Dealing with senior sex problems

Problem 1: Arthritis

Arthritis is swelling and pain in joints. Joint pain can make sexual activities difficult and uncomfortable. Daily exercise, proper rest, warm baths, and hot fomentation can help. Changing the time and trying different positions for sexual activity may help. Joint replacement surgery and medicines can be helpful if the arthritis and pain are too severe.

Problem 2: Chronic pain

Body ache, headache, backache, muscle fatigue etc can occur on and off with growing age. This discomfort can in turn cause sleep problems, depression, and limited mobility. Chronic pain may interfere with intimacy amongst old couples. Chronic pain is not necessary part of aging and can be usually treated.

Problem 3: Diabetes

Diabetes does not always cause trouble with sexual life. But it is one of the few health conditions that can affect sexual life by causing impotence (erectile dysfunction) or retrograde ejaculation in men. Infections and wounds take longer to heal in diabetics and this can be a problem sometimes. Treatment options are available to cure.

Women with diabetes experience sexual problems like vaginal dryness, painful intercourse, low sex drive, and sluggish or absent sexual response. Lubricants can help women with dryness and pain.

Controlling sugars can improve the conditions. Any sexual problems should be conveyed to your doctor because they can be an indication of some other underlying illness that might need treatment.

Problem 4: Heart disease

Heart diseases, narrow and hard arteries lead to inadequate blood supply to the genitals and can cause problems with erections in men.

People who have already suffered a heart attack fear another one due to sex indulgence. This is less likely. Most of the people become stable within 3 to 6 weeks after and heart attack and can lead a healthy sex life again. Talk to your doctor before you start.

Problem 5: Incontinence

Bladder dysfunction is common in both men and women with growing age. This can affect the sexual abilities. Leakage of urine is the common problem which can occur due to overactive bladder, poor control of sphincter muscles, urine retention, and urine infections. Extra pressure on abdomen during sex leads to dribbling of urine. Some people avoid sex due to this. This can be treated most of the times.

Problem 6: Stroke

Stroke can rarely lead to inability to have sex, but erection problems are possible after stroke. Having sex is unlikely to cause stroke again. But weakness or paralysis after stroke might hamper sex. Try using different positions.

Problem 7: Surgery

Most of the people return to the normal sexual life like earlier in just a few days after surgery even if genital area is involved. So do not worry about having any kind of surgery.

Problem 8: Medications or alcohol

Certain drugs like blood pressure medicines, tranquilizers, antidepressants, diabetes medicines etc can lead to sexual problems. Some medications can cause erectile dysfunction. Women suffer from low sex drive and dryness of vagina due to some medication. If you see any such side effects, check with the doctor to know if substitute medicines are available.

Alcohol has been linked to erection troubles in men and late orgasm in women.

Problem 9: Emotional issues

Lot of emotional issues are associated with old age like depression due to illnesses, loneliness, performance anxiety in men and anxiety in females about their changing body appearance and looks. All these can affect sexuality. Additionally there are concerns like retirement, lifestyle changes etc. These worries can add to sexual difficulties. Talk to a counselor openly or see a sexologist. They can solve your problems. Avoid blaming each other for the sexual difficulties.