Aging is an unavoidable concern for everyone. It is well known that aging is different for men versus women. According to the World Health Organization, it also seems that the population of people older than 60 is growing more rapidly than other age groups. This is a result of an increase in life expectancy and lowered fertility rates. The effects of aging vary among genders. Let’s explore some of these differences below.
Average Age
Women tend to live longer than men. As society progresses and life expectancy increases, women are still outliving men by about five to ten years. Some studies show that men have a tendency to engage in high-risk behaviors. Another study indicates the immune system of women ages more slowly than men and contributes to men not living as long. Men are also more likely to suffer from heart disease at a younger age than women.
Appearance
Men are considered to age well, becoming more distinguished and handsome, as they grow older. Gray hair is deemed attractive on older males. However, on women, it associated with being “old” and unattractive. Women feel pressured to maintain their beauty and are more likely to resort to plastic surgery to hide the signs of aging. Men are not nearly as concerned with their appearances.
Skin Differences
Men have thicker skin than women—literally! It’s up to 25 percent thicker. As a result, women are more susceptible to the signs of aging. Men also have a higher collagen content, which results in less wrinkling. Men have more natural protection because they sweat more and secrete more natural oil from their pores. This combination allows men to age gradually over time.
Hair Loss
Depending on genetics and hormones, men usually experience pattern baldness more often than women. Women can experience it, but it is rare. In women, their hair will simply thin out. Typically, bald spots only form in women.
Women Experience More Anxiety
Women experience more anxiety toward the idea of growing older, especially when it comes to their fading perceived beauty. Men are more concerned with impotence, loss of physical strength, and being forced to depend on others for assistance.
Happiness
After the age of 50 to 60, men and women are happier than individuals younger than 50. Overall, men have higher levels of happiness in more areas of life than women.
Assisted Living
Women are more likely to be living in an assisted living facility than men. Statistics from the National Center for Assisted Living state that in 2010, 74 percent of assisted living residents were female.
Sexual Desire
Older men are far more satisfied with their sexual relations than women. Men tend to have more active sex lives. Even after the age of 60, men still fantasize frequently about sex. Women fantasize about sexual relations also, but not nearly as often. Men tend to think about it at least twice as much as females.
Hormonal Changes
As men and women age, women go through menopause. Their ovaries stop producing estrogen and they stop menstruating. As a result, women experience vaginal dryness, lowered sexual appetite, fatigue, and hot flashes. Men experience andropause, which is a decline in testosterone over time. This can result in reduced libido, sleep pattern disturbances, and erectile dysfunction.
Understanding the differences between men and women in the aging process can help you deal with this stage of life. If you are having a difficult time, please contact personal consultant Kendall Van Blarcom. Personal consulting can help you make sense have this time, so you improve the quality of your life.
