Recently, a number of articles have come out touting sex over 50. Apparently sex is not just good at the half century mark and beyond, it's fantastic. The number one reason? Women don't need birth control (which sounds like a line from a Rick Santorum speech).
Following are other, perhaps overlooked factors as to why
is great. Or at least possible:
- It's okay if you call out the wrong name. In fact, it's no big deal at all. You've been mixing up your kids and dogs' names for years so it's certainly not a problem to do it with the person lying next to you.
Similarly, it's all right if you don't call the next day. You forgot to call CVS and the guy fixing your Camry too, and they don't think you're a self-centered jerk. You're unlikely to be interrupted. Your kids are probably grown and out of the house -- except the one who moved back after college -- and there's no way he's barging into the room at 7am asking if he can watch cartoons. In fact, there's no chance of him coming anywhere near you because he resents you for reasons you're not sure of but make complete sense to him. Yoga. Sure, years ago it was only done by a few hippies and that guy the Beatles hung out with, but now it's practically mandatory for anyone over 40, especially in New York and LA. And any activity where you bring a mat, work on flexibility and learn new positions has to be a plus. You don't need pay-per-view. Thanks to a Nick at Nite, Hallmark and something called "Me TV" you can watch stars you fantasized about in their youth, from Jennifer Aniston to Jaclyn Smith to two versions of Mary Tyler Moore and countless Heather Locklears and Michael Landons. Sex any time. Unlike when you were a new parent, you're no longer so stressed from taking kids to cello lessons and karate you had to schedule sex. Now you can have it whenever you like: After Charles Osgood on "Sunday Morning," while doing a crossword puzzle, during a commercial break in "NCIS"... Make loosening your pants after a particularly nice casserole part of foreplay. Go nuts. An embarrassing sex video is not likely to end up on internet. Or even be made. The only time you've used your iPhone video is when you tried to take a photo without putting on your glasses and pressed the wrong button. As a result, the closest thing you have to a sex tape is a couple of 13 second blurry videos of you in shorts. As far as an angry ex trying to upload a sex video to YouTube... don't worry about it; it's unlikely he or she will ever figure it out. The other pill. Think of it as an oral insurance policy. Also, despite what commercials imply, you don't need to know how to break a horse, drop the transmission on a Camaro or clear a field to get a prescription. Just ask a doctor or check your spam.But one bit of caution...
Calling out God's name during sex. After a certain age this may seem like tempting fate. You don't want to do that and have Him, or Her, answer.
Most Common Sex Myths About Boomers
At A Certain Point In A Relationship, Sex No Longer Matters(01 of06)
Open Image ModalAfter what may be decades of commitment and teamwork in a marriage, couples often reach a point when they stop viewing sex as a necessity in a relationship now built upon the strong tenets of trust, friendship and love. A lack of sex in a marriage, however, can turn couples into buddies or quasi-roommates and make that special spark even harder to ignite. (credit:Alamy)
As People Age, They Lose Their Desire To Have Sex(02 of06)
Open Image ModalDespite the effects that hormonal changes can have on the libidos of older couples, rest assured men and women can enjoy sex at any age. It might not be as easy to become aroused in your 50s as it was in your 20s, but you can increase your sexual stimulation with frequent exercise, healthy changes in diet and, yes, those little blue pills. Here's a tip: the more you have sex, the more you will want to have it. (credit:Alamy)
A Women Loses Her Ability To Achieve An Orgasm As She Ages(03 of06)
Open Image ModalThough oft repeated, this claim is not necessarily true. By now, you should know what you like and dislike and be able to shed any sexual inhibitions that you may still be holding on to. Sex after 50 is no longer about exploring foreign terrain, it's about feeling good in your own skin. For these reasons, many women find sex after 50 to be more emotionally and physically satisfying than at any other stage in their lives. (credit:Alamy)
A Man Loses His Ability To Achieve An Erection As He Ages(04 of06)
Open Image ModalThough diminishing hormone levels can increase the chance of erectile dysfunction in older men, it shouldn't prevent couples from having healthy, fulfilling sex lives. Apart from Viagra, Cialis and a host of other medical options, men can increase their ability to become aroused in the bedroom through exercise, masturbation and increased foreplay with a partner. (credit:Alamy)
All Problems In The Bedroom Will Vanish With An Empty Nest(05 of06)
Open Image ModalMany couples tend to sweep problems they have in the bedroom under the rug with the assumption that sex and romance in their marriage will thrive once the kids leave for college. Unfortunately, without curfews and defiant teens to discuss, couples can often find themselves struggling to make conversation with one another. Such disconnect will create further problems in the bedroom. If the state of your union isn't as strong as you'd like, confront the issues head on and don't make excuses. (credit:Alamy)
A Midlife Crisis Is A Marital Death Sentence(06 of06)
Open Image ModalThe common narrative goes that a midlife crisis will wreak havoc on the stability and romance of a marriage and may even lead to infidelity and divorce. To combat feelings of boredom and wanderlust, couples should take advantage of the midlife crisis to explore each other sexually in new ways. Incorporate fantasies, toys and roleplaying scenarios in the bedroom to spice things up and turn a midlife crisis into a catalyst for adventure. (credit:Alamy)
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