Thank you to the listener that suggested I do a podcast episode on sexual dysfunction in midlife, causing stress to the marriage. Interestingly enough, I'm in a Facebook group for women in midlife, and I've seen multiple posts lately about the difficulties many midlife couples face in their sex lives. So, I feel like I'm just responding to the call of the universe for this podcast. 

Even though I'll be addressing other issues of the midlife sexual experience, specifically in this episode, I'm going to address the most common sexual dysfunctions in midlife with some solutions to dealing with them. While I'm giving you some ideas, I'm not an MD so consulting a doctor is essential.

Let me begin by saying that we are physical and emotional beings. No matter what you are feeling about your sexuality right now, you are a sexual being who can still enjoy sexual intimacy even though you might doubt it. 

What I see happen is that when one or both partners deals with sexual dysfunction, it can cause them to feel shame. It can make them think that there is something seriously wrong with them. It can cause them to feel that they are no longer a sexual being. It can be a really sad time. But medical advancements provide so many options for sexual dysfunction today that it seems silly not to investigate them and try them out before throwing your sex life away.

We can enjoy sex in midlife, but it often means acknowledging the problem and facing it head-on.

 If you look back over the years of your life, how many times have you had to change things up a bit? We change workouts to accommodate our changing bodies. We change our diets when our health problems demand it. We go to our doctors when our aging bodies need more attention.

Change is inevitable, no matter how much you dislike it. And we have two choices: accept it and look for solutions or resist it and miss out. That choice makes all the difference in the world. 

 Sexual dysfunctions in midlife don't mean the sex is over or can no longer be satisfying.  Yes, women indeed have a drop in estrogen, causing lower libido, vaginal dryness, or vaginal pain, but men also lower testosterone. After men reach their 50's, erections may require more direct stimulation. The need to ejaculate is less urgent, and the rest periods between ejaculations grows longer. Medications for depression, blood pressure, and heart disease also affect the sexual relationship. 

With this in mind, I want to share some of the research I did on dealing with the physiological changes in midlife that affect the sexual experience.

The first step is getting to your doctor and getting open and specific about what you are experiencing. Many doctors or OBGYNS will start with getting your hormone levels tested and assessing if prescription hormone replacements might help you.

·      Men can boost their testosterone levels with injections, patches, and other formulations.  Women who have low libido can also use natural testosterone to help increase sexual desire. It can be delivered topically or taken by mouth and must be obtained by prescription from a compounding pharmacy. Blood testosterone levels must always be monitored. 

·      Men who have trouble with erectile dysfunction caused by low testosterone and other conditions can ask their doctor about using a drug such as Viagra or other methods to improve erections. Who hasn't heard about the joys of Viagra? 

For complete show notes go to http://reviveyourmidlifemarriage.com/17