Late Adulthood Sexuality Essay Example
Introduction
It’s something that most people prefer not to think about. That is until time flies and they, themselves, are approaching late adulthood. One day, hopefully, we’ll all be 65 years of age or older and wondering if we can still enjoy sexual experiences into late adulthood? This essay will delve into the personal issues of the people in late adulthood and their sex lives. It will also discuss some of the common problems that people in the late adulthood stage may encounter with sex and how they cope with those problems.
Discussion of Topic
According to our textbook, Development Across the Lifespan, one eighth of the population in the United States is 65 years of age or older. Additionally, the fastest growing segment of the population are people who are 85 or older (Feldman, 2008). Clearly, over the last century, our life expectancy has increased!
I am glad to report that as people grow older, they can indeed remain sexually active. Furthermore, the intimacy levels can be even higher than in previous years. This is because sexual problems and difficulties tend to occur more frequently with increasing age, and the best way to overcome any difficulties is through open communication with your partner, which can bring a couple closer together than ever before. Sexual difficulties come in all forms. The common term, sexual dysfunction, is defined as problems that interfere with the initiation, consummation, or satisfaction with sex. They occur in both men and women and are independent of sexual orientation (Davidson, 2003).
As men grow older, a decrease in their hormone levels of testosterone is common. This hormone is necessary for the normal growth and development of male sex organs, and the maintenance of secondary sex characteristics. Testosterone, for instance, is responsible for sperm development, a decrease in body fat, increasing and maintaining lean muscle, and increasing mental and physical energy- including sexual energy. Low levels of
It’s something that most people prefer not to think about. That is until time flies and they, themselves, are approaching late adulthood. One day, hopefully, we’ll all be 65 years of age or older and wondering if we can still enjoy sexual experiences into late adulthood? This essay will delve into the personal issues of the people in late adulthood and their sex lives. It will also discuss some of the common problems that people in the late adulthood stage may encounter with sex and how they cope with those problems.
Discussion of Topic
According to our textbook, Development Across the Lifespan, one eighth of the population in the United States is 65 years of age or older. Additionally, the fastest growing segment of the population are people who are 85 or older (Feldman, 2008). Clearly, over the last century, our life expectancy has increased!
I am glad to report that as people grow older, they can indeed remain sexually active. Furthermore, the intimacy levels can be even higher than in previous years. This is because sexual problems and difficulties tend to occur more frequently with increasing age, and the best way to overcome any difficulties is through open communication with your partner, which can bring a couple closer together than ever before. Sexual difficulties come in all forms. The common term, sexual dysfunction, is defined as problems that interfere with the initiation, consummation, or satisfaction with sex. They occur in both men and women and are independent of sexual orientation (Davidson, 2003).
As men grow older, a decrease in their hormone levels of testosterone is common. This hormone is necessary for the normal growth and development of male sex organs, and the maintenance of secondary sex characteristics. Testosterone, for instance, is responsible for sperm development, a decrease in body fat, increasing and maintaining lean muscle, and increasing mental and physical energy- including sexual energy. Low levels of