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Sexuality and the Golden Years

© Alyssa Skye

When faced with the approach of advancing age, many people believe the misconception that sexual function deteriorates until it disappears completely. While most women (and men) will experience slight changes in their sexuality, for the most part, sexual feelings and activities will change only somewhat. In fact, in many people, sexuality will be enhanced.

Some of the most common effects of aging on women's sexuality include a decrease in either vaginal lubrication or the amount of time it takes for a woman's body to reach lubrication and a decrease in the amount of circulating sex hormones. Around the age of fifty, the duration of a woman's orgasm usually decreases from eight to twelve contractions to four or five.

The good news, however, is that most women will not experience any decrease in clitoral response or arousability. In fact, some women will have increased arousal responses as they age. Even more promising is the ability of a woman well into her eighties to have multiple orgasms.

Keeping this in mind, it is important to examine the factors which research has determined can have an even greater affect on sexuality in later life. These include the following:

*loss of partner or lover *obesity *depression (something which can affect the sexuality of a person at any age) *certain drugs which are commonly prescribed to older people such as antihypertensive agents, psychoactive agents, chemotherapy, and more *excessive alcohol use *certain surgeries such as hysterectomy, prostatectomy, and heart surgery *performance anxiety *certain conditions such as heart problems (check with a physician before overexerting yourself during sexual activity)

Other factors involve reactions of either a personal or societal nature. For example, when sexual intercourse becomes impossible for whatever reason, some people have a hard time accepting the fact that other sexual activities can be substituted for the act of intercourse. Others have strong personal misconceptions against masturbation. Older women might find physiological changes hard to cope with or might be faced with negative attitudes concerning sexuality and the elderly in those around them such as their children, fellow church members, or unenlightened physicians.

In the face of all of these potentially harmful factors, it is imperative to remember that sexuality remains a normal part of human life no matter what a person's age. The amount of sexual interest and ability will remain more or less constant and shouldn't be viewed as a bad thing in an older woman. Even more important is the fact that good sexual health can benefit overall health as a person ages.

The copyright of the article Sexuality and the Golden Years in Women's Sexuality is owned by Alyssa Skye. Permission to republish Sexuality and the Golden Years in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.