The Independent Pharmacy

Sex At Over 50: A Lifesaver? How Sex Keeps You Healthy

Donald Grant
Dr Donald Grant
MB ChB DRCOG MRCGP Dip.orth.med GMC 3058367
GP & Clinical Advisor

Life after fifty is a whole new ballgame. Where things like stamina and stable blood pressure may have been an afterthought in your early twenties, men fifty and older have likely discovered just how important it is to take care of their health.

And while it's easy to believe that you have to exercise more and eat healthier to stay healthy, few people know that one of the most important things you can do is something you might have been doing all along anyway – sex.

Here is some advice for anyone looking to have a healthy sex life after 50 — and beyond.

Sex over fifty – the benefits

Overwhelmingly, the experts agree – sex in a monogamous relationship has been shown to increase men's health in a variety of ways. According to WebMD, men who have sex frequently (at least twice a week), were over half as likely to develop heart disease. Additionally, sex lowers blood pressure, eases stress, improves sleep, and releases endorphins on completion, which have been shown to reduce depression.

Amazingly, frequent sex has also been linked to substantially lower risks of prostate cancer.

Sex over fifty — the challenges

The only potential drawback to having more sex is that for men over fifty, sex is a little more complicated than it may have been at twenty-five. With increased age, men's risk of erectile dysfunction increases as well.

Approximately forty percent of men suffer from erectile dysfunction or impotence, at least occasionally. It’s very common — and not dangerous.

Men just need to manage the condition through treatment and therapy. As well as age, ED can be caused by a number of different factors, including psychological conditions and the side effects of drugs.

Treating erectile dysfunction effectively

Viagra is often the first medicine that comes to mind among all the erectile dysfunction treatments available. It, along with Cialis and Levitra, is a useful tool that should be in every man's arsenal when experiencing loss of sexual function. Levitra (and generic Vardenafil) is particularly effective for men over the age of fifty. Read our Levitra reviews from patients to find out more information.

As is quite common with men over fifty, Viagra improves lessened sex drive and increases sexual stamina by helping the penis remain erect and improving penile blood flow. Except for men who can't have sex due to heart issues, Viagra is typically very safe for most men to use.

Side effects are few but include blurred vision and nasal congestion, among others. Speak to your doctor if you’re not sure. For more information read our advice about Tadalafil side effects and Viagra Connect side effects.

You may also need to try different ED pills and treatments until you hit the one that works for you.

Viagra Tablets (25mg, 50mg & 100mg)
Viagra Tablets (25mg, 50mg & 100mg)
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Getting ED treatments safely

Viagra, Sildenafil, Spedra and other medicines for erectile dysfunction are only available with a doctor's prescription and are widely accessible in the UK and US. You can get them from pharmacies, both online and on the high street. Never buy unlicensed Viagra online — it can be dangerous. You may want to opt for generic pills as they are cheaper to buy than the branded medication, especially if taking ED pills is going to be a regular thing for you.

The Independent Pharmacy in particular assists men with intermittent or chronic impotence, carrying a variety of products – including Viagra, Cialis and Levitra – and providing hassle-free ordering on an easy-to-navigate site. With a doctor's prescription, The Independent Pharmacy can quickly fill and deliver any prescription to your door, using unmarked packaging for discretion — great for people looking for increased privacy.

Access to ED treatment is even easier with the launch of Viagra Connect - the UK's first ED treatment available from high street and online pharmacies without a prescription!

Sex over age fifty should be a priority for men who want to avoid heart disease and decrease their risk of depression, high blood pressure, and even certain types of cancers. The Independent Pharmacy can help overcome any obstacles that stand between you, a healthy sex life, and a healthy life overall.

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Donald Grant

Authored by

Dr Donald Grant
Donald Grant
MB ChB DRCOG MRCGP Dip.orth.med
3058367
GP & Clinical Advisor

Dr Don Grant is The Independent Pharmacy's original online prescriber and has advanced in his role to become the Clinical Advisor, using his wealth of experience to advise on our clinical polices and prescribing guidelines.

Daniel Hurley

Reviewed by

Daniel Hurley
Daniel Hurley
MPharm IP
2078790
Pharmacist Independent Prescriber

Dan is an experienced pharmacist having spent time working in both primary and secondary care. He currently supports our clinical team by providing robust clinical governance review of our internal processes and information.