Age ain't nothing but a number...and how turned on you are

The age gap

Hormonal changes are a big culprit. This doesn’t happen at random, though. In women, the menopause can explain lowered libido, since their testosterone and oestrogen levels decline. To add to the turbulence - there is no set time span when it comes to menopause, it can be gradual and fluctuating hormones may span a number of years.

In men, this can be explained by low testosterone. A lot of people don't know that men go through something called 'andropause' - similar to the menopause and beginning at around the same age - where testosterone production starts to decrease. 

Hormones play a big part in sex drive, but there are some who see little to no change at all in their libido as they age. So what are the defining factors?

Knock-on affect

Well, those same hormones can result in less vaginal wetness in women, meaning more painful sex, and therefore negative associations with sex. The menopause can be challenging all around - mood swings, hot flushes, night sweats and problems with sleep and weight regulation. It’s not that hormones themselves decrease sex drive, but they detract from sexual desire by detracting from overall happiness. 

For the guys, lowered testosterone can lead to hair loss, loss of muscle, and even depression. In other words, men and women are going through different versions of a very similar hormonal process whereby their minds and bodies change, and sex suffers as a result.

Similarly, medications prescribed for certain illnesses, mental health issues, bad lifestyle habits that affect food, drinking habits, and sleep quality, all can have an effect on libido. Even though they don’t concern sex directly, they affect wellbeing. Plus, these factors aren't directly linked to old age, but they are factors that are more likely to be an issue in old age, if you see the dilemma.

Is there a solution?

Luckily, there are a number of remedies. For women, Hormonal Replacement Therapy (HRT) works by replacing the hormones your body is no longer making. Improving thinning, drying, and inflammation of the vaginal walls, it answers the question of uncomfortable sex while also easing other menopause symptoms. 

If vaginal symptoms are your main concern, vaginal rings and oestrogen-based creams are two remedies which could bring relief. And, of course, if hormonal options aren’t your bag, you can choose lubricants, which ease vaginal dryness and make it both easier and more pleasurable to orgasm!

For men, HRT is also available, but will usually be offered if you have lower-than-normal testosterone levels. The andropause is different from the menopause in that it’s not a sudden drop in hormones, but a slow decline in testosterone every year from the ages of about 30 or 40 onwards. As a result, mood swings, loss of energy, and mental health issues are the biggest effects. In this case (regardless of gender), therapy or counselling, as well as exercise and positive lifestyle changes, are the most effective long-term solutions. There are also medications available that help with premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction.

For both men and women, why not try Roam's Libido Supplement for Him and Her? Made with all natural, non-hormonal ingredients, it's a safe and easy way to balance your hormones and increase energy.

Not all doom and gloom

Age comes with its own complications, and things can become harder to manage, but they are manageable. There is a range of hormonal, natural, and physical remedies for lowered libido, and often low sex drive can be greatly improved by implementing healthy lifestyle changes, which can be done at any age.

Do not worry - it is absolutely true that an active, healthy, and fulfilling sex life is possible at any age. There is no cut-off date.