Sexuality in old age is permeated by many taboos and prejudices. But the matter must be treated normally, to avoid disorders of various aspects, including increasing risk behaviors and exposure to sexually transmitted infections. Therefore, it is essential to understand the changes in the body and take appropriate care with sexual health at this stage of life.

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The first step in addressing the sexuality of the elderly is to treat the issue as something natural. There is a lot of talk about the issue of a false asexuality of the elderly, as if sexuality were something exclusive for younger people. It is necessary to raise this issue, since, as it is surrounded by prejudices by society, it ends up reflecting on the performance of health professionals, which can lead to the lack of care and actions related to the sexual health of the elderly.

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Over the years, changes in the body can intervene in the sexual, social and psychological aspects of the elderly person. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the transformations that are part of the aging process, such as the natural decrease in the response to sexual stimuli.

In men, it reduces the production of sperm and testosterone after the age of 40. In women, there is a reduction in hormones during menopause. The changes in the body can interfere in the sexual, social and psychological aspect of the elderly person.

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There are ways to mitigate physiological changes: for example, the skin is usually thinner and drier. So, the use of lubricant is very beneficial, especially for elderly women who end up having vaginal dryness, which can even hurt. In addition, the female condom helps with the empowerment of elderly women and helps to decrease the fear of losing an erection, which is frequent at this age, since the female condom can be placed before sexual intercourse.

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It is important to understand that sexuality is not limited to the sexual act. When talking about sexuality, we need to understand that it is not restricted to the sexual act itself, but also understands the tone of voice, kiss, touch, smell, among other things. It is entirely possible that the elderly person, like any other human being, experiences sexuality as an important dimension of their life.