Between 17% and 45% of postmenopausal women find sex painful, according to The North American Menopause Society. A different study published by the American Academy of Family Physicians puts that number at up to 20% of American women. However, the numbers may be much higher, as many women don’t seek treatment, and doctors too often do not bring up the topic.
We know that sex is a stress-relieving activity, and there certainly is plenty of stress and uncertainty these days between the daily news of increasing numbers of new cases and the fall of the stock market shrinking our retirement plans.
Many years ago when I was a young doctor at the start of my OB/GYN practice, an equally young patient came to me with a question that took me by surprise.
She wanted to know if she’d ever had an orgasm.
A partner’s guide to erectile dysfunction: how to recognize it, how to talk about it, and how to support him when he needs it most. Something has changed. Your partner’s erection comes more slowly or he may not get an erection at all. Or, he loses his erection before or during intercourse. He stops initiating …
Kegel exercises have many benefits…but only if done correctly. More than half of women don’t. You may have heard about the benefits of Kegel exercises for: Those all sound good…the only problem is that according to the National Institute of Health (NIH), over half of women do Kegel exercises incorrectly. Let’s talk a little about …
Yes, sex feels good. But did you know it can also be good for your physical and emotional health? Sex has a positive impact on physical and cognitive performance, relationships, and happiness in our senior years. It’s a central part of emotional and physical health and wellbeing. We have talked about the effects of sex …
Yes, sex feels good. But it’s also good for your emotional, physical, and psychological health. Sex has a positive impact on physical and cognitive performance, relationships, and happiness into our senior years. It’s a central part of emotional, physical, and psychological health. Today let’s talk about the brain and the chemicals it releases during sex …
Growing older doesn’t mean the end of your sex life. Many studies have shown that older adults maintain an active, fulfilling sex life well into their 90s. It’s no wonder, there are abundant physical and psychological benefits of sex. Sex has a positive impact on physical and cognitive performance, relationships, and happiness into our senior …
A new report reveals that while sex is important to older adults, communication about sexual health is lacking I read an informative report on a poll taken in October 2017 by the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging. The poll asked a national group of adults age 65-80 about their perspectives on relationships, …
I had the following question from a reader: “I was wondering if you know anything about vaginal rejuvenation? It seems to be the craze lately. Curious as to your insights.” I thought many more readers might be interested in this topic too. Vaginal rejuvenation was a new term for me so I went …
Orgasms may be more difficult to reach with aging, but they’re still achievable—and so important for our wellbeing. I recently read a question from a 78-year-old woman asking about orgasm. Her husband had died 5 years earlier and since his death, she had been masturbating to reach orgasm. She now had a new partner with …
Osteoporosis requires some extra caution when it comes to sex, but it doesn’t mean the end of intimacy. Osteoporosis is a disease where increased bone weakness increases the risk of a broken bone. This condition affects men and women, although it is more common in women. In the United States about 10 million people have …
About 25 million Americans suffer from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). This is a group of chronic lung diseases that cause slow, progressive shortness of breath. The most common are emphysema and chronic bronchitis. What are the causes and symptoms of COPD? 90% of those with COPD are smokers or former smokers. Among smokers, 20-30% …
High blood pressure (HBP), also called hypertension, is a common chronic medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is elevated. Blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood your heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in your arteries. Your arteries start out smooth and elastic. Over the …
Heart disease is the leading of cause of death for both men and women in the U.S., responsible for about one of every three or four deaths annually. That comes to 610,000 deaths per year. Heart disease in women becomes more common after menopause. The average age for a first heart attack in men is …
Diabetes is one of the most common chronic illnesses. 29 million Americans suffer from diabetes; 8 million of those are undiagnosed. 26% of Americans over 50 have diabetes. First, what is diabetes? Diabetes is a disease of high blood sugar. There are two types of diabetes: How does diabetes affect sexual function? Although manifested …
Arthritis is one of the most common chronic illnesses. As many as 35 million Americans suffer from the condition. First, what are the different types of arthritis? There are many different types of arthritis, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout. Osteoarthritis is the most common. This is classic “wear and tear” arthritis. The cartilage lining …
People who live with chronic illnesses often have difficulties with sexual functioning. Sexuality can be altered by these illnesses and their treatments. Some people may become sexually inactive because of misconceptions about their ability to have sex or the safety of having sexual relations. However, few, if any, chronic illnesses require complete restriction of sexual …
Recent FDA approval of a pill to treat low sexual desire in women has caused a strong reaction. More so because of the media label of the pill as “Female Viagra.” But is it really like Viagra? Let’s compare the two medications. What does each treat? Addyi treats low sexual desire, Viagra treats erectile dysfunction, …
Spontaneity and sex often go hand in hand. But, there are certain activities and even foods that can put a serious damper on an intimate moment. Gas-inducing foods such as beans, lentils, soda, and cabbage, for instance, can not only cause embarrassing side effects and get us out of the mood, but also pain and …
