to stay physically fit, but this doesn’t mean you should let yourself go. Even as you age, be sure to stick to a balanced, health diet and a firm exercise regiment.
Refusing to do so can not only pose serious health risks like high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol, but it can also lead to problems with erections, libido, and self-esteem.
If you already have an established condition, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, it’s very important that you speak to a doctor regarding your concerns surrounding sex and intimacy.
Don’t Be Ashamed to Ask For Help
Sexual issues like low libido and and performance can have an emotional effect as well as a physical one. This is why it’s so important to always speak confidently yet considerably about these things.
Gaining the courage to consult various professionals can have quite the benefit on your sex life. Take hormone therapy for example. If you’re having issues with your sexual satisfaction, don’t be afraid to reach out to Renewed Vitality in Reading, PA to see how we can help.
Renewed Vitality is the Berks County area’s premier facility for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and other treatments. We serve both men and women, offering safe, effective care that relieves hormone imbalance symptoms and restores quality of life for patients at all stages of life.
Our practitioner, Becky McClure, has made it her mission to help others achieve wellness, with over 30 years in healthcare and over 10 years providing state of the art pellet therapy. To learn more about Renewed Vitality and how it could benefit you, please contact us as soon as you’re comfortable. We look forward to helping you get your life back on track!
