59 and dating
Seniors, when it comes to sex, use it or lose it, says a noted sex educator. "The reality is that older people are a lot sexier than younger people think.
'You should continue to have good sex for the same reason you should continue to get good exercise: It's taking care of yourself,' she says. The common notion is that when you are old you don't -- and maybe shouldn't -- have sex. the biggest use of prostitutes is on the day Social Security checks come out," says John Morley, MD, director of the division of geriatric medicine at St. So who's responsible for the myth that sex becomes unimportant as one ages?
People have to know they are not the only one who is considering being sexual.
They need to know that they can do it without any risk to their health, and more importantly, with no risk to their self-esteem.
"Men are mostly concerned about erections," Bortz says.
"For women, the concern is opportunity." "I was on an airplane sitting next to a 90-year-old woman and she said, 'What do you do' and I told her I was a gerontologist with an interest in impotence," Morley recalls.
"We don't necessarily get worse, but our physiology changes as we get older," Bortz says.
"One myth to put aside is that sex equals intercourse," Blank says. Alternatives to intercourse are not just for people who don't want to get pregnant or get a disease.
"Our job as physicians is to facilitate and improve and counsel where possible." This may mean different things for different people.We have learned so much from people in the disability community. Find a way to enjoy yourself with whatever limitations you may have." "The worst sexual dysfunction in this country is our inability to talk about sex," Blank says.I know a quadriplegic man who has no feeling below the neck, but he can have orgasms from having his neck nuzzled. For example, if your partner is very overweight, there are a lot of things you can't do. "To make the leap from not talking to talking is huge.Blank and Bortz each recommend masturbation -- for both men and women -- as a good starting point.Not surprisingly, maintaining sexual function is different for men and women.
