I Cannot Imagine Life Without Orgasms

By Joan Price | 18 January 2022

hero background image
an image of the author of this article

Joan Price

She_Her

Joan Price calls herself an advocate for ageless sexuality. She is the author of four books about sex and aging, including the award-winning Naked at Our Age: Talking Out Loud about Senior Sex and her latest: Sex after Grief: Navigating Your Sexuality After Losing Your Beloved. Her award-winning blog has been offering senior sex news, views, and sex toy reviews since 2005. At age 76, Joan continues to talk out loud about senior sex—partnered or solo. She is the co-creator of “jessica drake’s Guide to Wicked Sex: Senior Sex”. Find Joan at https://joanprice.com.

"I am 58. For six years after my husband died, I did not have sex with anyone. I masturbated and reached orgasm with no problem. I felt like I was too overweight to be with a new man. Then I lost weight and felt really good about myself. I began having sexual relationships with men. It was wonderful. I could not get enough, like someone opened the flood gates, multiple orgasms as well!"

"Now I have put on weight again and I no longer reach orgasm with a partner or alone. I cannot imagine life without orgasms. I am frustrated but find it too hard to get the weight back off. My two grown sons do not want me to go out at all—they tell me to act my age. My frustration is leaving me short-tempered and agitated. I do not have a doctor here nor can I afford one. Any symptoms maybe I should be looking for if it is a medical reason?"

Joan answers:

Sudden inability to reach orgasm can be a warning sign of a major medical problem, such as heart disease. Nothing I say can substitute for a medical evaluation, which could be lifesaving.

That said, your emphasis on your weight leads me to wonder whether your feelings about yourself as undeserving of sexual pleasure might be affecting your sexual response. The brain is powerful, and if you condemn yourself for your weight gain, this might be dampening your ability to connect sexually with your own body. We can be desirable and sexually responsive whether slim or curvy—I hope you’ll work on accepting this. Eating healthy foods and staying physically active helps our sex lives because our bodies function better, but that’s independent of whether we’re at some “ideal” weight or not.

Note to your grown sons: Your mom is acting her age. We are sexual beings lifelong. Stop being embarrassed by her and support her.

Related products

30% Off
Code AWAKEN30
KURVE

KURVE

£ 89.95

learn more
30% Off
Code AWAKEN30
pulse duo lux with 2 remote controls

PULSE DUO LUX

£ 169.95

learn more
40% Off
AWAKEN40
pink amo bullet vibrator

AMO - Bullet Vibrator

£ 49.95

30% Off
Code AWAKEN30
atom plus front view

ATOM PLUS

£ 69.95

learn more

Sign up for emails

Yes, I want to receive exclusive email offers, sexy advice and get 10% off my order. By Subscribing you agree to our privacy policy. We will not share or sell your personal information.