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

Jacob Lund/Shutterstock

Sex After 50

Judging from the images in movies and TV, you’d think sex was only for twenty-somethings—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

Halfpoint/Shutterstock

Myth:

Beyond a certain age, 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.

Here’s How Often You Need to Have Sex to Possibly Slow Down Aging

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 younger—but sex is no less pleasurable.

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 at 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 Start—and When Will It Start for You?

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 & Recent Data

Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

Myth:

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

Fact:

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

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, for 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.

• This Is What Your Eye Color Could Reveal About Your Attractiveness
• Experts Just Named the 8 Best Places to Go on Vacation That Zap Stress (Even After You Get Home)
• 8 Health Benefits of Laughing, According to Neuroscience Research
• Bikini Wax Wisdom from Waxing Specialists: 6 Things You Should Never Do, and 3 You Should