We have passed the twenty-year mark in our relationship, and neither of us is getting younger. Add the fact that one of us has PD to the mix and you might expect that sex would not be a priority as we slip into a different stage of our lives. You couldn’t be more wrong.

We have always enjoyed a passionate and loving relationship. The spontaneity of the early days is gone yet we still manage to surprise each other at times. We have found that, thanks to his meds, there are better times during the day for making love, but he may still catch me for a quick kiss and cuddle whenever the thought strikes. Setting aside time for a more prolonged session works best and, though we may not both achieve orgasm, we find pleasure in the act of complete surrender one to another.

We are having to be a bit more creative and I have had to take a more active role in our time together. There are positions we can’t get into and things we just can’t do anymore, but that is okay because we are open to trying different things. While our activities may not be quite as adventurous, they are nonetheless just as satisfying and always bring us into a deeper level of togetherness as a couple. In those moments of intimacy, we are not a Person with Parkinson’s and their CarePartner, we are instead two people connected through an unconditional love that refreshes our souls and prepares us for another day on our journey.

For a more detailed look check out Sexual & Reproductive Health on the Michael J Fox Foundation website or Sexuality and Intimacy for People with Parkinson’s and their Care Partners from the Davis Phinney Foundation.