The Grown-Up Woman's Guide To Sex

Bring your love life back into focus with the help of our experts.

We all want satisfying sex, but while our love lives should be just as relevant and enjoyable now as they ever were, the reality is different. It’s not just our busy schedules that are to blame: physical changes, such as those caused by the perimenopause, can have an effect, too. And once that happens, it can be surprisingly daunting to get back that loving feeling. ‘The key is to create the sex life that’s right for you now,’ says sex psychologist, Susan Quilliam.

Read on to discover how you can do just that, as well as solve any sexual-health concerns so your love life can blossom again.

THE WELLBEING BENEFITS Discover why spending time between the sheets could boost your health.

IT KEEPS YOU FIT Making love a couple of times a week cuts your risk of heart disease and strokes by half, says a study from the New England Research Institution Massachusetts, in the US. ‘It improves muscle tone, flexibility and circulation, plus it raises your heart rate, which is good for you cardiovascular health,’ explains Julie Peasgood, author of The Greatest Sex Tips in the World.

IT IMPROVES SLEEP Unfortunately, insomnia tends to worsen as we age, but switching off the TV and having an early night with your partner could be the answer. ‘Not only does the exercise side of sex help you to relax, but making love also releases a cocktail of calming hormones to help you sleep more soundly,’ says Quilliam.