Losing interest in sex? Don’t you believe it!

ONE curious aspect of growing older has to do with sexuality.

Your experience may be different from mine, but now, at the age of 77, I notice when I see a beautiful young woman that while I can appreciate her attractiveness objectively, I’m actually not interested.

I used to be. But now I find women in their 60s and 70s more attractive.

I had wondered about that in the past. When you get older, do you want to be with a woman your age? My answer is yes, I do. I find my wife incredibly attractive in her 60s.

Studies show a decline of interest in sex as people get older.

But they also reveal that almost half of men over 70, and a smaller percentage of women, still want to have a good sexual experience.

About the same number say that sex at 70-plus is as good or better than ever.

So obviously it’s a mistake to think that older people aren’t interested in sex. They may well be, even if medication, bad health or lack of a partner means that it’s not possible to have intercourse.

In any case, sex is not all about making love; it’s also about pleasure, joy, intimacy, connectedness and sensuality in general. It’s about being open, having fun and engaging in real conversation.

You can expand your sexuality by doing more sensual things, such as gardening, painting, going on nature walks and eating with imagination.

These activities don’t take the place of sexual experience, but they do extend it by making you a more sensuous person.

Older people who are still making love may also find that their sex life is becoming richer and more satisfying.

No longer preoccupied with many of the neurotic issues of youth, your sex life may now be less goal-driven and instead more focused on calm, steady pleasure.