Sexual Health Care | FAQs

Q |​ What do I need to know about my sexual health care as an older trans person?

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Many adults continue to enjoy sex as they age, whether alone or with partners, and those with functional challenges can find ways to maintain an enjoyable sex life. Medications, weight control, exercise, and/or specialized medical devices can help make sexual intimacy possible for trans older adults, including those with chronic illnesses or disabilities. However, it is important to note potential difficulties with sexual health that may arise with age:

• Older adults may have chronic health conditions like diabetes and heart disease that can affect sexual function.
   

• Older adults may have arthritis or chronic pain that make it difficult to have sex.
   

• Older adults are just as likely as younger adults to get an STI, like syphilis, hepatitis B, and HIV.
   

• Older adults are more likely to be diagnosed with breast, cervical or prostate cancer, and it is recommended to consider current guidelines, personal risk factors, and your anatomy for cancer screening.
   

• Stenosis, or narrowing, of the neovagina among older trans women who have had bottom surgery can occur over time, which may cause discomfort during sex. Following your healthcare provider’s recommendations for vaginal dilation may help prevent this issue.
   

• Menopause symptoms like hot flashes, weight gain, and vaginal dryness can affect older people who were assigned female at birth. 
   

• Loss of bladder control (urinary incontinence) may develop in older age, which can affect self-confidence.
   

• Other side effects, like decreased sexual desire, may occur based on the type of prescription drugs you are taking as part of HRT.

Talk with a trusted healthcare provider about your sexual health as you age, especially any concerns you have about the safety of having sex if you have a high-risk health condition.