The most common change in sexual function in older men is......
Erectile dysfunction!
Hello, everyone, this is Dr Justin Rheem of DrRheemAging!
In this channel, we promote healthy and prosperous older adulthood.
Just as little children need education on safe sex,
Older adults need "sex-ed" as well.
This "Sex-Ed" is not about how babies are formed in a womb,
but rather, addresses the changes happening in our sexual life as we grow older.
If you pay attention to these changes and apply these tips in your sexual life,
You'll be able to enjoy the most out of your relationship with your partner.
But if you don't appreciate these changes and disregard them,
You may gradually distance yourself from having sex with your loved one.
Then, let's find out about how our sexual organs change throughout older adulthood!
What are some benefits of having sex in older adulthood?
The two biggest concerns of adulthood, which had been..
1. Raising kids. 2. Building a career
may no longer be the utmost importance in older adulthood.
But now, as you're entering into the later stages of life,
fostering a good relationship with others may be your #1 concern.
Whether it be the relationship with your spouse of many years,
or a new relationship with your new boyfriend or girlfriend,
maintaining a healthy sexual relationship can further shine upon these relationships.
In addition to these benefits, if you have sex in older adulthood,
You will reap the benefit of burning calories and fat,
the endorphin release from the brain may elate your mood and help prevent depression in older adulthood.
What are the common changes in sexual function in older adulthood?
The most common change in older men is..
(drumroll..)
erectile dysfunction!
The firmness of the penis during erection may go down, and
the duration of erection may get shorter as men age.
These are the most common changes in men.
These changes occur because of plaque build-up in arteries leading to the penis.
The blood flow to the penis is compromised because of these atherosclerotic changes, and it becomes harder to maintain an erection.
I'd like to mention two more changes in men.
First, it may take longer to ejaculate;
Secondly, the orgasm during ejaculation may be reduced.
Next, for the changes occurring in women,
Vaginal dryness is the most common and bothersome.
After menopause, women experience a gradual reduction of estrogen.
As a result, the vaginal wall gets thinner and dryer.
In an extreme case, it could be painful to have sexual intercourse.
In 4 out of 10 older women, sexual orgasm goes down and hinders women from having an interest in sex.
What are tips on having a healthy and "satisfying" sex in older adulthood?
In older adulthood, since our physical body is no longer as healthy as before,
having imprompt sex may be overwhelming for each other.
If your partner is suffering from arthritis,
you wouldn't want to force the spouse into having sex with you, right?
So, after the 50s, I recommend communicating the desire and setting aside time for intimacy.
Respecting his/her time and health, you may enjoy a more intimate time with your partner.
Therefore, the first tip is having a planned sexual relationship.
The second tip is to have a longer arousal period.
Through a longer arousal step, not only you may appreciate your partner even more,
but also you and your partner need a longer period to prepare for the intercourse.
The third tip is to get medical help.
For ladies, if vaginal dryness is too severe,
you can try lubricant prior to the intercourse.
If the lubricant is not adequate in treating pain during intercourse,
we can prescribe an estrogen cream to apply intravaginally.
The vaginal wall may get thinner with the menopause,
but by replenishing the vagina with estrogen, the vaginal wall may get healthier and smoother.
But!
when it comes to getting medical help for older men,
it's none other than erectile dysfunction treatment.
You've probably heard of Viagra and Cialis, but
do you know how to take these medications?
In the next episode, we will learn about ED medications.
Until the next episode with more fun and educational content, see you in the next video!