- Senior Sex and Health Problems
- What Changes As Men Get Older?
- 13 Ways Men Can Improve Sexual Performance
- 1) Reduce Stress
- 2) Improve Intimacy
- 3) Foreplay
- 4) Implement An Exercise Routine
- 5) Quit Smoking
- 6) Limit Alcohol Consumption
- 7) Encourage Open Communication
- 8) Make Dietary Changes
- 9) Consider Counseling
- 10) Check Your Heart Health
- 11) Make Time
- 12) Practice Kegel Exercises
- 13) Natural Supplements
- Conclusion
- Source
There are several types of sexual dysfunctions that senior men seem to worry about.
While there are some senior men with adequate sexual performance, others are unable to satisfy their partners during sexual intercourse thoroughly.
In this post, we look at sexual health among senior men. We will consider the most important sexual dysfunctions and problems that men do need to take into consideration.
This article also shares some useful ways for senior men to experience an improvement in their sexual performance.
Senior Sex and Health Problems
At a younger age, men tend to be healthy. The immune system in a young person can ward off disease effectively.
The heart is able to pump blood throughout the body. The endocrine system can produce adequate hormones for the body to function normally. These factors contribute to healthy sexual function.
Unfortunately, several health problems come with age. When these health problems develop, a man becomes at risk of certain complications. Some of these complications may adversely affect the patient’s sexual health.
Sex differs in older age. A man will find that sex is not the same by the time they reach 50, compared to their 20s.
This does not mean a man cannot continue to enjoy sex as they become senior citizens. Many men are able to continue enjoying sexual intercourse even after the age of 60. In fact, some men are even able to continue having erections and enjoying sex by the age of 80.
Those that do experience problems will often find that the sexual complications cause them mental health complications. They may find that their self-esteem lacks when they are unable to perform in the bedroom. This may also lead to depression and anxiety.
Since depression is already a relatively common problem in senior men2, sexual dysfunction may aggravate these symptoms.
What Changes As Men Get Older?
The male body goes through several changes as it ages. These changes have a direct impact on a person’s general health. Changes may affect both the physiological and psychological well-being of the individual. In some cases, the changes can affect the senior man’s sexual health.
Here is an overview of some changes that occur in men as they age:
- Cardiovascular System: The cardiovascular system changes. Men tend to find that their blood vessels become stiffer with age. This makes the heart work harder than before. The heart needs to continue pumping blood throughout the body. The extra workload placed on the heart causes changes to the heart muscle. This puts the person at risk of hypertension. High blood pressure is a significant risk factor linked to erectile dysfunction3.
- Digestive Tract: The digestive tract also changes as a man becomes older. The most significant changes happen to the large intestine. This is why constipation is much more prevalent among the elderly population. Older individuals are also prone to taking more medication to assist with the management of chronic diseases. These drugs can alter the digestive system. The result may be reduced absorption of essential nutrients in food and supplements. Some nutritional deficiencies may adversely affect sexual health and performance. One example is a deficiency of vitamin D4.
- Metabolism: The metabolism also tends to slow down as a man ages. This is due to changes in the digestive tract, as noted earlier. It is also contributed to by a reduction in physical activities, which is often found in senior citizens. A slow metabolism means weight gain is more likely. There is a strong association between excess weight in the body and the risk of erectile dysfunction5. When a man gains weight as he ages, his chances of experiencing sexual problems become greater.
- Reproductive System: Some changes occur with the reproductive system too. Men do not experience problems like menopause. This does not mean hormonal balance will not become an issue among the male population. Some senior men experience a condition sometimes referred to as andropause. This refers to a significant decline in testosterone levels.
The production of testosterone naturally declines with age. The rate at which testosterone declines is usually gradual. In some men, a faster decline in this hormone can occur.
Testosterone has an impact on sexual function, as well as on fertility. The hormone does not play a role directly in the ability to have an erection. It does regulate libido, however6. A man with a poor sex drive will often find that they have erectile difficulties too. This is an important complication to take note of.
13 Ways Men Can Improve Sexual Performance
The good news is there are a lot of ways that men can maintain a healthy sex life, even as they age.
With this in mind, the specific strategies that may work can differ from one man to the next. It is always important that a man takes a closer look at their own lives. This gives them the ability to determine what strategies would yield the best results for them in particular.
We take a look at 13 particular ways that men can improve their sexual performance. These techniques are adequate for older men who find that the changes that come with age are interfering with their abilities in the bedroom.
1) Reduce Stress
Short-term stress has benefits. It puts the body into a fight-or-flight mode. When stress becomes chronic, it can cause complications in the human body. Men with chronic and high levels of stress may find that they suffer in the bedroom too.
Studies have shown that an improvement in stress management may help men with erectile dysfunction7. When stress is reduced, the erectile function may improve. This is because there could potentially be an improvement in libido.
There are several ways that men can reduce their stress. Avoiding nicotine and caffeine, as well as alcohol, can be helpful. Physical activity may help to reduce stress levels too.
Men should also prioritize sleep, as a deficiency in sleep can cause stress levels to rise even further. Apart from these, talking to a friend, partner, family member, or even a professional can often help to provide a reduction in stress levels too.
2) Improve Intimacy
A lack of intimacy is often observed in relationships that involve senior citizens. After decades of being together with just one partner, people often do not realize that there is no more intimacy left in the relationship. Unfortunately, failure to recognize the lack of intimacy may lead to more serious sexual side-effects.
