As people age, certain things leave their list of items they will still attempt. Activities like climbing on tall ladders or taking on skydiving for the first time often are dropped somewhere from the mid-forties to the mid-fifties. Other things bite the dust a little later. Age seems to bring a natural slowing and restricting to most lives.
Sex is sometimes lumped into the category of something to drop or diminish somewhere beyond the mid-fifties. Yes, there are people who stay active into their seventies, eighties, and beyond. Yet, it is assumed that the type and frequency of sex changes dramatically while advancing through senior adulthood.
Men and women face two different problems that both center around the same general area of the body. Mental arousal has difficulty translating in becoming physically ready for sexual activity. Both genders have the same let down, but it is manifested differently in women than in men.
In women, loss of natural lubrication is a big problem. Without the lubrication pouring into her genitals, sexual penetration, and even foreplay, can become painful and nearly impossible. Along with this, some women struggle to have the same level of physical feelings that had previously accompanied sex.
In men, the problem becomes a lessening of the firmness of erections. To complicate this further, maintaining an erection until penetration and climax have been attained can be very difficult. Some men lose the ability to become firm altogether. This can be the result of high blood pressure, heart and artery disease, or prostate treatments. Whatever the cause, it can lead to severe frustration. As one senior man remarked, "I can still have sex most of the time, but it is not worth all of the effort." Longer lead in time, more stimulation, and sometimes manual manipulation to complete the act make sex an ordeal instead of a pleasure for many.
Many advanced seniors simply substitute physical closeness and company for sex. For others, this is not an acceptable solution. This is especially true if one partner is still a lot more sexual capable than the other. Large age differences can make this happen. If one partner has gone through a debilitating disease, it can have a severe effect.
Several viable options can be given for this situation. Obviously, for women, obtaining some good quality personal lubricant can be an easy answer if personal dryness is the only concern. This is an easy and relatively cheap way to help the situation. By trying out several different products, the right mix of lubrication and mess can be found. Some women have discovered that buying lubricant with a warming or stimulating property can be a better choice for helping to increase the feeling in the genital area.
Certain amounts of hormone replacement therapy have helped both men and women restore some of their more youthful sexual vigor. These along with products like Viagra and Cialis have shown real promise in extending sexual abilities and desire by a decade or more.
Some men following prostate surgery have found the need for prosthetic devices to manufacture an erection. While not perfect, this does give him the ability to do his share of the work in sex. Other things like creams, vibrators, sex toys, and special vacations have proved to put spice back into a mundane sex life. Both partners need to agree on what is acceptable and practical in their situation. Most people really do find that extending their time for enjoying sex is worth the effort. Being able to perform in the bedroom is still an important part of a person's self-image. Anything that helps this is considered at least worthy of consideration.
