There is a common myth that as people get older they stop wanting to have sex, or stop being able to have enjoyable sex. Whilst it is true that you have to safeguard your sexual health as you get older, in truth there are plenty of older people who enjoy fulfilling sex lives.
In order to make sure that you preserve your sexuality as you get older, you need to first look at prioritising your wellness and wellbeing. For women, this is often a mental or emotional thing, where they see their aging bodies in a certain way and feel that age has somehow ‘broken’ their bodies. The media is also extremely guilty of playing a strong role in this, by only portraying certain kinds of women (young, firm and perky!) as being sexually attractive.
The menopause and other changes that occur in the midlife period can have some difficult effects on sexuality, but they no longer need to be considered as a barrier to future healthy sex lives. It has become a bit of folklore in a way, and many women fear that after the menopause they will no longer want to have sex with their partners, or will not enjoy sex. In truth, with the modern options (both hormonal and non-hormonal) that are available to help counteract the effects of the menopause, sex after the menopause can be just as good as before.
Sexuality is important for human wellness, and adults should be encouraged, as they grow older, to continue to engage in sexual behaviour as they get older. This can either mean continuing to actively seek out sexual contact with your partner, or to enjoy sexual behaviour that doesn’t involve actual intercourse (such as intimacy with a partner, or with yourself). The more sex or sexual response that you have, the more that you will find that you want it. Sexuality and arousal work best when they are regularly stimulated.