What sex is really like in your 50s, 60s and 70s

​Almost 90 percent of postmenopausal women will experience some pain when having penetrative sex, says Marilyn Jerome, M.D., a gyne­cologist with Foxhall OB/GYN Associates in Washington,

D.C. The reason? Vaginal atrophy or dryness, a condition that’s treatable. A study published in the journal _Menopause_ in 2019 found that almost 71 percent of women ages 40 to 55 who had

not yet entered menopause experienced vaginal atrophy and a sharp drop in sexual function.​ ​Jerome encourages women in their 50s to begin using over-the-counter lubricants when having sex;

her medically prescribed go-to is vaginal estrogen cream, which can plump up the vaginal walls. Many women who have concerns about breast cancer forgo vaginal estrogen — and Jerome says they

shouldn’t. The only patients she does not prescribe it for are women being treated for breast cancer and taking aromatase inhibitors.​ ​If a lack of desire comes into play, as it often

starts to in your 50s, Price suggests practicing “responsive” arousal, which is driven by physical touch rather than relying on spontaneous, hormonal desire.​ ​“If you let yourself enjoy the

pleasure of slowly becoming physically aroused by being touched or by other kinds of stimulation, the desire will follow. And this is something that can be yours lifelong,” she adds.​ SEX

IN YOUR 60S: MEET THE CHALLENGE ​Left unspoken and untended, sexual challenges that naturally emerge with age can derail one’s love life. As Centreville, Maryland, gynecologist Lisa Webb,

M.D., frames it: “If you’ve stopped talking about sex after 60, you’ve probably stopped having it.” Webb urges couples to be “intentional” about sex: “What do you need? What does your

partner need? The mechanics don’t really matter, so long as you’re feeling fulfilled. Sex and intimacy can still be rich and rewarding.” ​ ​In their 60s, many men face erection challenges,

which may cause them to withhold affection. “They don’t want to start what they can’t finish,” says urologist Abraham Morgentaler, M.D., author of _The Truth About Men and Sex: Intimate

Secrets From the Doctor’s Office_. A common fix: Viagra and its competitors, which Morgentaler calls some of the “most studied pills on the planet.” Medications can also be injected directly

into the penis before sex. “It sounds awful, but it’s really easy,” Morgentaler adds. Erections usually last 20 minutes to two hours. Other options include vacuum devices, surgical

procedures, and new treatments involving sonic wave energy and a platelet-rich plasma injectable.​