Improving intimacy is possible, even among the elderly. It is vital for a man to admit that he desires more intimacy in the relationship. Talking with his partner about these feelings would be one of the best ways to initiate the process.
There are a few ways that intimacy can be restored. Trying something new, for example, can be a great way to get back that spark. Being spontaneous can help too. Men should try to avoid setting a schedule for sex and rather just let it happen when it does.
3) Foreplay
Foreplay is actually a great way to get back intimacy in a relationship. We already covered the importance of foreplay. A lot of men do overlook the potential that foreplay offers, however.
Foreplay allows a man to be sexually aroused. It also provides an opportunity for sexual stimulation. This is a great way to get things going – and is sure to put a man in the right mood. When a man practices foreplay, he’s sex drive may be stimulated. This makes him less likely to have problems getting or maintain a rigid erection.
There are different ways that a man can practice some foreplay. This includes kissing and hugging. Soft touches work too. Women may often prefer vaginal lubrication during this time. It helps with foreplay and makes sexual intercourse more comfortable.
4) Implement An Exercise Routine
Too many senior men are physically inactive. By being sedentary, the man puts themselves at risk of obesity. Inadequate physical activity also leads to additional complications.
Obesity is not the only concern here. A sedentary lifestyle is also associated with a reduction in testosterone levels. This leads to a decline in sex drive and the possibility of erectile problems.
One study8 shows that physical fitness has a strong association with sexual health. Men who are more physically active tend to find it easier to perform adequately in the bedroom. Physical fitness may cause an increase in testosterone levels too. This may enhance strength and endurance too. Both of these elements are important during sexual intercourse.
5) Quit Smoking
Smoking is one of the most common “bad” habits that people tend to practice. A lot of older men continue to smoke as they age.
Smoking has been linked to quite a large number of adverse effects on the human body. Men are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure when they smoke. The risk of heart disease also greatly increases when a person smokes, along with cancer and other diseases.
Additionally, smoking also harms sexual health. Studies have shown that there is a higher risk of erectile dysfunction among men who smoke9. This is primarily due to the damage that smoking deals to arteries. The damage eventually causes atherosclerosis, a condition known to affect blood circulation adversely.
6) Limit Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol is a nervous system depressant. The consumption of alcohol may also have several adverse effects on the body. While a glass or two of wine a day may not be harmful, excessive alcohol usage puts a person at risk of addiction. It also increases the risk of heart disease, hypertension, and other health-related problems.
Men who drink too much alcohol may also develop sexual problems. This may include a decline in their sex drive. Excessive alcohol could also potentially cause a man to experience erectile problems.
7) Encourage Open Communication
Communication is a critical part of a healthy relationship. Unfortunately, a lot of people find that their relationship lacks adequate levels of communication. When two people fail to communicate with each other, there may be problems that develop.
One of these issues may come in the form of sexual problems. Inadequate communication causes the two people to feel further apart from one another. It also causes a lack of intimacy. We already explained how poor intimacy contributes to sexual problems in older men.
8) Make Dietary Changes
Men often do not realize what they eat, which could affect their ability to have a normal sex life. Some foods may cause a man to experience erectile dysfunction. This makes it hard for the man to have an erection.
Some examples of these foods include full-fat dairy and eating too many sugary foods. When a man consumes too many unhealthy fats, it can also cause them to experience sexual problems.
Switching to a healthy diet that focuses on important nutrients, as well as protein and healthy fats, may provide an improvement in sexual function.
9) Consider Counseling
When there are mental problems causing difficulties in the bedroom, counseling could be an effective way of restoring sexual function. Several mental problems may lead to sexual problems. This often includes poor communication or even direct issues in the relationship.
Counseling services help a man and their partner address issues head-on. This can help them resolve the problems that are currently happening in their relationship. In turn, the man may find that the resolution of these issues helps them in the bedroom.
10) Check Your Heart Health
Heart disease is one of the most important causes of erectile dysfunction. In fact, some medical experts believe that erectile dysfunction may actually be an early sign of heart disease. When the heart fails to pump enough blood to the pelvis, it can implicate a man’s ability to have a normal erection.
A man with sexual problems should see a doctor. A check up on their heart health can help detect any issues that affect their cardiovascular system. This way, heart disease can be treated early on. It may assist in restoring sexual function while also reducing the risk of complications from the cardiovascular condition.
11) Make Time
A lot of men often find themselves simply too busy.
Unfortunately, when the man fails to set aside time to spend with his partner, there may be a lack of intimacy and communication. He may find himself simply too busy to have sexual relations with his partner. Thus, setting aside time can be a great way of relieving stress and gaining more confidence in the bedroom.
12) Practice Kegel Exercises
Erectile dysfunction is not the only problem among senior men. Some men also experience ejaculatory issues. Regardless of the problem, a few Kegel exercises each day might also do the trick. These exercises have been shown to improve ejaculatory control effectively. They might also be useful among men with weak erections.
13) Natural Supplements
There are a few natural supplements that a senior man can take to improve his sexual health too.
Many studies have shown that different natural sexual health supplements may be helpful. These products help to improve erectile function. They may also boost libido and assist with ejaculatory control. Some effective natural supplements include:
Conclusion
Sexual dysfunctions are common in the male population. One of the most important risk factors for these issues would be age. Older age leads to an increased risk of suffering from erectile dysfunction, a low libido, and other potential sexual problems.
Senior men have a few options that may help them improve sexual performance. We looked at 13 effective strategies that senior men should consider if they are having a difficult time in the bedroom.
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