November 13, When it comes to your sexual health, the things that become important to you may change as you age. You may no longer be talking to your doctor about vaccines for HPV. There are also some new concerns that may arise as you get older that you did not have to deal with earlier in life. Often, the biggest obstacle to addressing any sexual health issue is talking about it. But you should feel comfortable discussing these issues with your doctor and your partner. After all, sex is a normal and natural part of the human experience.
You may think that sexually transmitted diseases are something only younger people need to be concerned about, but older people who are sexually active are also at risk. The same STDs that affect younger people can affect people of any age. These include syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, genital herpes, hepatitis B, genital warts, trichomoniasis and HIV.
If you are having unprotected sex which many older people do because they are no longer worried about getting pregnant , your risk of acquiring or transmitting an STD is as high as when you were young. Your sex drive typically diminishes gradually as you age.
This may occur in conjunction with physical and hormonal changes in your body, such as menopause. Women may have vaginal dryness, which makes sex more uncomfortable. They may also experience hot flashes and other symptoms that make sexual activity less enjoyable. Men may experience erectile dysfunction due to health issues, such as hardened arteries, high blood sugar, high cholesterol, obesity or smoking. This may make them less eager to engage in sexual relations or may lower the enjoyment level of their sex life.
Sex drive may also be affected by health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, depression, arthritis, dementia, incontinence or obesity. Medications may affect libido, as can chronic pain.
