Modern culture would have you think that satisfying sex is only for the young to enjoy.
Afterall, things do change as people get older. Age-related hormone decline can cause fatigue, issues with mood, weight gain, low sex drive, and other symptoms that aren’t exactly helpful to one’s sex life.
But there’s a problem with that line of thought. None of the above is a foregone conclusion. In fact, properly administered hormone therapy can prevent or reverse these kinds of symptoms.
And this is good news, because research indicates that people over 45 are more likely to think of their partners as sexually attractive than younger couples do.
Why Sex Is Important at Any Age
Everyone deserves to have a satisfying sex life, regardless of age. The enjoyment and intimacy derived from sex is reason enough to make it a priority. But there’s more to it than that. It turns out that having regular sex provides a number of health benefits:
- Cardiovascular healthStudies have shown that men who have regular sex have consistently lower blood pressure than men who have infrequent sex. This is important because high blood pressure is directly related to an increased risk for heart attack, stroke, and other forms of heart disease. In fact, men who have sex at least twice a week are half as likely to die from cardiovascular disease. And regular sex provides both men and women with a good cardiovascular workout.
- Stress reliefSex makes your body release endorphins (“feel-good” hormones) and oxytocin (the “cuddle hormone”). Together, these promote relaxation to help your body control stress.
- Better sleepThe endorphins and oxytocin released during sex also help to improve sleep quality by promoting relaxation.
- Pelvic floor healthWomen and men can both suffer from weak pelvic floor muscles as they age. This can cause a variety of issues, including incontinence. Regular sex helps to strengthen and maintain pelvic floor health.
What Keeps People from Having Sex
If sex is enjoyable and good for your health, you may be wondering why so many people stop having sex as they get older, or why they stop treating it as a priority in their lives.
Many of the reasons have to do with how men’s and women’s bodies change as a consequence of hormone decline:
- Reduced sex driveWomen produce less estrogen and testosterone leading up to, during, and after menopause. Testosterone production in men begins to decline as early as their late 20s. A reduction in these key hormones reduces libido in both genders.
- Erectile dysfunction in menTestosterone that is too low and/or estrogen that is too high can negatively impact a man’s ability to sustain an erection.
- Vaginal dryness and atrophy in womenEstrogen deficiency can cause a woman’s vaginal tissues to become dry and thin. The result is discomfort during sex.
- Difficulty reaching orgasmWhile sex can be enjoyable in the absence of an orgasm, most men and women find sex more satisfying if they can reach climax. It’s also preferable if “getting there” doesn’t feel like a Herculean task. Meanwhile, hormone decline can make achieving orgasm more difficult.
Fortunately, there are solutions to these issues.
How to Keep Your Sex Life Satisfying
There are a few simple steps you can take to ensure your sex life remains healthy and fulfilling:
- Stay in shape. Your physical condition has a lot to do with how much you enjoy physical activities of any kind, and that includes sex. Maintain a healthy weight and make sure you’re getting regular exercise.
- Talk to Renew Youth about hormone replacement therapy. Properly administered hormone therapy can boost your sex drive, enhance sexual function, address vaginal dryness, improve mood, and boost your energy level.
- Do your Kegels. Kegel exercises will help to keep your pelvic floor strong. Strong pelvic floor muscles = more satisfying sex.
- Talk to Renew Youth about other solutions. Hormone therapy is often all that’s needed to address the kinds of issues noted above. However, some people need some extra help. For those who need additional assistance, we have many other tools in our toolbox.
At Renew Youth, we understand that a fulfilling sex life impacts quality of life overall.
To learn more about how hormone replacement and other therapies can help you to enjoy a healthy sex life, call us at 800-859-7511 or use our contact form to set up your free 30-minute consultation.