Discussions of sexuality are no longer as taboo as they once were. In fact, it’s no longer so unusual to see people talking about sex in public spaces. However, the subject remains a little complicated for women over 50. They feel less free to open up about it. Yet this age group does not rule out an active sex life. In the media, the subject sometimes rhymes with menopause or declining libido. In the next few lines, we’ll look at the challenges facing women’s sexuality after 50, and point the way to solutions for a satisfying sex life.
What changes for women after 50?
Women in their fifties are often faced with several challenges in their relationships, namely :
- physical changes ;
- menopause;
- reduced libido.
Physical changes
After the age of 50, a woman’s body obviously begins to look different from what it did when she was 25. As a result, many women start to feel ashamed of their plastic appearance, turning in on themselves. These changes can also be a source of frustration. They have less sexual potency, and some lose all desire or opportunity for a fulfilling sex life from time to time.
These women are also confronted with vaginal dryness. This lack of vaginal moisture comes from two sources, namely the inside of the vagina and the glands on the outside of the pussy. These glands reduce secretion, making intercourse unpleasant and even painful.
Menopause
After the age of 50, women are also affected by the menopause. Note that a woman is menopausal when she hasn’t had her period for more than a year. This usually occurs at the age of 45, 50 or 51. It should also be noted that menopause is not an illness, but a hormonal crisis that leads to emotional and bodily changes and fewer desires. In the documentary Ménopositive, singer Lio spoke out on the subject: “I didn’t feel like any introduction at all, not even in my ears, not even a cotton bud, in fact, nothing was getting into me! Only me, with me”. Let’s remember, then, that a woman’s sexuality changes as soon as she reaches menopause.
Decreased libido
There are several reasons why a woman’s libido may decline at 50. The first concerns couples who have lived together for many years, to the point where routine sets in. In this case, the woman no longer has any real desire for sex, and all sex hormones are considerably reduced. Secondly, stress at work, fatigue or certain illnesses such as hypertension or heart disease can cause a drop in libido. The third element is hot flushes, which come on a little haphazardly, but this varies from woman to woman.
Solutions for a satisfying sex life
Although the body evolves and changes with age, pleasure and the desire for intimacy know no bounds at this level. What are the solutions for a fulfilling sex life after 50?
The libido
Decreased libido, for example, can be overcome in a number of ways. First and foremost, you need to maintain your erotic function. This means improving sensoriality as a couple. What’s more, you can break the routine if you’re in a relationship with a woman over 50. This doesn’t necessarily mean doing it every day, but you could make time for it once a week or every fortnight, just the two of you. You can also give yourself time every day as a couple to kiss, caress or cuddle, with the aim of recapturing the sensory experience you once had. For former French porn actress of the 1970s and 1980s and radio host Brigitte Lahaie, “couples shouldn’t let their sexuality go to sleep”. So you can have a fulfilling sex life with women over 50, and it will be just wonderful.
Blossoming fifties
Leaving aside preconceived ideas and stereotypes, it’s clear that women over 50 are just as much women as everyone else. From the age of 50 onwards, they’re still wonderful, radiant and glowing. What’s more, their sexuality can be extremely powerful and fulfilling, or more liberated. Take Sophie Marceau (actress and director, 57), Monica Bellucci (actress and model, 59) or Karine Lemarchand (TV host and actress, 55). These women continue to make their younger siblings swoon with admiration.
The famous actress Gwyneth Paltrow has also addressed those who still stigmatize women in their fifties. She feels happy to be 50, and said in an interview: “The stigma of menopause has long been detrimental to women. So we started talking about it through my company, Goop. We do interviews to break the silence and normalize what is simply natural. To make women believe that they are old and should be ashamed of no longer being of childbearing age is reductive. We are so much more interesting as we age. All the women I talk to about it tell me that their lives are rich and that menopause doesn’t stop them feeling romantic, sexual and strong. We need to break this stigma”. What’s more, women over 50 have something extra: they are mature, in their full strength and femininity.
In conclusion, it’s the representation we have of our own age that limits or boosts us. Beauty is something that emanates from everyone. Of course, it’s natural from youth to age 20-25, but it’s inner beauty that’s transmitted outwards over time. A woman over 50 who works on herself will be radiantly beautiful. Knowing yourself better, accepting physical changes and being aware of your desires will help you maintain a satisfying sex life after 50.
