How long does good sex last? What’s the deal with morning wood? Does sex improve when love is part of the equation? And is it totally okay to have no sex at all? These questions are tackled by Ann-Marlene Henning in her book “Why Do Testicles Hang So Low in Old Age? 101 Questions and Answers About Sexuality.” The book also addresses physical changes that accompany aging and common uncertainties surrounding one’s own sexuality.
Henning has worked for many years as a therapist specializing in sexuality and partnerships. She treats difficult or shame-laden topics with clarity, even-temperedness, and humor. The book isn’t about universal recipes for a fulfilling love life. Rather, it conveys knowledge and offers ideas for a more relaxed approach to one’s body and personal needs.
From Solo Sex to Pregnancy
Each question is answered concisely and clearly. Medical and psychological connections are explained without overpathologizing sexuality. Different desires, experiences, and life phases appear as part of a broad spectrum.
The topics covered range from body perception, tactile pleasure, and solo sex to intimate hygiene and sexual techniques and different plays. There is also discussion of sex during pregnancy, condom use, and the question of how people can let go more easily during sex. Henning also addresses situations in which desire is lacking or where the sexual needs of partners diverge.
Another emphasis lies in communication. The author investigates whether open conversations truly lead to more or better sex and what role expectations play in relationships. She also discusses periods without sex, not necessarily as a problem. Not every relationship follows the same sexual rhythm, and sex does not carry the same meaning for everyone.
With the 101 questions, Henning collects a lot of what concerns people but remains unspoken due to insecurity or shame. This includes ostensibly simple knowledge questions as well as personal doubts and societal notions of what counts as normal or successful sex. The answers fuse experiences from therapeutic practice with clearly presented expertise.
“Why Do Testicles Hang So Low in Old Age? 101 Questions and Answers About Sexuality” by Ann-Marlene Henning is published by Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht. (dd/pm)
Ann-Marlene Henning: Why Do Testicles Hang So Low in Old Age? 101 Questions and Answers About Sexuality. 149 pages. Publisher: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht. Göttingen 2026. Paperback: 20 € (ISBN: 978-3-525-40923-7).
