Your sexuality

What's happening

With age, sexual needs and performance might change. Illness or medicines might affect your ability to enjoy sex. And vaginal dryness could make sex painful. It might take longer to get an erection, and erections may not be as firm as they used to be.

What you can do

To help take care of your sexual health:

• Share your needs and concerns with your partner. You might find that physical intimacy without sex is right for you. Or you may experiment with different sexual activities.
• Get regular exercise. Exercise improves the release of sexual hormones, heart and blood vessel health, flexibility, mood and self-image. It also helps you lose extra weight. All of these factors play roles in good sexual health.
• Talk with your healthcare team. Your healthcare professional might offer specific treatment suggestions. Examples include estrogen cream for vaginal dryness or medicines for erectile dysfunction.

You can't stop the aging process. But you can make choices that help you stay active, do the things you enjoy and spend time with loved ones.