It's challenging to adapt to changing hormones and body agility and accept the changes our bodies go through as we age. Today, we have many options for staying perpetually young in looks, health, and spirit, so middle age isn't so daunting on the surface. When it comes to sexual vitality, though, things do change as your body ages.

Health Issues

The good news is, we're living longer and you'll want to have sex longer as well. The bad news is that as a culture we are more overweight, more dependent on prescription drugs, and have higher incidences of cancer. These cancers are prevalent in the areas of the body that have to do with sex. Cases of breast cancer, testicular cancer, prostate cancer, and uterine cancer are all on the rise.

Maintaining a healthful lifestyle is very important for great sex. Eat well, stay fit, and see your doctor regularly. Educate yourself on matters concerning health and sexuality so that you will be well informed when aging issues come up.

Maintaining Sexual Desire

Desire can be elusive throughout your life. Many people experience ups and downs in their level of desire. Depression, stress, and anxiety all contribute to lowered levels of the brain chemicals that keep us optimistic, healthy, and full of desire.

Lowered hormone levels during pregnancy, illnesses, and personal crises can cause the loss of sexual desire. Midlife menopause in both men and women can cause confusion about desire and desirability. Many modern medications and drugs used for depression and stress-related illnesses can cause a complete lack of libido.

Lifestyle issues also affect the quality of sex as you move through different periods of your life. Very often, after women have had their children, they go back to work with a vengeance. They put in long hours and come home to more hours of creating and maintaining a sanctuary in their home. They may be absolutely enjoying themselves, but it does make for a long, exhausting day.

At the same time, they are gently aging. Their testosterone and estrogen levels are dropping. Estrogens regulate the monthly cycle and help stabilize the emotions, side effects, and physical sensations of menopause. Testosterone gives women energy and sexual vitality the same way it does for men, although women need a much smaller amount of the hormone than men do.

Men's testosterone levels drop as they age, too. Their desire may begin to wane, though it may be attributed more to performance anxiety and fears associated with declining libido and perceived sexiness. Men seem to be much less willing to address the issues.

Training Your Mind

Desire has a lot to do with how you've trained your mind to think about sex and sexual attraction. If you have been sex-positive for most of your life, it's likely you'll be more sexually active as you age. If you find that you encounter problems, you will be more likely to seek out remedies and solutions for them.

Our brain is our biggest sexual organ. We can enable ourselves to feel sexy, stimulated, and desirable by training our brains. It's never too late to start. Sex and desire are healthy, normal functions of any human being. If you or your partner is concerned about the lack of desire and libido, consult your doctor and ask for a referral to a sexologist.

Dealing with Menopause

If you are a woman who has reached (or is about to reach) menopause, you may be distressed by the changes in your life, including some negative effects on your sex life. Luckily, there's a lot more you can do to alleviate your experience of menopause. Here are a few suggestions:

• Physical activity is key to leading a healthy lifestyle. Find an exercise program that you enjoy and make it a part of your everyday schedule.

• Avoid stress. Take more personal time for yourself and cut back your work hours.

• Create sensual (but not necessarily sexual) time with your lover. Be playful and innocent — it doesn't have to go anywhere as long as you enjoy touch, massage, and cuddling.

• Practice your PC muscle exercises. Being proficient at these will bring more blood flow to your pelvic floor area, keep you toned, and will actually help build your sexual energy and sexual desire.

• Try estrogen and testosterone topical creams. These will stimulate your libido and heighten sensation in your erogenous zones.

• Attend a sexuality or tantra workshop with your partner. Workshops can put a tremendous amount of new sensual energy into relationships.

• Consider taking up yoga and meditation. These activities teach you to focus your attention and keep your body supple. Focusing techniques can help you respond better to the sexual stimulus that you receive.

• Don't be afraid to use lubrication, if needed. It can be erotic and fun to apply. There are many products on the market already, and new lines are appearing that are organic and natural.

• Keep a sense of play and innocence when introducing new experiences. And most important, have fun!

Get yourself a good book on menopause; one good option is The Everything® Health Guide to Menopause. It will give you all the information you need to understand what is happening to your body, mind, and soul.