Sex Tips for Septuagenarians: How to Have Great Sex Even In Your 70s

Can a septuagenarian still be sexually active? Absolutely. 

While your libido might fluctuate as you mature, it’s perfectly normal to keep a healthy interest in sex as you enter your senior years – from age 60 and above. 

As long as your body allows you to, and you’re still in the pink of health, there’s literally no reason why you shouldn’t be sexually active as a senior. However, if you have any health conditions that may interfere with your senior sex life, you may want to consult your doctor.

 

What changes should men expect in their sex life as they age?

 

While it’s perfectly normal and beneficial to be sexually active in your senior years, you may have noticed changes in your sex drive, interest (or disinterest) in sex, or sexual dysfunctions such as premature ejaculation (PE) or erectile dysfunction (ED).

 

You may notice the sex-linked changes happening as you get older:

 

• Your sex drive might diminish, leading to a disinterest in sexual activity.
• You may begin to develop ED, making it hard for you to produce and keep an erection going when you’re aroused and in the mood for sex or solo play.
• You may find it harder to achieve an orgasm or have trouble ejaculating, which is called delayed ejaculation. On the other hand, if you orgasm and ejaculate sooner than you wish, it’s called premature ejaculation.
• Your stamina, strength, and muscle/bone mass may diminish over time, making it harder for you to have sex physically.
• You may notice discomfort or pain when engaging in sexual activity.
• Your sperm count may reduce over time, making it hard to impregnate your partner.

 

These changes may also happen in women. For instance, women may experience diminishing vaginal lubrication as they age, which may make sex uncomfortable or painful.

Meanwhile, in men, chronic diseases, hormonal changes, and medical conditions that become more common with age cause plenty of sex-related conditions. 

For instance, it’s perfectly normal and quite common for men to experience a slow, constant decline in testosterone levels. Research indicates that testosterone levels decline by around 1.5-1.6% annually, while serum testosterone levels – the testosterone present in your bloodstream – diminish by up to 2-3% annually in older men.

 

Testosterone is integral to maintaining your libido, helping build stronger muscles and bones, and manufacturing sperm, among others. Not surprisingly, a lot of age-related sexual conditions in men may be a byproduct of declining testosterone levels. 

Lastly, a bevy of chronic illnesses that may impact sexual performance may become more frequent as men age. 

For instance, cardiovascular illness, hypertension, atherosclerosis (or plaque buildup in the arteries), and type 2 diabetes are all known to cause ED as illnesses that appear more frequently in middle-aged to older adults.

 

What are the physical benefits of having sex as a senior?

 

It’s important to talk about the benefits of remaining active sexually well into your 60s and above. After all, keeping the flame burning in intimate sexual relationships and engaging in them improves the quality of life for most individuals. 

Most experts share the same sentiments, with studies showing the benefits that having sex in your older age brings. These include improved overall health, quality of life, and mental well-being, besides the substantial physical benefits of engaging in sexual activity.

 

What are the mental benefits of having sex as a senior?

 

Likewise, research indicates that being sexually active past the age of 65 can be tangibly beneficial for a person’s mental health and quality of life. 

For instance, a study surveying approximately 7,000 men and women with an average age of 65 years old indicated that senior adults that reported engaging in sexual activity at least once over the past year scored higher scores in the enjoyment of life as opposed to those that didn’t.

 

7 Science-Backed Tips for Enjoying Sex Aged 60 and Beyond

 

That said, knowing and fully understanding the positives of keeping a pleasurable, healthy sex life is half the battle. Making the necessary changes to put theory into practice is a whole different bag of beans. 

That’s why we’ve put together these 7 tips based on scientific evidence to push you in the right direction and begin enjoying a satisfying sex life as a senior, regardless of age.

 

1) Get regular health check-ups

 

Plenty of illnesses and health conditions impacting your sexual function become more frequent with age. That’s why you should pay attention to your overall health. 

For instance, heart disease and diabetes – two major and regular causes of ED – develop more often in senior adults.

 

It’s imperative to ensure your health and fitness, which is why you should check in regularly with your primary healthcare provider. If you’re experiencing any concerning symptoms or fears about your sexual health – no matter how big, small, or trivial they might seem at the outset – let them know.

