The desire for intimacy and sex in our relationships continues as we age. However, sometimes couples do tend to overlook their love life as they grow old. Due to various reasons, including health issues as well as the aging process, their ability as well as desire to continue their sexual relationships can be hindered. Sometimes people view sex as just some extra “work” that they are “expected” to engage in when they grow older. However, it is a proven fact that sex is an integral part of any relationship and an active sex life benefits individuals in multiple ways.

Physical and Hormonal Changes

As we grow older, our bodies change. These natural changes affect us physically as well as emotionally. In men, testosterone, the male hormone, starts decreasing as they age and they start noticing changes. Erectile Dysfunction (Impotence) becomes a common problem. It also takes men much longer to get an erection and even when they do get one it is not as large or firm as they would have liked it to be. It also takes men much longer to achieve another erection after they have had an orgasm.

Estrogen, the hormone in women, starts decreasing over a period of time and this affects the production of vaginal lubricants. Without these lubricants, sex can be an uncomfortable activity for women. Also a woman’s vagina becomes thinner and she takes longer time to get orgasms. These are some of the changes and realities that men and women battle as they age. Apart from these sexual related changes, there are a number of other changes that take place in their physical appearance as well. This affects an individual’s self esteem which in turn can hamper his/her desire to have sex.

Health Problems

Health problems also play havoc on sexual health. Usually diseases such as arthritis, chronic pain, heart diseases, diabetes, stroke and incontinence are just some of the health issues that individuals have to deal with. However, despite these changes it is very important that couples pay attention to their sexual health. In addition to being a good form of exercise, sex helps the body produce hormones and dopamine connected with happiness. It is very important that couples work towards making sex an important part of their lives. This can be done by just following some simple tips.

Plan your special night:

As we grow older we realize that sex may never be a spontaneous act. In such cases to keep the flame burning, it is important that couples plan for sex. This is a great way for couples to set aside some time for themselves while balancing other responsibilities. Apart from planning, it is also very important that couples put in extra effort and energy into their relationships outside the bedroom. Effort put into the relationship outside the bedroom is directly proportional to what happens in the bedroom.

Keep the required supplies handy:

Given the harsh realities of aging, couples who want to enjoy sex as they get older should definitely keep the necessary aids handy. These include vaginal lubricants for women and erectile dysfunction medicine for men. Planning ahead and taking care of these issue makes the act of sex much more enjoyable for both parties.

Maintaining physical health:

It is very important that couples also maintain their physical health. Physical fitness, in turn helps keep a lot of health issues at bay. Not only does maintaining physical health keep diseases at bay but it also helps build stamina and energy. The truth is that sex is a physical activity which requires a high level of sustained energy. Individuals need to be fit and healthy if he or she plans to have an active sex life. Physical health can be maintained easily by exercising regularly, by practicing yoga, swimming laps, spin cycling or even taking up aerobics sessions. Finally, the saying “know when to push away from the table” holds true especially as we age. While following a balanced diet is important, portion control and limiting the amount of food consumed is essential to maintaining physical health.