The over-50s guide to great sex to help you reignite your va va voom – without Viagra!

Having satisfying sex is an important part of life no matter how old you are. But all  too often, age-related physical or emotional changes can lead to disharmony or disinterest in the bedroom. The good news is, there’s plenty that loving couples can do to get the spark fizzing again. This life stage can be one of freedom. Gone is the fear of pregnancy. Your kids are grown and flown. You have more time and space for yourself and for your relationship.

Here’s five most common ways to improve your sex as you age.

Focus on quality not quantity

While the pace may slow down a little with age, the good news is that sex can actually be more rewarding as you get older. Older respondents say they found making love was “more fulfilling” now than in their youth. Making the most of the greater self-confidence that comes with age to open up to your partner about what you need in bed – and to ask them what they need. Just talking about this will boost intimacy

Have a mind and body MoT

Get your blood pressure, cholesterol and weight checked by your GP every year – and go and talk to them if depression is affecting you. If any health issues come up for either partner, why not embark on a diet and fitness plan together? Teaming up like this and spending more time together will have the benefit of increasing intimacy and lifting mood.

Always use a condom with a new partner

Age doesn’t really matter in this case, but don’t forget to raise the important question of protection. If you don’t feel comfortable enough to discuss safe sex, perhaps you’re not ready to sleep together?

Exercise your golden floors if it takes you longer to climax

Investing in a vibrator for women, and spending more time on manual foreplay for both sexes is a viable solution. Age-related hormonal drops for both sexes can make bodies less responsive and result in weaker pelvic floor muscles, meaning it takes longer to achieve orgasm

It’s also well worth doing pelvic floor exercises, because the stronger these muscles are in both sexes the better sexual function and orgasm.

Pelvic floor exercise for women: To identify the correct muscles, squeeze the ones you use to stop urine flow. Then sit or lie with knees slightly apart and slowly tighten these muscles as hard as you can. Hold for 10 seconds then relax. Repeat five times daily.

Pelvic floor exercise for men: Sit relaxing the thighs, bottom and abdomen and squeeze your bladder muscles – as though trying to stop urine flow – while simultaneously contracting around the back passage as though stopping wind. You should feel a dip at your penis base, while your scrotum moves up slightly. Slowly tighten and pull up these muscles as hard as you can – building up to 10 seconds – then relax. Repeat three times daily.