– At what age is it appropriate to talk about the onset of “old age” problems in sexual life?
As men age, testosterone levels begin to decline. This usually happens between 30-35 years. Excess weight, chronic stress, insomnia, diabetes and other comorbidities are causes that aggravate the situation and further slow down the production of the main sex hormone.
Age-related hormonal changes in women are primarily associated with a decrease in the functional activity of the ovaries. These may be associated with both age-related disorders and previous surgeries, microelement and vitamin deficiencies. The girl begins to notice age-related changes in the form of changes in the menstrual cycle. Most women enter menopause between the ages of 45 and 55 as part of the body’s natural biological aging cycle. The duration of this period depends on many factors, and above all on the lifestyle: the presence of bad habits, diet, stress level, amount and quality of sleep.
– How do these changes affect sexual life?
– With age, all patients notice a decrease in libido. In men, there is a decrease in the number of morning erections, during sexual intercourse the erection weakens and ejaculation is impaired. Violation of blood flow can also affect the formation of an erection. Possible causes are an increase in cholesterol levels, which causes “clogging” of blood vessels and, as a result, has a negative effect on sexual function. High blood pressure, diabetes, and damage to nerve tissue also adversely affect it. One of the main negative factors affecting erection is smoking. If you smoke one or two packs of cigarettes a day, the risk of sexual problems increases.
Women often complain of discomfort during sexual intercourse. With age, the blood flow of the vagina worsens, vaginal secretion (lubrication) decreases – this leads to discomfort during intercourse, as a result of which libido decreases and there may be no desire for sexual intimacy with a partner.
– How to delay the emergence of problems in sexual life?
In order to delay the emergence of problems in sexual life, it is important for both women and men to maintain a healthy lifestyle, eat a balanced diet, monitor their weight, try to sleep at least 8 hours a day and not go to bed late. After 23:00, try to reduce your stress level as much as possible. All these banal but important tips will help improve sexual function and maintain it for as long as possible.
To combat the unpleasant effects of age-related hormonal changes in a man’s body, it is important to maintain normal testosterone levels. Women are prescribed menopausal therapy: oral or transdermal estrogens. They improve blood flow and vaginal hydration, increase libido.
Important: Vaginal estrogens are also prescribed to women who are already on hormonal medication. As a result, vaginal blood flow improves, there is more lubrication and discomfort during sex is reduced, which helps to get the most out of intercourse.
– According to the latest data, hormonal drugs increase the risk of breast cancer in women by 30%, while reducing the risk of developing ovarian cancer. What do you think about these studies?
– Modern hormonal drugs slightly increase the risk of breast cancer, but at the same time reduce the risk of type II diabetes by 25-35%, reduce the risk of osteoporosis and have a positive effect on the cognitive function of the brain. Like any hormonal therapy, the appointment of female sex hormones requires consultation and supervision of doctors – a gynecologist and a mammologist. With proper control, the risk of breast cancer is minimal.
“Some research suggests that ginger and evening primrose oil have aphrodisiac properties, especially for women.
– Any traditional medicine can be used in addition to hormone therapy, but not in place of it. In addition, after consulting a specialist, it is necessary to exclude allergies and individual intolerances. It is important to understand that if the main cause of problems in a woman’s sexual life is menopause, then no traditional medicine chosen by a competent doctor will be as effective as hormone therapy.
By the way, now on the pharmaceutical market there are valuable remedies, including Russian drugs, that help to significantly increase sexual desire in both men and women. For example, scientists from the Skolkovo Innovation Center have recently invented an effective intranasal spray.
– What is this medicine?
– Dezirix drug.
It is used to treat decreased sex drive in women. Its mechanism of action is associated with the effect on the signaling pathways of the brain responsible for the regulation of sexual and reproductive behavior. This is a unique development of domestic scientists, at the moment it has no analogues in the world.
How is sexual activity in old age related to depression?
– Sexual desire depends on many factors, and the level of sex hormones is just one of them. Mental health is closely related to the severity of sexual desire at any age.
It is important to understand that erections in men occur in the brain, so any psychological problem, including depression, leads to an additional decrease in sexual function. The situation is similar for women – psychological difficulties reduce sexual desire.
Also, during sex, “happiness hormones” are produced – serotonin and oxytocin. They have a positive effect on the psychological state at any age. Therefore, sex can help fight depression to some extent.
“Some also say that watching porn together helps solve problems for an older couple in bed – is it?
– If the regularity or quality of sexual intercourse is associated with psychological problems, individual therapy for each of the spouses or couples, consultation with a family psychologist may be helpful. Everyone is different, but watching porn together can definitely bring partners closer. You should also not devalue other common pastimes and common hobbies.
In addition, if a man takes hormone therapy and a woman does not, disharmony occurs: the partner’s libido is preserved, and the partner feels a decrease in sexual desire. This can lead to couple problems. It is important to take into account that in the case of erectile dysfunction, a man can avoid intimacy even at the home level – tactility is reduced or lost. The wife begins to linger at work so that the woman has time to go to bed before he arrives.
Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors are over-the-counter medications that can help with erectile dysfunction. They are widely known: sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil, udenafil and others.
– Can Viagra (sildenafil) and the like be used even at the age of 90? Indeed, are there almost no people at this age who are not at risk of developing cardiovascular disease?
– Viagra, Cialis, Levitra and other drugs with a similar effect do not increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, regardless of age: at least 90 years old, at least 100 years old. Their mechanism of action is associated with vasodilation and improved blood flow. There are many studies on the drug Viagra that show that the functioning of the heart improves while taking the drug.
– Is having sex in old age important or can it be left in the past?
Having sex is important at any age. Firstly, sexual intimacy allows you to maintain psychological comfort in a couple. Secondly, sex is the prevention of certain diseases. For example, prostatitis in men.
Hormonal problems affect not only sexual function, but the entire body as a whole. Medication prescribed for men reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, fractures and prevents decreased bone density (osteoporosis).
– In what situation is sex harmful to health in men and women in old age – when should it not be done?
– In principle, there is no danger of having sex in old age. All of them are connected not with the number in the passport, but with the presence of diseases, for example, cardiovascular diseases. If a person has recently had a myocardial infarction, the cardiologist will most likely advise you to strictly dose physical activity. In this case, sex becomes an additional burden on the heart.
There is no age limit that makes it worth giving up sexual intimacy. Sex makes both men and women healthier and happier. People in their 50s, 60s or 70s are no different than people in their twenties or thirties. Of course, libido declines with age, but the right hormone therapy can help you maintain a good level of sexual function and not deprive yourself of the pleasure of sexual intimacy with a partner. My patients have sex at both 85 and 90 years old because sex is an important component of comfort and emotional intimacy in a couple.