Many women discover that sex gets better with age. And then, around the age of 50 (give or take a few years), changes occur that can ruin your sex life. Your hormones change, and suddenly, your desire for sex disappears and may hurt, or you can’t orgasm.
Chetanna Okasi, MD, at Women’s Wellness MD, understands the physical, mental, and emotional challenges that affect sex after 50. She has helped many women overcome their problems and regain a satisfying sex life.
Here, she offers five tips for improving your sex life.
Menopause begins around age 50. Your body stops producing estrogen at this stage, and you no longer have periods. The loss of estrogen has a dramatic impact on your sex life.
Without estrogen, the vagina loses moisture and elasticity. The vaginal walls become thin and fragile. Your body produces less lubricating moisture during sex. These changes cause painful sex for many women.
Low estrogen also affects blood flow to the clitoris and vagina. As a result, it takes longer to become aroused and have an orgasm.
All these changes put a damper on your libido. It’s hard to desire sex when intercourse is painful or less pleasurable.
You can overcome all these problems by restoring hormonal balance with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. As levels of estrogen rise, vaginal tissues regain health, your libido returns, and sexual intercourse is enjoyable.
Your risk of developing chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol rises as you get older. They often get diagnosed after the age of 45.
Chronic conditions, illnesses, and the medications you may take to treat them can affect your sex life. They may cause hormone imbalances, restrict blood flow, and affect sexual desire.
Some chronic illnesses may cause chronic pain or limit movement, making sex uncomfortable. Dealing with a disease can make you depressed, which lowers your libido.
Chronic diseases aren't curable, but you can manage them with medications and lifestyle changes. Managing the disease supports your physical health, restoring your desire for and ability to enjoy sex.
Your mental health and emotions have a dramatic impact on your sexuality. People who are stressed, anxious, or depressed lose their sex drive.
Around 50, many people face life changes like adjusting to an empty nest or retirement. These issues and others cause enough emotional turmoil to affect your love life.
We frequently help women facing mental health problems, talking about their concerns and screening for conditions. Though we don’t provide therapy, we may prescribe medication (depending on your needs), offer support, and refer you to a mental health professional.
One of the best ways to make sex more pleasurable is to begin outside the bedroom. Spending time together, building personal connections, and bringing romance into your life naturally can ignite a spark that improves sex.
However, it takes purposeful planning to make this happen. You and your partner need to set aside time and keep the date without letting work or life obligations interfere.
Another way to add a spark is by talking about any problems you’re having with sex. Discuss what the two of you can do together to help, like taking more time for foreplay because it takes longer to get aroused. Be open about what you need to make sex more pleasurable.
If you don’t talk about these issues, your partner may think you’re avoiding sex because of them or something they did wrong. On the other hand, if you do have an issue with them, the way to restore pleasurable sex is to talk and find ways to solve the problem.
Taking a new approach in the bedroom may add a spark to your sex life. You can enhance your pleasure by experimenting with oils that improve sexual sensation, giving each other a sensual massage, trying new positions, or using sex toys.
You may also want to try lubricants, vaginal moisturizers, or topical estrogen to help with vaginal dryness or low lubrication.
As women’s health specialists, we provide holistic care that supports every aspect of your well-being, including making sex more pleasurable.
Call Women’s Wellness MD in Columbia and Greenbelt, Maryland, to schedule a consultation if you have any questions or sexual problems.
