Relationships

Does sex get better with age?

WRITTEN BY
09/10/21
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Fact Box

  • A 2010 AARP survey revealed that approximately 38% of sexual fantasies amongst people 45 and older involve “sex with a stranger and sex with more than one person at a time.” 
  • According to HealthyAging.org, about half of sexually active 75-85-year-old women report a “lack of interest in sex,” while only 15-25% of men older than 80 engage in sex at all. 
  • According to a study of older women (median age 67) that was published in the American Journal of Medicine, “67% of [sexually active] older women say they have orgasms ‘most of the time’ or ‘always’ during sex.”
  • A University of Michigan poll found that for 61% of older couples (ages 65-80), sex was important for their “overall quality of life.”

Maha (Yes)

Age is just a number. However, the higher that number, the better peoples’ chances are of scoring a perfect 10 in bed. A ‘Singles in America’ report by Match.com confirmed this, revealing that 66-year-old women and 64-year-old men have the “best sex” of their lives. 

For older women, sex is more enjoyable for several reasons. For starters, women are more comfortable with their sexuality. In fact, 59% of women over 50 feel confident and may overcome insecurities about flaws as they grow into themselves. 

Moreover, women understand their bodies better. They know what excites them, and they develop body confidence and sexual prowess. As they’re also safe from the risk of unwanted pregnancy, they can enjoy sex freely. 

As for men, they experience better sex because of their sexual prime. This is different from genital prime, which men achieve in their early 20s. Once reaching their sexual prime, 74% of men over 60 report their sex life is more satisfying than it was in their 40s--especially since they’re less impulsive and insecure. 

Men also gain more confidence from experience. They understand the importance of foreplay and pay more attention to their partners’ pleasure. They may also last longer due to their slower arousal period. 

Members of both genders share being adventurous when it comes to positions and locations. Proving this is a Lumen survey which uncovered 43% of Americans over 50 are having more adventurous sex than when they were younger. 

So, regardless of age, a great, rewarding sex life is achievable--one where intimacy and fun are at its core. 


Joanna (No)

Like everything else, aging takes its toll on individuals’ sexual desires and behavior. While these changes don’t eliminate the need for sex, they can impact sexual satisfaction and fulfillment. 

Firstly, aging impacts individuals physically. After menopause, women’s sexual organs undergo changes that lead to increased sensitivity, longer arousal time, and less vaginal lubrication--all of which can make intercourse painful or irritating. 

As for aging males, they may experience awkwardness while taking longer to become aroused. This issue can escalate due to erectile dysfunction, a concern that’s three times more likely to impact men aged 40 and above. 

But these are natural changes. Other changes occur due to diseases that develop with age. 

Take diabetes, for example, a disease that affects around 44% of adults aged 45 and above. Diabetes impacts sexual health by reducing libido, damaging nerves that make arousal possible, and making sex painful. 

And while aging people remain enthusiastic about sex, some tend to ignore practicing safety when single. As a result, sexually transmitted infections like syphilis and chlamydia are on the rise among elderly Americans. 

These numbers may continue rising as most doctors are reluctant to discuss sex with elderly patients. Moreover, the symptoms of some STDs may mimic symptoms aging individuals experience, such as tiredness and confusion. 

These issues aside, older couples in long-term relationships may have trouble enjoying sex due to the declining health of their partners. For instance, if one part of the couple suffered a heart attack, their lovemaking will change to prevent exertion. 

Because sex becomes more complicated and less pleasurable with age, it comes as no surprise then, that as one study pointed out, only 40% of older adults are still sexually active.  

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