New research reveals: sex in later years is very healthy for women, but not so much for men. And that - the more frequent and better it is - the more dangerous it is. In particular, the risk of a heart attack increases.
First, a nice prelude: Most people obviously have a desire for sex even in their later years. This means the age of around 75 years. Research shows that among 75-year-olds, 61 percent of women and 58 percent of men have a regular desire for sex. About 40 percent of people over 60 look forward to a fulfilling sex life. Sex is healthy, doctors say, it makes us young and vital, stimulates our hormonal system and makes us happy.
Now comes worse news for older men: a new American study conducted by scientists from the University of Michigan shows that sex for men in later years can be dangerous for health, primarily for the cardiovascular system, says Hui Liu, the lead author of the study. On the other hand, in most older women, sex has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system.
Sociologist Hui Liu analyzed and compared the data from 2005/2006. collected from a total of 2204 men and women in the US between the ages of 57 and 85, with data collected from those individuals five years later.
Some of the seniors were sexually active, and some were moderately so. The results, which were published in the professional magazine "Journal of Health and Social Behavior", surprised the scientists. They "challenged the widespread thesis that sexual relations are equally healthy for everyone," says Hui Liu.
The most important research results:
Satisfying sex and regular orgasms in older women can reduce the risk of high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases. The reason for this could be the sex hormone oxytocin, which is released during a female orgasm.
On the other hand, in men of the same age, the risk of high blood pressure and rapid heartbeat increases. If they had sex at least once a week, the risk of heart attack in a period of five years was twice as high as for those who were sexually more moderate.
Stress during sex
Why? Hui Lui guesses that it could be due to stress.
However, unlike women, men can be fertile even in their later years. However, many things change during life. For example, weak bones and muscle mass, the body produces less testosterone, therefore less male hormones. Blood vessels lose their elasticity, arteries narrow. Because of all this, older men often need more time until their penis is ready for use. In old age, the penis does not rise higher on its own and is not as rigid as it used to be. Ejaculation and orgasm are often completely absent.
And taking drugs for erectile dysfunction increases the risk of cardiovascular disease in older men. And what is the conclusion now? For older men to be more careful and better at abstaining from sex? No way. Because erotic pleasure makes us young, beautiful, curious and contributes to good shape. We don't have empirical research for these claims, we simply claim that way.
And after all, this research covered too big a gap in age, from 57 to 85. Men of 57 are still young... Also, no data was explicitly separated for men who used Viagra and the like, and it is known that problems with cardiovascular system, one of the very common side effects of potency enhancers. So this is just another meta-study, so don't take this text too seriously.
Bonus video:
