An 80-year-old husband suddenly wants to have sex.

My husband and I are both nearly 80 years old, and we've been sleeping separately for many years. Recently, however, he unexpectedly demanded intimacy. When I refused, he became resentful and irritable every time he saw me, creating a tense and suffocating atmosphere in the house.

Is my husband suffering from some kind of illness? What should I do to get back to my previous life and routine?

Below is advice from Dr. Nguyen Van Duc, Department of Urology - Andrology, Xanh Pon General Hospital:

At age 80, women often find it difficult to have sexual intercourse. Women who have been menopausal for a long time have very low levels of sex hormones in their bodies, leading to impaired function of some organs.

A decrease in female sex hormones leads to a reduction in the number and secretion function of the glands in the vagina, making it very difficult for women to have intercourse.

For men, however, male menopause occurs gradually, with symptoms appearing slowly, sometimes without the man realizing it. Male menopause also varies from person to person; some experience it as early as age 40, while others may experience it at 60-70. This depends on the testicles' ability to produce testosterone.

With an 80-year-old husband, there are two possible scenarios:

- If the husband's desire for intimacy is low, perhaps only once or twice a month, then it's normal. His ability to produce sex hormones is still good.

- If your husband suddenly starts demanding sex more frequently lately, averaging 1-2 times a week, you should see a doctor. Some types of testicular cancer can increase the production of the sex hormone testosterone, leading to increased libido in men.

If the health checkup results are normal, then the issue for the couple is that they should sit down and have a very clear discussion and come to an agreement.