☆ Featured
Intimacy after 40: a new chapter, not a closing one
Bodies change. So do relationships. There is room to discover what closeness means to you now.
After Forty Editorial Desk
Articles about midlife wellbeing and relationships, with clear sources, practical questions and room for individual experience. Learn more in our editorial standards.
From the editorial desk
☆ Featured
Sex hurts after 40: what can help?
Dryness and pain can make intimacy feel difficult. Here are practical starting points and questions to bring to your next appointment.
☆ Featured
Erection changes after 40: what is going on?
Erections feel less reliable lately? Here is how to understand the change, talk about it, and get useful help.
Different levels of desire? Start with a conversation
You do not have to want the same things at the same time to listen to each other well.
Your sexual-health appointment: a little preparation goes a long way
A page of notes, a few questions, and permission to use your own words.
Closeness without a script: making room for what feels right
An invitation to rethink the small moments of connection, at your own pace.
Low sex drive after 40: a guide for men
Not feeling as interested in sex lately? You can explore what has changed without judging yourself or jumping to conclusions.
When your partner wants more sex than you do
A guide for men who feel caught between caring about their partner and wanting less sex. Start with honest words and less pressure.
Low desire after 40: a guide for women
You still care about your partner, but sex may be the last thing on your mind. Start by understanding what the change feels like for you.
Orgasms feel different after 40: what now?
Taking longer, feeling less, or struggling to climax? Explore the change with less pressure and clearer questions.
When worries about penis size take over the moment
If comparison keeps interrupting intimacy, explore the worry, talk honestly, and learn when support could help.
Dating again after divorce: finding your confidence as a man
Start dating at a pace that fits your life, with room for uncertainty, honest expectations and time to yourself.
When you can get an erection but struggle to orgasm
Understand the difference between erections, orgasm and ejaculation, and prepare a useful conversation about what has changed.
Feeling like roommates: how to tell your partner you miss closeness
When daily life works but connection feels distant, name what you miss and begin a conversation without blame.
My body has changed. How do I feel comfortable being seen?
You can make room for intimacy at your own pace without having to love every part of your body first.
Why has my waist changed during menopause?
Understand changes in weight and body shape, consider realistic health steps, and avoid promises of a quick belly-fat fix.
Do I still need contraception during perimenopause?
Irregular periods and HRT can leave you unsure about pregnancy prevention. Here are the questions to bring to your clinician.
What if I want more sex after 40, not less?
More desire can feel welcome, confusing or frustrating. Make sense of your experience without measuring it against a stereotype.
I miss being touched, but I don't want casual sex
Wanting affection does not mean you have to want a hookup or a relationship. Explore the kind of connection you actually miss.
Wanting closeness after losing a partner
There can be room for grief, affection and uncertainty at the same time. Explore what feels welcome without imposing a timetable.
How to ask a new partner about STI testing
Make testing a shared health conversation, understand the limits of results, and keep your boundaries clear.
Dating with herpes: starting the conversation
Prepare an honest conversation about herpes, leave room for questions, and describe risk without promises or shame.
We have good sex. Why doesn't the relationship feel right?
Strong attraction can coexist with unanswered relationship questions. Look at everyday experiences and talk about what you each want.
Asking for what you enjoy with a partner
Find simple words for preferences, requests and boundaries, with room for both people to answer honestly.
I'm tired all the time. Is this really just getting older?
Tired all the time after 40? Explore questions about sleep, symptoms and daily pressures, plus practical ways to prepare for a useful healthcare conversation.
Why do workouts leave me sore for days now?
Workouts leaving you sore for days? Review your routine, understand when pain needs attention, and find questions to help make training manageable after 40.
My life looks fine. Why do I feel so lonely?
Life looks fine but feels lonely? Explore ways to reconnect with old friends, meet people regularly and talk honestly about the company you miss after 40.
Why am I wide awake at 3 a.m.?
Wide awake at 3 a.m.? Explore interrupted sleep, menopause questions and practical next steps, including what to track and discuss with a healthcare professional.
I keep losing words at work. How do I handle brain fog?
Losing words or focus at work? Find practical ways to handle brain fog, ask for useful support and prepare a clear conversation with a healthcare professional.
I leak when I sneeze or exercise. What can I do?
Leaking when you sneeze or exercise? Learn what to note, what to ask about assessment and treatment, and when bladder symptoms need prompt medical attention.
Why am I so irritable lately? I don't feel like myself.
Feeling unusually irritable in perimenopause? Reflect on what changed, find words for difficult conversations and explore questions to bring to an appointment.
Can we sleep separately and still feel close?
Could separate beds help you sleep without losing closeness? Explore how to discuss worries, agree on a fair arrangement and recognize sleep concerns worth checking.
I want to help my ageing parent, but I'm stretched too thin.
Caring for an ageing parent while juggling your own life? Make the workload visible, ask for specific help and discuss realistic limits with family and care teams.
The kids have left home. What do I want my days to look like now?
The kids have left home. Explore changing routines, staying in touch, making time for your interests and talking about what you want this next stage to include.
Hot flashes and HRT: what does the new guidance mean for you?
What does new menopause guidance mean for hot flashes and night sweats? Understand the options and prepare useful questions for your next health appointment.
Testosterone is back in the headlines. What actually changed?
Confused by testosterone headlines? Understand the label announcements, what the research can tell you, and questions to bring to a healthcare appointment.
HRT and weight-loss drugs: what does the new study actually tell us?
Does HRT improve weight loss with tirzepatide? Look at what a new menopause study found, what it cannot prove, and questions to discuss with your clinician.
Menopause products: how do you know what's worth buying?
Thinking about a menopause supplement? Learn how to check product claims, understand research and ask about safety before spending money on another promise.
Can sleep and exercise affect inflammation as we age?
Can sleep and exercise affect inflammation as we age? Explore a new study, its limits and practical questions about habits that fit your health and daily life.
HRT warning labels are changing. What should you ask now?
HRT warning labels are changing. Understand what the FDA announcement covers, which safety information remains and what to ask about your own treatment plan.