13 Things You Need to Know About Sex in Your 40s
It may get really boring, if you’re trying to conceive
The quantity and quality of a woman’s eggs decreases significantly as she ages—making conception after 40 more challenging. If you’re still looking to expand your family, you may find yourself engaged in fertility treatments and lots of not-so-successful baby-making sex. And that can make sex feel, well, a little bit like doing dishes. “For those struggling to conceive later in life, sex can become a chore,” Landes says.
Women may be more orgasmic
You may see myths that claim that older women lose their ability to orgasm, but experts say that women over 40 may find more pleasure in sex than they ever did before. “For some women, orgasm becomes easier with experience, self-confidence, and comfort,” Landes says. If fact, many women may find discover a second phase to their sexual experience: They know what it takes to get there and aren’t shy about making it happen.
Guys can hold out longer
There’s an upside to the decline in hormone levels over this decade: Men over 40 find themselves lasting longer than they did in the past. “As men age they are often better able to delay orgasm,” Landes says. “They can slow down and enjoy the experience more fully in a more connected way.”
You may need to break out the lube—or the estrogen cream
Blame hormones for the fact that sex gets a whole lot drier after 40. “Fluctuating estrogen levels and irregular menstrual periods can bring discomfort,” Landes says. “The vaginal walls start to become thinner, more easily irritated, more likely to bleed or tear.” The cure? Invest in lube—and some doctors will recommend estrogen cream applied to the area to help with dryness.
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