5 myths about sexuality in the elderly

Sexuality in the elderly is considered by many as a taboo subject that is not talked about out of shame and fear, or simply out of ignorance. We live in a society where the idea of ​​the benefits of eternal youth is transmitted, where sexuality appears linked to health and a space dedicated especially to those who are not too old.

Getting old does not mean suddenly losing interest in sex . The normal thing is that if there is good health, people remain sexually active throughout their lives. Therefore, once again, the premise that enjoying good health is the key to enjoying sexuality to the fullest is repeated.

A wall loaded with stereotypes, prejudices and marginalization has been built around sexuality in the elderly. This curtain leads the older person to stop talking about sexuality, in many cases not to share it with anyone and ultimately to abandon it.

In order to enjoy healthy sexuality in the elderly, it is necessary to know the changes that occur in the body over time and what their influence will be on the field we are dealing with today. Understanding these changes implies generating a vital project in which well-being is not limited by the loss of physical aptitudes.

In this sense, being aware of the physical changes that are associated with age and becoming truly aware of them in one’s own body is essential to confront the set of myths that surround the issue of “greater” pleasure and that can provoke rejection of the sexuality.

Specialists agree that the most important organ in sexuality is the brain . Any fear or insecurity can become the biggest obstacle when it comes to maintaining intimate relationships. The main fear of men is usually that of not getting an erection or not maintaining it, while that of women is usually more linked to her physical presence, that is, not feeling erotic or sensual. It is true that age is linked to certain inexorable changes, but precisely for this reason they must be assumed naturally.

The latest studies in gerontology speak of the importance of evolving in our false beliefs about sexuality, in which fears and, in many cases, the education received lead us to think of older adults as asexual beings.

Men have greater sexual needs than women

One of the most widespread myths about sexuality in the elderly has to do with desire and the belief that men have a greater sexual need. But sexual desire has nothing to do with gender. Both men and women show sexual needs at any age and, of course, in middle age as well.

Aging and sex, except for extreme cases of pathologies, are good travel companions. It is not a matter of pretending to have a sexual life the same as in youth, but of dosing efforts, intensifying the loving relationship with the partner and maintaining the ability to enjoy.

Sexuality is for the young

It is false that after a certain age interest in sex is gradually lost. Sexual activity usually remains stable and satisfactory in those who have a sexual history in which these two elements have been protagonists .

Sexual capacity over time is conditioned by factors such as physical and mental health or the existence of an active partner, but almost never determined.

The practice of sex in older adults is harmful to health

The reality of this statement about sexuality in the elderly is quite different: sexual practice helps them feel better and is great for their physical and mental health. The feeling of self-esteem and happiness makes the elderly see their self-esteem increased and the emotional bond with the couple increases.

There are benefits associated with pleasure, such as feeling happy, eliminating pain, regulating insomnia and depression, favoring the activation of the immune system and improving the climate of interpersonal relationships, which older people can continue to enjoy.

The elderly do not need a partner

Love has no age, what is normal is that it changes over the years. In youth it can be more passionate, while with the passage of time it can become a more mature and serene feeling, where other issues such as company and care are prioritized . An emotional bond is created by being able to share with the couple that complicity that leads the other to feel confident and desired.

Sexual impulses are depleted with age

The aging of the person does not lead by itself to the death of desire or to the cessation of sexual activity. It is true that the body changes and the sexual response tends to be slower, but the pleasure is the same if the right stimulus is produced.

Sex is fabulous at any age and a good sex life provides self-esteem and pleasure . In this sense, in many cases there is no objective reason to give up an enormous source of well-being, such as the enjoyment of sexuality, over the years. Unfortunately this is a taboo subject in society and even in the consultations themselves.