Graying hair, loose muscles
and weakening voice are all signs that remind a person that age is taking a
toll on him or her. Another thing that is mostly only whispered is about boosting sexual desire and sex drive. While the gusto of youth may have diminished, does it
mean that seniors can’t enjoy good sex up to their sunset day? Why is it that
there is general assumption that senior citizens past a specific age have
already had their sex days and should live in relative celibacy?
Why seniors are perceived as
asexual
There are many factors that
contribute to this concept. A few of
these include:
Societal views about sex
In some communities, sex
is perceived as a means for procreation only. This makes it difficult for senior women past the productive age to display their sexual
feelings lest they are seen in bad light in the unwritten rules of the society.
Men are not spared either by
the judgmental society. Derogatory terms such as ‘dirty old man’ are common for seniors who show that despite their
age they still have sexual needs to be met. While sexually active older men can easily
ride against such a tide of criticism, it is much more difficult for women.
In addition to the above,
religious believes also play a major role in creating the wrong impression
about sex. Many create a picture of sex being a sinful desire of the flesh that
needs to be suppressed. With this believe, sex in old age is given little
attention. As studies have shown, sex is
like a muscle – you use it or lose it. When the larger population sees such asexual seniors, they get the impression
that that is how all good senior citizens should live (or behave).
Diseases and disabilities
It is true that advancing
age increases the risk of certain diseases. For men certain health conditions
can reduce or even kill their sexual desire and function. Such disorders
include:
·
Cardiovascular
diseases like hypertension
·
Vascular
disorders including atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis
·
Metabolic
disorders including diabetes
·
Obesity
·
Low testosterone
levels
·
Depression
·
Prostate tumors
·
Operations like
prostatectomy
The prevalence of these
health problems make many people assume that old people should only be actively
swallowing pills to keep them alive than being busy engaging in sex.
Women are also not spared
by the increased risk of disease that comes with age. There are conditions that
can also greatly reduce their sexual desire and drive. To the unknowing
population they might think that these women have reached their ‘sell by sexual shelf life’. The burden
of disease and society expectations can end up killing any remnants of sexual
desire in such women. Common conditions that can lead to this sexual state
include:
·
Falling estrogen
levels
·
Falling
testosterone level. Women need this hormone not only for healthy sex but for
overall good health. The hormone levels are however, much lower than in men.
·
Bone disorders
including arthritis.
·
Pelvic operations
including hysterectomy
·
Systemic and metabolic
disorders seen in men.
It must be noted that
despite this conditions many older women still desire and enjoy sex even after
extensive and invasive pelvic surgeries.
How can seniors retain better sexual health right into their ripe old age? That is a topic for a future
article.