These days, the longevity conversation has expanded beyond simply living longer to spending more of those years living well. When you think about healthy aging, your mind might jump to things like mobility or brain function. But what about your sex life?

Increasingly, doctors and influencers are including a satisfying sex life in the assessment of aging well—so much so that a new term has entered the chat: “sex span.”

So what exactly is “sex span”? And how do you begin to increase yours? Here’s what experts say.

What Is Sex Span?

The term sex span is often attributed to urologist Mohit Khera, who popularized it in a 2024 TED Talk. While there’s no single definition of it in clinical literature, it’s generally the sexual equivalent of the buzzy term “health span,” Rachel Needle, PsyD, a licensed psychologist and certified sex therapist, told HEALTH.

“Just as health span refers to the number of years someone lives in good health rather than simply being alive, sex span refers to the years a person is able to enjoy satisfying, comfortable, and meaningful sexual intimacy.”

That’s more than the ability to have intercourse. Needle said it includes desire, arousal, pleasure, orgasm, comfort, intimacy, and connection.

Though sex span may be an up-and-coming buzzword, the science underlying the concept is hardly new. “We have decades of research showing that sexual health is closely linked to emotional well-being, relationship satisfaction, and overall quality of life,” Needle said.

What Affects Your Sex Span?

A variety of factors—some physical, some emotional—can affect your ability to enjoy pleasurable, meaningful sex as you age.

Hormones are often at play, especially for women. “Anatomically and physiologically speaking, hormonal shifts occur, and that may affect desire and the way sex feels,” said Christine Greves, MD, an OB/GYN at Orlando Health Women’s Institute. A drop in estrogen levels in the lead-up to menopause, for example, can lead to thinner, drier vaginal tissue, making sex less comfortable, she explained. (However, she stressed that therapies and lubricants are available to help.)

For men, erectile dysfunction often puts a dent in sexual wellness. According to urologist Kevin T. McVary, MD, while ED is not considered a normal part of the aging process, it’s associated with certain physical and psychological changes related to age. Age-based risk factors and behaviors, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and a sedentary lifestyle, affect the likelihood of erectile dysfunction, McVary explained.

It’s also possible that emotional or even societal factors may blunt your sexual satisfaction.

“I have seen many patients who feel they are ‘too old to be having sex’ because of misconceptions and perceived societal norms,” Sarah Shoemaker, PT, DPT, a pelvic floor therapist at Spear Physical and Occupational Therapy, told HEALTH. “These thoughts also often come with not knowing that certain concerns are very treatable, especially those related to hormonal changes like menopause.”

The good news: While some factors shorten your sex span, others lengthen it.

Cardiovascular and metabolic health are probably among the biggest pieces of the puzzle, Needle said, along with a positive mental outlook about sex.

How Can You Extend It?

According to experts, there’s no need to reinvent the wellness wheel for your sex life; the healthy habits that protect your physical and mental health often promote better sexual health as well.

McVary said the strongest evidence for preventing (or even reversing) poor sexual health is related to exercise and diet. Sleep and stress management strategies are important, too, he added, but the research isn’t as developed in these areas.

Tending to your own emotional well-being is critical as well, Greves noted. So is communication with your partner. “If you share [sexual problems] with your partner or discuss it with your doctor, whateveryour concerns may be, do it in an open, nonjudgmental, loving fashion, and you’ll be amazed at how unity can help improve sex span,” she said.

Note, too, that many age-related sexual changes are treatable. “The biggest misconception is that sexual changes just need to be accepted,” Needle said. “Many of the factors that shorten sex span can be modified, especially when they’re addressed early rather than after they’ve become longstanding problems.”

Options like hormone replacement, pelvic floor therapy, sex therapy, and prescription medication are all worth discussing with your doctor.