 

2) Stay active and strive for a healthy lifestyle

 

Lifestyle and habits play a big role in your sexual health and your enjoyment of it. For instance, obesity, being sedentary, smoking tobacco, or consuming alcohol all increase your risk of developing sexual dysfunctions such as ED. 

Therefore, strive to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle. Try incorporating physical activity into your daily tasks, even if it’s only parking a little further to force yourself to walk a bit. Better still, try consuming a healthy, balanced diet rich in green leafy vegetables, lean protein sources, and antioxidant-packed fruits.

 

Additionally, staying active may help boost brain function and defend against cumulative mental impairment besides promoting overall health and improved sexual function. 

Alcohol and tobacco are known erection killers. If you drink or smoke, try to quit. Not only does quitting boost your sexual health, but it also reduces your risk of developing cardiovascular disease and certain cancers, even when quitting smoking in your senior years.

 

3) Get treatment using prescription ED medication

 

ED can do a number on your sex life, as well as your overall health and self-worth as a man. 

ED substantially becomes more common as you age, meaning your risk of developing problems with erectile function is exponentially higher in your 60s and 70s than it is in your early to middle adulthood.

 

Fortunately, ED medication can treat the ailment entirely. Medicines belonging to a category of drugs known as PDE5 inhibitors are among the FDA-approved medicines for treating ED. These include oral ED drugs such as sildenafil (generic Viagra®), tadalafil (generic Cialis®), vardenafil (generic Levitra®), and avanafil (marketed as Stendra®). These drugs are used prior to having sex to boost blood circulation in the penis, helping you gain and keep an erection hard enough for satisfying sexual activity.

 

These erectile dysfunction drugs are proven to be safe and effective for most senior-aged men. Nevertheless, it’s critical to let your healthcare provider know about any other medicines you take, since ED drugs may cause potentially life-threatening interactions with some drugs used for heart disease.

 

4) Lubrication: know its role

 

Just like men, as women get older, they begin to experience changes in hormonal levels that can make sex-related concerns such as a lack of lubrication in the vagina more common, 

As women age, they begin to experience hormonal changes that can make issues like vaginal dryness more common.

 

Vaginal dryness can make penetrative sex less satisfying and pleasurable. In other cases, it might even lead to substantial discomfort and outright pain while engaging in sexual activity. 

This means you’ll want to have a reliable, readily available lubricant to use during sexual activity to keep things running as they should.

 

5) Be safe

 

Sexually-transmitted diseases and infections are risky at any age, and they happen in older individuals more often than most people care to think. 

That said, practicing safe sex is of paramount importance due to the risk of contracting STDs by using condoms and getting tested for any sexually transmitted diseases you might have.

 

Practicing safe sex and wearing condoms will help you and your partner get comfortable and feel more relaxed in the knowledge that your chances of developing an STD are slim.

 

 

6) Get creative

 

Just because you’re senior-aged above the age of 60 doesn’t mean you can’t think outside the box and spice up your sex life. If you’re feeling a bit more daring and wish to expand your palate, try seeing if you and your partner would be interested in playing with sex toys. These can include vibrators, water beds, sex pillows, dildos, and other items.

 

7) Don’t overthink it

 

Sex isn’t supposed to be something you should stress about. If you feel anxious thinking about sex toys, new positions, and other facets of a pleasurable, healthy sex life, it might do you wonders to step back, zoom out, and remember to keep sex simple and do what feels natural to you.

 In essence, it’s perfectly normal to have sex on whatever schedule you’re on – do what you like, and don’t let what you think you “must” do get in the way of you and your partner’s intimacy.

 

The final word on enjoying sex as a senior

 

Age is just a number that has no power to impinge on your sex life. For as long as you’re having consensual, safe, and pleasurable sex, acting on your sexual urges and maintaining intimate relationships can be a perfectly normal part of your senior life. 

In closing, your risk of developing sexual dysfunctions such as premature ejaculation (PE) or erectile dysfunction (ED) becomes higher as you age.

 

The onus is on you to keep an impartial and open discussion with your healthcare provider and your intimate partners about sex. You’re only as old as you think you are when it comes to your sexual health and sex life – so stay safe, enjoy, and let loose.