6 Common Myths About Sex After 50 You Need to Stop Believing

Sex after 50 is surrounded by common myths and misconceptions. Find out the truth about you and your partner's intimacy with these debunked myths.

Portrait of relaxed mature couple having a glass of wine at campsite. Senior man and woman toasting wine at on summer day.
Jacob Lund/Shutterstock

Sex After 50

Judging from the images in movies and TV, you’d think sex was only for twenty-somethingsโ€”but nothing is further from the truth. Sex at midlife and beyond is a subject mired in confusion and misinformation. Here are some common myths, and the straight story about sex after 50.

Experts Say This Is the Surprising Age When Sexual Fantasizing Peaks

Senior couple on a walk in an autumn nature.
Halfpoint/Shutterstock

Myth:

Beyond a certain age,ย people have little interest in sex.

Fact:

There is no age limit on sexuality, but for people age 50 and over, sexual satisfaction depends more on the overall quality of the relationship than it does for younger couples. According to a University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging, surveying adults 65-80, nearly three in four older adults (73%) indicated they were satisfied with their sex life.

Hereโ€™s How Often You Need to Have Sex to Possibly Slow Down Aging

Portrait of a senior man sitting on a log near lake and looking away. Mature man sitting alone on lake.
Jacob Lund/Shutterstock

Myth:

As a man ages, he loses his ability to get an erection.

Fact:

Aging itself is not a cause of erectile dysfunction. However, diminishing hormone levels do precipitate some changes. A man may need more physical stimulation to become aroused, and his erection may not be quite as firm as when he was youngerโ€”but sex is no less pleasurable.

Mature couple using laptop while in bed
bbernard/Shutterstock

Myth:

Emotional and psychological factors are responsible for a woman’s lack of interest in sex at midlife and beyond.

Fact:

Physical factors can play an even larger role. According to the North American Menopause Society, hormonal changes atย menopause can affect a woman’s sexual response. Low estrogen levels can result in vaginal dryness, causing discomfort during sex. And in some women, lower testosterone levels can mean a lack of energy and a weaker sex drive. Other women find their interest in sex increases after menopause, due, in part, to a shift in the ratio of testosterone to estrogen and progesterone.

When Does Menopause Startโ€”and When Will It Start for You?

Senior mother sitting in cafe bar or restaurant with her middle aged daughter and enjoying in conversation.
hedgehog94/Shutterstock

Myth:

Masturbation diminishes your ability to enjoy sex with a partner.

Fact:

Masturbation can increase sexual pleasure, both with and without a partner. For women, it helps keep vaginal tissues moist and elastic and boosts hormone levels, which fuels sex drive, says the National Women’s Health Network. For men, it helps maintain erectile response.

This Is How Often Most People Masturbate, Say Doctors &ย Recent Data

Mature African American Couple Walking In Countryside
Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

Myth:

A man’sย inability to get an erectionย is most likely the result of an emotional problem.

Fact:

Actually, physical causesโ€”such as circulation problems, prostate disorders, and side effects associated with prescription medicationsโ€”account for most erectile difficulties. The are prescription remedies as well: sildenafil, vardenafil and others.

Love lives forever! Senior couple at home. Handsome old man and attractive old woman are enjoying spending time together. Having fun and jumping in bed.
4 PM production/Shutterstock

Myth:

Couples at midlife and beyond who don’t have regular sex have lost interest in sex or in each other.

Fact:

When older couples don’t have regular sex, it’s often because one partner has an illness or disability.

9 Things That Happen to Your Body If You Stop Having Sex

Of course, it’s true that sex isn’t going to stay exactly the same as you age. But the changes that take place aren’t all negative. Once a woman is past menopause and no longer concerned about pregnancy, many couples find it easier to relax and look forward to lovemaking. And partners who are retired or working only part-time often have more time and energy for each other, forย making love as well as pursuing other shared activities.

By midlife, you know your own body and your partner’s intimately, and, hopefully, you’ve figured out how to communicate what you find pleasurable. It’s likely that you’ve shed any sexual inhibitions, and your sexual confidence and experience probably result in better sex for both of you. Just as important, sex may be more emotionally fulfilling because now it is driven less by hormones and more by the desire to share yourself with someone who loves you. Sex after 50 may take place less often, but many find it becomes more gratifying than ever.

Sources
 
Medically reviewed by Tia Jackson-Bey, MD, on August 30, 2019
Reader's Digest
Originally Published in Reader's Digest