Apparently, people want and need the closeness of others. We want to share our ideas and feelings with others and touch and touch us.
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The mere fact of being physically close is important, but many of us want to continue with an active and satisfying sex life as we get older. However, over time most people find that they need more time to feel sexually aroused. This is part of the normal aging process.
What are the normal changes?
Normal aging brings physical changes, both in men and in women. Sometimes these changes affect our ability to function sexually and enjoy sex with another person.
Some women enjoy sex more as they get older. After menopause or a hysterectomy, they no longer feel the fear of an unwanted pregnancy. You can feel more free to enjoy sex. Some women do not think that things like gray hair and wrinkles make them less attractive to their sexual partner. But if a woman believes that looking young or having the ability to give birth makes her more feminine, she may begin to worry about how desirable she is, no matter what her age. That can make sex not so pleasant for her.
A woman can see changes in her vagina. As you get older, your vagina becomes shorter and narrower. The walls become thinner and a little stiffer. These changes do not mean you can not enjoy sex. However, most of them will have less vaginal lubrication. This can affect sexual pleasure.
As age advances in men, impotence becomes more common. Impotence is the loss of the ability to achieve and maintain an erection rigid enough to have sex. By age 65, between 15 and 25% of men have this problem, at least one in four times when they practice sex. This can happen in men with heart problems, high blood pressure or diabetes - either because of the disease or the medications used to treat it.
A man may find that he takes longer to achieve an erection. Your erection may not be as firm or as big as before. The amount of ejaculation may be less. Erection loss after orgasm may happen more quickly, or it may take longer before you can have another erection. Some men discover that they need more erotic stimulation before sex.
What are the causes of sexual problems?
Illness, disability, or medications to treat a health problem can affect your ability to have and enjoy sex. However, even the most serious health problems, usually, do not prevent you from having a satisfying sex life.
Arthritis. Joint pain caused by arthritis can make sexual contact uncomfortable. Joint replacement surgery and medications can relieve this pain. Exercise, rest, hot baths, and changes in position or schedule for sexual activity may also be helpful.
Chronic pain. In addition to arthritis, a pain that persists for more than a month or that appears and disappears frequently can be caused by other bone or muscle problems, shingles, poor circulation, or blood vessel problems. This discomfort can, in turn, cause problems sleeping, depression, isolation and difficulty moving. These can interfere with intimacy among the elderly. Chronic pain does not have to be part of aging, it can often be treated.
Diabetes. Many men who suffer from diabetes do not have sexual problems, but this is one of the few diseases that can cause impotence. In most cases, medical treatment can help.
Heart problems. The narrowing and hardening of the arteries, known as arteriosclerosis, can change blood vessels and prevent blood from flowing freely. This can result in erection problems in men and can increase blood pressure (hypertension).
Some people who have suffered a heart attack fear that having sex may cause another attack. The probability is very low. Most of these people can have sex again 3 to 6 weeks after they stabilize after an attack, if their doctor approves. Always follow the advice of your doctor.
Incontinence. Loss of bladder control or leakage of urine is more common as we get older, especially in women. Stress incontinence happens for example when exercising, coughing, sneezing or lifting something. Because of the extra pressure on the abdomen during intercourse, incontinence can lead to people avoiding it. The good news is that, in general, this can be treated.
Stroke. A stroke rarely affects the ability to have sex, although it is possible to have erection problems. It is unlikely that the sexual act could cause another accident. Someone with weakness or paralysis caused by a stroke may try to use different positions or medical devices that allow them to continue practicing sex.
What effects can surgeries and medications have?
irony Many of us are worried about undergoing any type of surgery - and it is especially worrisome when it includes the genital area. Fortunately, most people have the kind of sex life they enjoyed before surgery.
Hysterectomy is surgery to remove the uterus. Does not interfere with sexual functioning. In case a hysterectomy apparently causes the woman the impossibility of enjoying sexual intercourse, requesting counseling could benefit her. For men who feel that their partner is "less feminine" after a hysterectomy, this type of help would also be helpful.
Mastectomy is surgery to partially or totally remove a woman's breast. Your body still has the same sexual responsiveness as always, although you may lose your sexual desire or the sensation of being desired. Sometimes it is convenient to talk with other women who have undergone this surgery. Programs like the "Reach Recovery" of the American Cancer Society (ACS) can be useful for both women and men. It is also a possibility to discuss breast reconstruction with the surgeon. Annually, approximately 1500 American men can develop breast cancer. In them, the disease can cause your body to produce an excess of "female" hormones. These can greatly reduce your sexual desire.
Prostatectomy is surgery to remove, totally or partially, the prostate from a man. Sometimes this procedure is carried out because of an enlarged prostate. This can cause urinary incontinence or impotence. If removal of the prostate gland (radical prostatectomy) is required, surgeons can usually save the nerves that go to the penis. Even an erection is possible. Talk to your doctor before surgery to make sure you can have a completely satisfying sex life afterwards.
Medicines. Some drugs can cause sexual problems. These include some medications for blood pressure, antihistamines, antidepressants, tranquilizers, appetite suppressants, diabetes drugs and some drugs for ulcer, such as Ranitidine. Some may cause impotence or make it difficult for man to ejaculate. Some medications can decrease sexual desire in women. Check with your doctor. Frequently, you can formulate a different medication, without this side effect.
Alcohol. Excess alcohol can cause erection problems in men and delay orgasm in women.
Am I no longer too old to worry about risk-free sex?
Safe sex is important for all people at any age. As women approach menopause, their periods may be irregular. Even so, you can get pregnant. In fact, pregnancy continues to be a possibility until your doctor confirms that menopause has passed - this means not having menstruated for 12 months.
Age does not protect you against sexually transmitted diseases. Young people are more exposed to the risk of diseases such as syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydial infection, genital herpes, hepatitis B, genital warts and trichomoniasis. However, these diseases can occur, and in fact happens, in sexually active elderly people.
Almost all sexually active people are at risk of being infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The number of elderly people with HIV / AIDS is increasing. One in 10 people who have been diagnosed with AIDS in the United States are over 50 years old. You are at risk if you have more than one sexual partner or if you were divorced or recently widowed and have started dating and having sex again without protection. Always use a latex condom during sex and ask your doctor about ways to protect yourself against all sexually transmitted diseases. You are never too old to avoid exposing yourself to risk.
Do the emotions count?
Sexuality often involves a delicate balance between emotional and physical aspects. The way you feel can affect what you are able to do. For example, men may fear that impotence becomes a more common problem as they get older. However, excessive concern about that possibility can cause enough stress to cause impotence. A woman who cares about her changes in appearance as she gets older may think that her partner no longer finds her attractive. Focusing on physical and youthful beauty can interfere with your way of enjoying sex.
Older couples face the same daily stresses that affect people of any age. They may also have additional concerns related to age, illness, withdrawal and other changes in their lifestyle. These concerns can cause sexual difficulties. Talk openly with your doctor, or ask for counseling. Often, these health professionals can help you.
Do not blame yourself for any sexual difficulties you and your partner may have. You may want to talk to a therapist about it. If in the couple, the man has problems of impotence or the woman seems to be less interested in sex, neither he nor she should suppose that for their respective partner they no longer have attractiveness. There can be many physical causes of your problems.
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