What Happens To Orgasms When You're 50 Or Older

With age comes a whole boatload of changes. While many of them aren't exactly for the better — after all, who needs that persistent back pain that refuses to go away? — some of those changes are actually positive. Women, especially, get lucky in this area. Granted, menopause is no walk in the park, but once it's completed you no longer have to worry about periods, menstrual cramps, and the hormonal mayhem that having a menstrual cycle brings. There's also a shift in orgasms — both in how they're achieved and how they're experienced.

According to a 2024 survey by the Kinsey Institute and Cosmopolitan, sex and orgasms get better with age, per Prevention. Of the more than 3,000 women interviewed for the survey, roughly 75% said their age didn't negatively affect their orgasms, while 20% said that getting older made their orgasms even more satisfying than in their youth. It was also found that the orgasm rate during partnered sex for these women was a whopping 57%.

While some of these changes in orgasms and sexual satisfaction can be attributed to the wisdom and the deeper understanding of one's body that comes with time, there's more to it than just that. Health Digest spoke exclusively with Dr. Jennifer Litner, who is a sexologist and the founder of Embrace Sexual Wellness, about the reasons behind these positive changes.

Society has led has to believe that sexual pleasure is over once you reach a certain age. Unfortunately, this is most especially the case for women because Invisible Woman Syndrome is a real thing and plays a major role in how older women are perceived in our culture. It's assumed, very much incorrectly, that women lose not only their ability to be sexual beings but that their interest in sex becomes obsolete. That's why studies that debunk these myths are so paramount. Just because something isn't the same, doesn't mean it ceases to exist.

"Some people notice no changes to their orgasm as they get older, others have sensitivity changes where they require more stimulation, and some people find orgasm is more challenging to experience," said Litner, adding that the changes in orgasms and sexual desire are specifically related to the hormonal shifts, most notably testosterone. (Yes, women have testosterone too.) "Testosterone is the sex steroid which is assumed to primarily influence sexual desire, motivation, and the orgasm is positively associated with testosterone," she said. Increases in testosterone result in greater and more fulfilling orgasmic functioning. For those who start to experience lower levels of testosterone as they get older, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can get everything back on track.

Although there are similarities in how both women and men experience sexual changes and orgasms with age, due to the difference in hormonal makeup and, of course, their genitals, things are fairly different. "Males may experience fewer contractions with orgasms and require more stimulation in order to reach an orgasm," said Litner. But while that may be the case for some men, that doesn't mean you're on the precipice of erectile dysfunction. It just means that, like the rest of your body, your equipment isn't functioning as it once did and, therefore, needs an extra push so to speak.

On the other hand, according to Litner, where women are mostly affected — despite experiencing better orgasms — is when it comes to sexual desire. However, it is worth noting that the aforementioned 2024 survey by the Kinsey Institute and Cosmopolitan found that almost 40% of the female respondents over 60 were just as, for lack of a better word, horny as they were 10 years ago. In other words, age isn't going to affect everyone's sexual desire or orgasm quality the same way.

More than anything, sex and sexuality is just as complicated at 25, as it is at 45, 65, and beyond. "As we age, sexual functioning concerns tend to depend more on psychological, pharmacological, and illness-related factors," said Litner. So as you navigate life and sex after 50, it's important to have regular checkups and always inform your doctor of any changes, especially if those changes are negatively impacting any part of your life.