Sexual Health
Any mature person knows that a fulfilling sexual relationship depends
on many emotional as well as physical and hormonal factors. A good sex
life and a happy emotional partnership tend to enhance each other. That
means it's worth preserving or developing the emotional elements of your
relationship with your partner — especially during the midlife years, when
both of you are experiencing changes in your bodies and probably in your
lives.
Loss of sexual desire can occur men and women at any age. But it's a
common complaint, along with hot flashes and insomnia, heard from women
who are going through perimenopause, the years prior to menopause. (See
symptoms) These changes affect all aspects of man’s life. Male
menopause is thus a psychological, interpersonal, social and spiritual
dimension. Men have reported having as many premenstrual type symptoms as
women do (reduced or increased energy, irritability, and other negative
moods, black pain, sleeplessness, headaches, confusion, etc.) (See
male symptoms)
Your overall sexual health is important to your well being.
Your sexual functioning is controlled in large part by your sex glands
that release the sex hormones, androgen in males and estrogen and
progesterone in females. And for the normal functioning of these glands
Vitamin B is needed.
Vitamins A,
C and
E are also instrumental in aiding
the functioning of these glands.
Since your brain chemistry is also involved in your
sexual performance, it’s important that the chemical messengers or
‘neurotransmitters’ as they are called be kept healthy. Once again, the B
vitamins play a vital role in maintaining function of the brain's
neurotransmitters. And since most neurotransmitters are composed mostly of
amino acids, the building blocks of protein, eating foods that contain
protein and using supplements is important. Vitamin C and magnesium help
manufacture neurotransmitters, and the trace mineral selenium helps
protect neurotransmitters from damage. (see
vitamins&minerals)
The ability to enjoy an active, satisfying sex life does not normally
diminish with age. Most men and women can continue to be sexually active
well into their 70s and some will never lack desire or capacity even into
their 80s and 90s. Yes! A few changes do occur and there may be some
slowing in response, but use vitamins and minerals, and a regular exercise
regimen can help a lot, too. In fact, sex gets better, more
wholesome and safe with age in some ways, for one thing, women no longer
need contraception. |