Many people think that women are the only people who go through sexual changes later in life, but that is not the case. Many older men experience low libido and erectile dysfunction as they reach their 40s and 50s, which can be both a cause of personal distress and embarrassment.
Sex evolves as we age, which means people to understand their bodies and accommodate. Just because you don’t experience the same sex drive that you did when you were 25 doesn’t mean you can’t have amazing sex at 50.
Healthy sex can improve your relationship as well as benefit your physical health and happiness. Read on to learn about five ways you can improve your sex drive, increase libido and treat erectile dysfunction as an older man.
1. Start Slow
Foreplay can become practically non-existent in older couples, but it’s imperative to good sex. As testosterone levels decrease in old age, men will need more stimulation to get and maintain an erection. Manual stimulation, touching and kissing can help with this.
Foreplay is also a wonderful way to bring intimacy back into your sex life. It’s not uncommon for couples to struggle with lovemaking as their bodies change and they have less sex. Take the time to slow down, appreciate and truly experience the moment with your partner.
Tap into every sensation in your body, from the pressure of their lips on yours to the weight of their body against you. This can gradually help you become more aroused without worrying about the need to perform right away.
2. Change the Time
You may experience a lower sex drive at night after a long day at work. It will be difficult to get an erection or climax if you’re stressed and tired. Instead, try to have sex in the morning when you’re more alert and feel refreshed. You could also schedule sex for the weekends when you don’t have anything else going on.
It may take you and your partner longer to become aroused at this stage in your life, but that’s okay. It just adds to the intensity of the moment. Set the scene, take your time and know that it’s okay to accommodate to your body’s new needs.
3. Talk to a Sex Therapist
As men age, they may begin to experience sexual anxiety. They worry about not being able to achieve an erection or maintain one during sex, which in turn impacts their sex drive. A sex therapist can offer valuable tips and advice and make you feel less embarrassed and alone in your struggle.
4. Go Beyond Intercourse
Penetrative sex isn’t the only way to have a rewarding, satisfying sex life. Take a step back from trying to go “all the way” and use this time to experiment with other forms of erotic intimacy.
Take turns giving one another oral sex, try full-body massages or even just make out like you’re teenagers with plenty of over-the-clothes fondling. This form of sex can be highly intimate, feel good and still lead to an orgasm without any penetration or erection.
5. Take Care of Your Health
High cholesterol and blood pressure can make it more difficult to get an erection or keep one during sex. Sometimes, hormones may also be at play and not just testosterone. Talking to your doctor is the best way to treat sexual dysfunction as they can run blood tests and make sure there’s nothing undiagnosed impacting your sex drive.
Your doctor can help you gain some clarity on what your body is going through. When you put things into physiological terms, they can feel a lot less isolating and defeating. A physician can also offer some suggestions for treating erectile dysfunction; Viagra is just one solution. You can also consider natural treatments for ED including Panax ginseng and acupuncture.
It’s perfectly healthy and normal for men in their 50s and 60s to experience a decline in sexual desire, but that doesn’t mean they have to go completely without, either.
Staying Connected With Your Partner
There is always an emotional component to sex, especially when you’re older and your body is changing in a way you never truly prepared for. Make sure that you express your feelings to your partner and work through them together. A lack of sex in a relationship does not have to equate to less intimacy.
In fact, as the two of you openly discuss this new chapter in your sex lives, the openness and honesty can bring you even closer together.
Article Submitted By Community Writer