JOY FEELINGS MAGAZINE December 2015 | Page 216

lubricants can be used in combination with an estrogen cream or suppository. The estrogen helps to restore elasticity to the vaginal tissues. Sexual Changes Women’s arousal patterns change as they age. It may take longer for them to become aroused. They may have less lubrication. On the other hand, no longer having to worry about pregnancy can be freeing. Some women enjoy sex even more once they’ve gone past menopause. Sexual patterns for men change with age as well. Women who have sex with male partners may notice that it takes longer for their partners to get an erection. The erection may not be as firm as it used to be. However, many men may be able to last longer during intercourse. Your sex life may change, but you’re never too old to enjoy sex. Don’t Forget to Play Safe With the increase in erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs, active sex lives are on the increase in older populations. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this has led to an increase in STDs among older adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HIV is a growing problem in mature adults. Individuals over the age of 55 accounted for 19 percent of people living with H %X