Breaking the Silence: Intimacy, Libido, and Hormones in Your 60s and Beyond

(Aging Untold) — In this episode of The Aging Untold Podcast, our experts talk honestly about sex and intimacy as we age.

The experts explore why sex can be considered “medicine without a prescription,” boosting heart health and releasing feel-good hormones.

Learn how a drop in libido can be a treatable medical condition. Also, hear more on early warning signs for heart disease and discover how to navigate your physical connection safely.

Health benefits linked to sexual activity

Sex among older adults has health benefits and a loss of interest can signal a medical issue. For sexually active adults, there are also risks that the Aging Untold experts say are not being addressed openly enough.

Dr. Rhea Rogers, a board-certified physician and Aging Untold co-host, said sexual activity produces cardiovascular benefits, including increased circulation and decreased blood pressure.

“Think of sex as medicine without a prescription,” Rogers said.

Sex also triggers the release of “feel good” hormones, like dopamine, and neurotransmitters including oxytocin and endorphins, which are associated with mood, bonding and pain reduction.

Rogers also said orgasms function as a neurohormonal reset that promotes interaction between the brain and hormones, which can support cognitive sharpness as part of healthy aging.

STDs and hygiene concerns in senior communities

While sex has health benefits, older adults can still contract sexually transmitted diseases.

Gerontologist and Aging Untold co-host Sam Cradduck said sexually transmitted diseases are more prevalent in senior communities than is commonly understood, and multiple-partner situations contribute to rapid spread.

“So, while we might think grandma and grandpa, mom and dad aren’t doing it, they are. And they may not be doing it necessarily with one partner,” Cradduck said.

“I have seen this — one guy, one man — servicing many females, and that’s how it spreads so quickly,” she added. “So, we have to talk about this, especially when it comes to our aged community to prevent the issues — the STDs, the UTIs — sexually transmitted diseases and urinary tract infections. We have to because they are causing great health problems.”

Cradduck also warns that a lack of hygiene after sexual activity can contribute to urinary tract infections in older adults, which can lead to dementia-like symptoms and other health complications.

Aging expert and Aging Untold co-host Amy O’Rourke noted that older adults may not associate condom use with STD prevention since pregnancy is no longer a concern.

Open conversations about protection and hygiene with older adults are as important as similar conversations with teenagers.

Loss of interest can signal underlying conditions

While sex can be good for the heart, loss of interest can signal a medical concern.

It could stem from declining hormone levels, or it may be an early indicator of medical conditions such as heart disease, according to Rogers.

Emotional factors, including feelings toward a partner and mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression, could also contribute to a loss of interest.

The loss of spontaneous erections, which can occur for men as early as their 30s, may be an early marker for cardiovascular disease and other conditions, Rogers said.

“It’s telling you there are some changes already going on in your vasculature,” Rogers said.

Anyone who is experiencing changes in libido or sexual function should seek a medical evaluation as a first step, the Aging Untold experts advise.

“That’s probably the most important point I want to make is that men that are in your 30s, 40s, 50s, if you’re having a problem — if your man is having a problem — know that it is not just ED that’s the problem. There’s something else going on. It needs to be addressed. It can be the heart,” Katherine Ambrose, an aging-well coach and Aging Untold co-host, said.

Stigma remains a barrier

The Aging Untold hosts said stigma about sex among older adults remains a significant barrier to open discussion and medical care.

“The stigma around sex is massive,” O’Rourke said. “Around older people, it’s huge.”

O’Rourke added that there is no reason to be embarrassed about it.

She encouraged people to seek therapy to address libido concerns and to pursue practical advice on sexual health.

“It is part of healthy aging. It’s part of the human experience,” Ambrose said.