First of all, how much of a problem is being overweight in America? Recent studies show that 2/3 of Americans are overweight, and 1/2 of those who are overweight are actually obese. BMI, body mass index, is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men and women. It …
I have been seeing references in the media to mindfulness, allegedly something that can make us happier, healthier, and sexier. What is this all about? Mindfulness is a form of meditation, with roots in Buddhism. It is a state of active, open attention to the present. It promotes unconditional presence in the moment of whatever …
Those men who have heard of Kegel exercises probably heard about them from their wives as they rehabilitated their bladders and vaginas after childbirth. But both men and women have a pelvic floor, the network of muscles that support the pelvic organs. In young people these muscles are taut and strong, helping to hold pelvic …
I can’t tell you the number of times a patient said to me, after recuperating from hysterectomy for severe menstrual cramps or severe pain with intercourse, once again feeling good and able to be pleasurably sexually active, that “she wished she had done this years ago.” Well, I said the same thing to myself after …
This article is in response to a question from a reader. She is menopausal and asked what lubricant is best for intercourse. Normally, the walls of the vagina are coated with a thin layer of clear fluid. With sexual arousal, this natural lubricant is increased and the woman becomes wet. This wetness is created by …
Sexual wellbeing is a central component of quality of life. Cancer can result in significant disruption of sexuality. This disruption is one of the most negative influences on social/sexual wellbeing, not only for the patient but also for the partner. These changes are most obviously noted with cancers that directly affect the sexual or reproductive …
This is big news, but is this really like Viagra, and is it safe? No, it is not like Viagra, which works well by increasing blood flow to the penis. The mechanism of action for Addyi, which is a member of a family of neurotransmitter drugs (i.e. Prozac) used for treating depression, is to activate …
Masturbation is touching one’s body, including the sexual organs, to experience pleasure. For many, masturbation is a taboo subject. There are many harmful myths, social and religious, that cause discomfort and guilt. Let’s get the facts right. Masturbation is a normal, natural, and healthy activity of women and men. Physicians have been reassuring patients about …
There are many reasons why a woman may stop having sex in her senior years, particularly during and after menopause. The reasons may be physical, emotional, relational, or a nuanced and complex combination.
Testosterone and Women… There has been a lot of media attention to testosterone therapy for women lately. You might ask, but isn’t testosterone the male hormone? Yes, it is, but it is also produced by the ovaries and the adrenal glands in women. In fact, it is the key hormone for sexual arousal and desire …
Manhood, what it means to be a man, is the ability to obtain and maintain erections sufficient for penetration. Having sex is integral to being a man. Sexual performance is a symbolic expression of masculinity. Is there a risk of losing your manhood following prostate surgery? You chose prostatectomy to treat your prostate cancer. You …
When my 55-year-old sister told me vaginal estrogen cream had really helped her with vaginal dryness and painful intercourse, I was surprised that estrogen was something new to her. I asked her if her doctor had talked to her about hormone replacement therapy (HRT) at the time of her hysterectomy 10 years earlier. Either he …
Many times over the years, I explained Kegel exercises to patients. Patients who were postpartum and losing urine with coughing, laughing, sneezing, or exercising. Patients who had developed mild to moderate stress incontinence gradually over the years. Patients who had noticed increasing pelvic heaviness or pressure, and on the physical exam had mild to moderate loss of support of the bladder or the rectum, or the uterus.
Occasionally a patient would tell me that her husband was having trouble with erections, but that he would not go to the doctor (sound familiar, fellows?). He wanted her to ask me if it could have something to do with low testosterone. So what is testosterone? It is the male hormone, it is produced by …
I just reviewed two articles on the benefits of exercise. The first was published in JAMA Oncol, July 16, 2015, and studied the relationship between increased body fat and increased breast cancer risk in menopausal women. Half of the patients exercised moderately for 2 1/2 hours weekly, the other half exercised moderately for 5 hours weekly. …
Treatment of prostate cancer, the most common type of cancer in men, usually has a list of negative side effects. Besides erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence, many men also suffer from dry ejaculation, leakage of urine with orgasm, penile shrinkage, and bowel dysfunction. The impact of these physical effects on the sexual life of the …
From studies published by the New Journal of Medicine, the British Medical Journal, and AARP regarding sexual activity among those over 50, it is clear that the majority of seniors are sexually active. The frequency of sexual activity did not decrease through 74 years, despite a high prevalence of bothersome sexual problems.
Erections are a critical part of a man’s sexual function. From the pleasant sensations first experienced in adolescence with self exploration and masturbation, to the first sexual encounters, to the sexual intimacy of a long term relationship, erections are an integral part of a man’s identity.
During my practice years and while medical director at Planned Parenthood I spoke frequently with young patients about safe sex. Only rarely was there such a conversation with my over 50 patients. Baby boomers are once more breaking tradition, this time it is age, sexual activity with a new partner, and an increase in sexually transmitted disease (STD).
