Older Adults
Barriers:
Barriers:
- Vaginal dryness and erectile dysfunction can decrease participation in sex
- Limited ROM may result in decreased sexual activity (See Limited ROM).
- Presence of pain or impaired sensation may result in decreased sexual activity (See Sensation and Pain)
- Presence of cardiac conditions may result in decreased sexual activity (See Cardiac Precautions)
- Presence of fatigue may result in decreased sexual activity (See Fatigue)
Strategies:
Strategies:
- For vaginal dryness: use water based lubricant or lubricated condoms to make sex more comfortable
- Talk to a physician about topical hormonal creams or medications to improve sexual function (Harvard Health Publishing, 2017).
- Spend time being intimate with your partner. Hugging, kissing, touching, and spending time together can be a path to increased intimacy or sexual activity. (National Institute on Aging, 2017).
- Experiment with other forms of intimacy that are not focused on penetration, such as manual or oral sex.
- Try being intimate in the morning when you have more energy instead of having sex later in the evening
References
References
Harvard Health Publishing. (2017). Attitudes about sexuality and aging. Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/attitudes-about-sexuality-and-aging
National Institute on Aging (2017). Sexuality in later life. Retrieved from https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/sexuality-later-life