Better Sex for Better Health
Listen up ladies, there’s a sexual paradox. Just as you’re getting older and when – for some – sex may not be a priority, that is exactly when you need it most.
Indeed, a recent study released this May suggests as many as six in 10 women – ages 55 to 65 – avoid sexual intimacy. Yet, sexual activity is good for a woman’s health – especially if she is entering into any of the menopausal phases of life – peri-menopause, menopause or post-menopause.
“Sexual stimulation releases hormones that positively affect a woman’s overall health and well-being and keeps her vagina youthful,” says Dr. Mary Jane Minkin,-Ob/Gyn and author of-“The Yale Guide to Women’s Reproductive Health.” “The vagina, like any muscle found in the body, is best kept healthy with exercise – if you don’t use it, you can lose it.”
According to Dr.Minkin, the benefits of healthy sex are manifold, ranging from stress reduction and improved mood to protection of a woman’s reproductive and pelvic health. Some proof points: a study in “Biological Psychology”-shows the rush of hormones released from sex boosts mood, fosters feelings of closeness and helps manage stress for days.-Another study in the-“Journal of Sexual Medicine”-reveals that regular sexual stimulation is essential for positive sexual functioning – arousal, lubrication and avoidance of pain.
“When a patient is not sexually active, I encourage her to consider a sexual aid like a vibrator to protect the pelvic floor by increasing blood flow to that area of her body,” says Dr. Minkin. “Vibrator use can help prevent certain conditions such as vaginal atrophy – vaginal dryness or a weakening of the muscle tone in the pelvic area that can lead to sexual dysfunction and painful sex.”
Dr. Minkin advises middle-aged or older women who are not getting enough sexual stimulation to try a vibrator like the Thrill by We-Vibe. It ensures regular blood flow to the pelvis, which is particularly important for women who are in the peri-menopausal, menopausal or post-menopausal stages of life.–
What’s more, the use of a vibrator may help some women by increasing their desire for sexual stimulation.-The same study in May uncovered that 63 percent of women ages 55 to 65 shy away from sex because they are experiencing a loss of libido.
One of the main complaints retirees have is that they miss their daily schedule. When they were working, they would wake up, get ready and go off to work. After work, they would have dinner, enjoy some television and then head off to bed. When there is no work, days can seem as though they never end. It can seem as though there is no purpose in life. It can become depressing. 
As recently as 2012, and this may come as a surprise, the CDC reported that adults aged 55 and over accounted for 24% of the total population of those living with HIV. You may be thinking these people contracted HIV when they were younger, and have simply aged with the disease, but this is not the case. No matter what your age, 24 or 65, you have the same risk factors as anyone else when it comes to getting HIV or STDs. The only difference is that seniors may be less aware that STDs are on the rise for older Americans.
I was speaking to a client the other day who was quite frustrated with her elderly mother. She can see her mother is having a difficult time making decisions, but when she tries to help, her mother becomes upset. This then can lead to an argument that keeps them from talking for days. When they finally do start talking, there’s an awkwardness. This can then sometimes lead to another argument that ends up causing the relationship to suffer.
