Satisfying Sex for a Healthy Happy Life

Humans are social beings. We have developed a truly marvelous capacity to love and care for others; to read one another and discern the needs of those around us. Our innate need for social interaction, love, touch, and emotional connection is the very reason our sexuality is so important. Far too many of us reach a point of complacency with regard to sex. In our quiet moments some of us may think, “The urge is gone and I just don’t feel sexual anymore,” or maybe something more like, “Sex is for those in their youth,” or, “I’d rather be doing other things with my time.” The tragedy lies in the fact that our society has accepted this as normal. Remember when sex was exhilarating? When you longed for that release? And what about the intense feelings of love and belonging that go hand and hand with a healthy sex life? These are the things that bind a couple together. A strong, satisfying sex life is a key component of a healthy life. We should see sex as a gift given to the human race. It has immense power to send signals to our brain and bodies that we are alive and doing well; that we still have a reason to live. It not only satisfies a universal, primitive urge, but it allows us to connect with another human being in a way that separates that relationship from all others.

We all know that the emotional component of the sexual act is very much associated with performance of the act itself. What many of us do not realize is that a declining sex drive, an inability to perform due to erectile dysfunction or difficulty achieving orgasm are all signs that one’s sex hormones have taken a dive. This occurs naturally as we age. But we are living longer now than ever before! Does this mean that we should let go of our sexuality for the latter half of our lives? Well, of course not! We can hold onto it until the very end! And making that happen will positively affect all other facets of our lives.

We now know how to correct the decline in hormones caused by aging. We have made incredible strides in the medical field to include research that shows bioidentical hormone replacement therapy to be a key to restoring the hormonal balance necessary for optimal health and vitality. (1) We are learning that a longer life is not necessarily an improvement unless it is coupled with a high quality of life. A restoration of the body’s hormone levels can help us to feel sexy again. Optimal, balanced hormone levels help us directly by revamping our sex drive and helping to restore pleasurable feelings during sex. We are simply not going to be able to perform correctly without any (or with very little) sex hormones! Erectile dysfunction is a prime example of this. How many times a day does that commercial for the little blue pill run? And what about achieving orgasm? When sex hormones have reached a certain low, a woman’s sexual organs are simply not going to allow her enough sensitivity for this to occur. The feelings of pleasure are disappointingly absent. A balanced, careful approach to hormone replacement can absolutely solve this problem.

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy aids our sexual health indirectly as well. As our hormones decline with age, many of us, especially women, are plagued with extra pounds, fatigue, depression, dry itchy skin, wrinkles, and the list goes on. It is very easy at this point to “let ourselves go,” so to speak. Remaining in this state of health strips away any feelings we may have previously had that we are sexy. And who wants to have sex when hot flashes, bloating, swelling, and sweating rear their ugly heads each day of our lives? Hormone replacement helps restore our body’s natural balance so that we do not have to experience those things! Between hormones and a balanced, informed approach to health, we can rid ourselves of extra weight, menopausal symptoms and feelings of inadequacy to reveal the svelte, “hot,” sexy person we haven’t seen in a while. It is time to make the choice to uncover that person for the sake of sexuality, health, and vibrancy.

The quality of our social relationships is a key determiner of our health. (2) We need to send the message to our bodies and minds that we have a reason to live; that we are worth keeping around. This promotes health and revitalization. Let’s choose to take control of the quality of our lives. We can fight for our sexuality. It is important for the quality of our intimate relationships. In turn, our relationships help us to live healthy lives by allowing us the opportunity to love and to be loved. This is how we send messages to the brain that life is worth the fight against disease and decay. Sexuality is a gift. We need to want to want it. Our happiness and health depend on it.

(1) Somers, Suzanne. (2006). [Interview with Herbert Slavin, MD]. Ageless, 242-252.

(2) Crowley, C, & Lodge, H.S. (2007). Younger next year for women: live strong, fit, and sexy-until you're 80 and beyond. New York: Workman Publishing.