Sex for Seniors: Passion, and safer sex, after 60.

So, I'm on the phone with a friend's mom having a friendly chat, when suddenly she hits me with a real doozy.

"I'm getting back into the dating world.  It's been over thirty years, and I can't ask my kids about this stuff.  Tell me everything I need to know about sex."

WOW!  I mean, wow.

Then she says she does know she is supposed to use condoms now, but never has before.  In the 70's all she had to worry about was not getting pregnant.  And how exactly does that whole thing work these days?

After a brief (I hope!) moment of shocked silence, I reminded myself that there are a lot of people out there who have these questions, and I was flattered to be asked for such important info! 

Dating Has Changed!
We are living longer, Viagra is popular, and erotic life does not end after sixty - or after the death or divorce of a spouse.  This is great, but also not without consequence.  Many of the people getting back into the "dating scene" for the first time in decades haven't had the same exposure to safer sex education that many of us take for granted.  As a result the STI rate in some senior communities has shot up.

Sex can be an uncomfortable subject at any age, but if the children (or even doctors) of seniors do not bring up the basic need for protection, it can result in unnecessary health risks.

Many folks may still think that because they "know" their partner that he or she is safe, or that they can tell by how someone looks that they are "clean" and they don't need to worry about disease.  This simply isn't true. 

In fact, because some senior communities tend to be small and insular, and because the dating pool of men grows smaller as we age, it becomes that much more likely an STI could be passed.  So, even with serial monogamy there may be a risk of infection, because there are only so many available partners. And since many people came of age in an era when pregnancy was the chief concern, once a woman's child-bearing years have ended, neither partner may feel they need to take any precautions.

So, back to my ear searing conversation.  I thought for a minute about what my senior friend should know, and summarized it into something like this:

1. Use condoms, every time, the entire time, for all types of sex, at least until you are both tested for everything.  Ask your doc what you and your partner should be tested for ahead of time.  Talk to your partner about this before you get to the bedroom, so you both agree to postpone physical intimacy until your tests are clean.

2. Don't keep condoms in a wallet or pocket - heat, friction, and sharp keys can damage them.  Use a condom case (or even an Altoids box) if you carry condoms with you.  And check the expiration dates on the condom wrapper!

3. Make sure he puts the condom on only when he is fully erect, leaving just a little space at the tip to capture semen, and reduce stress (and breakage) on the condom.  Drizzling a little water-based lubricant in the tip of the condom can improve sensation for him, although it may also increase the chance of the condom slipping off if he does not stay consistently erect.

4. If he does not consistently stay hard enough to keep the condom on during sex, or you want a little extra security, try a soft, stretchy cock ring* at the base of his penis to help him stay hard and keep the condom in place.  If the condom slips off, don't re-use it.  Put on a new one.
(*Find out more about cock rings, what they do, and how to use them here.)

5. He should withdraw immediately after climaxing, and hold the edge of the condom at the base of his penis, so it doesn't slip off.

6. Use a lot of lube!  Wetter sex is better sex, and as ladies age we are not as moist as we are in our 20s.  Extra lubrication will make sex more pleasant for both partners, and reduce chances of condom breakage or physical irritation for you.

7. Only use lubricants made for intercourse, and try to stick with water-based products.  Never use lotion, oils, or other things from around the house.  They can cause irritation and break down a condom.

8. If it is uncomfortable, try adding more lubricant.  If it still hurts, stop.  My personal opinion is that pain is your body's signal that something just isn't right, so move along to the next thing.  Ask you doctor about pain or discomfort.

9. Go slooooow.  Like in sports, you can't just jump back into the type of enthusiastic lovemaking of your 20s, without a little reconditioning and practice.

copyright www.ScarletGirl.com 2008

Article author, Vicki Kriner, is a small business aficionado, sometime author, purveyor of pleasure, and vivacious vixen with nearly two decades in the world of customer service, business building, and the general realm of helping others succeed.

She has worked with Scarlet Girl for over 4 years, and wears many hats in the company.  Vicki travels between Vancouver, WA, Portland, OR, and the San Francisco Bay Area to give pleasure party presentations, conduct consultant training, and to network.  Recently she has begun presenting mini-lectures on safety awareness for business women and students in addition to her regular pleasure party presentations.