Understanding Ageing And Sexuality Changes

No one is too old for an enjoyable sex life, and many researches have confirmed that older people continue to enjoy sexual activity into their 80s and 90s. Ageing however remains one of the greatest mysteries of medical science. Aristotle believed that each sex act had a direct life-shortening effect.

While this may be true for a drone bee mating for the first (and the last) time with a queen bee, or the Pacific salmon which spawns once and dies, certainly this is not true for Homo sapiens. Curiously, ageing is linked to sex but not as Aristotle imagined.

Prof. Jide Olowookere in his book on ‘Ageing and the keys to longevity’ stated that ‘it appears that the ultimate reason why we grow old is that during the course of biological evolution, nature placed a higher premium on reproduction than on the long-term maintenance of our bodies that might have allowed us to live for ever’.

Not only do our bodies change over time, but a lifetime of experiences can change what sex means to us over time, and at various stages in our lives. Looking into the past, today’s seniors and even our later-middle-age group grew up in different times than we all currently live in. The differences between those days and modern times are simply huge. Values, beliefs, and social attitudes have drastically changed, and so have many of our attitudes towards sex and sexuality. Basically, there are more than just physical changes that affect sex as we age.

What are the effects of ageing on sex and sexuality?
As part of a normal aging process, everyone may notice a slowing sexual response. Regular sexual activity however helps to maintain sexual ability. Older people want and are able to enjoy an active, satisfying sex life. As men get older, the loss of ability to achieve and maintain an erection hard enough for sexual intercourse seems to decrease, especially in men with heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes.

For many men, impotence can be managed and perhaps even reversed. Men often notice more distinct changes in sexuality as they advance in life. It may take longer to get an erection or the erection may not be as firm or as large as in earlier years. The feeling that an ejaculation is about to happen may be shorter. The loss of erection after orgasm may be more rapid or it may take longer time before an erection is again possible. Some men may find they need more manual stimulation. Similarly, women may notice changes in the shape and flexibility of the vagina. These changes may not cause a serious loss in the ability to enjoy sex. Most women will have a decrease in vaginal lubrication that affects sexual pleasure. Thus, there may be a need for vaginal lubricants.

What are the major issues affecting sexuality in ageing?
Sexuality is often a delicate balance of emotional and physical issues. How we feel may affect what we are able to do. If you are too worried about impotence, you can create enough stress to cause it. As a woman ages, she may become more anxious about her appearance. This emphasis on youthful physical beauty can interfere with a woman’s ability to enjoy sex.

Older couples may have the same problems that affect people of any age. But they may also have the added concerns of age, retirement and other lifestyle changes, and illness. These problems can cause sexual difficulties. Alcohol taken excessively can reduce potency in men and delay orgasm in women. Medications such as antidepressants, tranquilizers, and certain high blood pressure drugs can cause impotence. Some drugs can make it difficult for men to ejaculate. Some drugs reduce a woman’s sexual desire. Masturbation is a highly controversial issue as pertaining to health. This sexual habit is usually commonly practised by the unmarried, widowed, or divorced people and those whose partners are ill or away.

Having safe sex is important for people at every age. Anyone who is sexually active can be at risk for being infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. One is never too old to be at risk. Appropriate precautions should be taken to be protected from AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Your health, sexuality and ageing: which way forward?
Even the most serious conditions shouldn’t stop one from having a satisfying sex life, although illness or disability can affect sexuality. Most men with diabetes do not have problems, but it is one of the few illnesses that can cause impotence. In most cases, medical treatment can help. Joint pain due to arthritis can limit sexual activity. Surgery and drugs may relieve this pain. In some cases, drugs can decrease sexual desire. Exercise, rest, warm baths, and changing the position or timing of sexual activity can be helpful.

Sexual function is rarely damaged by a stroke and it is unlikely that sexual exertion will cause another stroke. Using different positions can help make up for any weakness or paralysis. Many people who have had a heart attack are afraid that having sex will cause another attack. The risk of this is very low. The recommendation is that most people can start having sex again about 16 weeks after an attack.

Most people worry about having any kind of surgery; it is especially troubling when the sex organs are involved. However, most people do return to the kind of sex life they enjoyed before having surgery. When performed correctly, the surgical removal of the womb (hysterectomy) does not hurt sexual functioning. Men who feel their partners are “less feminine” after a hysterectomy may be helped by counselling. Furthermore, a woman may lose her sexual desire or her sense of being desired after surgical removal of all or part of the breast, although her body is as capable of sexual response as ever. Counselling is certainly useful in such a situation.

Sometimes a surgical removal of all or part of the prostate of a man needs to be done because of an enlarged prostate. This procedure rarely causes impotence. If your sexuality is important to you, talk to your doctor before surgery to make sure you will be able to lead a fully satisfying sex life thereafter.

How healthy are your kidneys? Remember to live a healthy ‘kidney life’. Take more of fruits, fibre diet, and less of animal protein and fatty foods. Stay healthy, till next weekend.