Keep the physical side of your relationship alive

 Keep the physical side of your relationship alive – and not just for joy and connection.

Sex and intimacy triggers all sorts of helpful endorphins and hormones in the body, is a good form of exercise and studies have found men with a high frequency of orgasms have a 50% reduction in mortality.

But make sure you take care of your sexual health and get tested for STIs before starting a new relationship.

Some of us make the mistake of thinking we no longer need to worry about safe sex as we get older, when pregnancy is not a concern. However, it’s a potentially deadly assumption. According to Age UK, there was a 13.9% increase in the rate of new sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in men aged 45 to 64 between 2014 and 2018.

The same period also saw diagnoses in the over-65s increase by almost a quarter in both genders.

Worryingly, HIV is on the rise in over-50s across Europe.

They are most likely to be infected by heterosexual intercourse and tend to have a more advanced disease when it is picked up, making it less treatable.

At the other end of the scale, sexual problems should not be dismissed as an inevitable part of the ageing process.

Loss of libido, erectile dysfunction and discomfort down below can easily be resolved so long as you can overcome your blushes.

For women, the changes and symptoms of the menopause can diminish their desires and make intercourse uncomfortable.

This is because falling oestrogen levels often cause vaginal dryness and, in some cases, a thinning of the vaginal wall, known as vaginal atrophy. If you suffer from any of the above symptoms, do seek help as medication is easily available to help get things functioning as they should again.

Don’t ignore your pelvic floor either. As both sexes age, these vital muscles supporting the bladder, bowel and uterus become weaker, causing issues with continence and reducing sexual pleasure.

Set aside a few minutes each day to exercise your pelvic floor – perhaps when you are boiling the kettle or brushing your teeth.

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