Young people grow up with an assumption about when people stop having an active sex life. After all, who of us ever wanted to think about our parents or any  “old” people having sex? That ranks right up there with the most nightmarish of thoughts.

One upon a time, it may have been true that post-menopausal women and men with prostate trouble or other medical issues would stop having an active sex life in their 50s or 60s. It just happened that way. Not so now. Today’s couples know you are not your grandparents. With the advent of ED medication and more widespread knowledge of female biology and menopausal effects on body and libido, couples are able to lead an active sex life well into advanced age.

Couples that have been together for years having cultivated a strong emotional bond, playful interactions and physical intimacy can and should be having sex regularly as long as they are physically able to do so. A healthy sexual relationship is vital to a happy relationship. Without it, an element of fun, play and fulfillment is missing.  Humans are sexual creatures, and to deny that is to deny a basic and fundamental part of who we are as people.  Giving and receiving of pleasure in an erotic and sexual context is an important way to connect with your partner in the most raw and vulnerable way.

For those couples who struggle with body image as they age, what can make you feel more attractive or desirable than a loving interaction with your partner? We all are going through changes over time and the fact that you’re doing it together should be celebrated. When you’re sharing loving intimacy with your partner it’s very easy to overlook the sags, bags and wrinkles we all get through the years. It’s important to see that this is the same person that you fell in love with and that his or her body is the one that you’ve loved for so long. Cherish these times together and give proper respect to the body of the woman who’s borne your children, and the man who has worked hard to provide a life for your family.  Time is relentless in its ravaging to our bodies. No one can escape that. Instead, acknowledge it, and celebrate the ability to share in an active sex life with your love.

Physical and health issues come into play for older couples. Side effects of some medications can kill libido, and let’s face it, we just get tired. This may necessitate changing up your plans for sexual encounters, and taking some erectile dysfunction meds. Women may have to prepare themselves with foreplay and extra lubrication and you may have to be more creative when it comes to positions you employ to continue to have that active sex life that you want.

The main thing is to keep that sense of play, to explore eroticism and engage your minds as much if not more than you do your bodies to keep an active sex life going into your senior years. Be proud of the fact that you and your partner are still sexually active and keep playing together for as long as you live.