Healthy living
Anti-ageings
Sex and the over-60s
Health, not age, determines the level of sexual satisfaction in older people’s lives, according to research from the USA
A survey of over 3,000 men and women aged between 57 and 85 found sexual activity only drops slightly from the 50s to the early 70s. Thereafter, declining health is matched by a corresponding fall in the frequency of lovemaking.
However, data from the University of Chicago's National Social Life, Health and Aging Project (NSHAP), published in the New England Journal of Medicine, also showed that many men and women remain sexually active well into their 70s and 80s.
"We found that older adults remain interested and engage in sex, yet many experience bothersome sexual problems that can compromise both health and relationships," said lead author Dr Stacy Tesser Lindau, of the University of Chicago.
Among those who remained sexually active, nearly half reported at least one sexual problem, such as lack of desire (43% of women), vaginal dryness (39% of women) or erectile dysfunction (37% of men).
As in the UK, babyboomers make up the fastest-growing sector of the US population. Yet the "lack of reliable information about how sexual activity and function might change with age and illness, combined with taboos around discussing sex in later life, contributes to worry or even shame for many older adults," Lindau added.
"Although sexuality has long been thought to deteriorate inevitably with age, we found that health is a more important indicator for many aspects of sexuality than is age alone," she said. "This suggests that older adults with medical problems, or those considering treatment that might affect sexuality, should be counseled based on health status rather than just their age."
"We hope our findings improve public health by countering harmful stereotypes and allowing older individuals to view their experience relative to others," said Lindau. "It may comfort people to know that they are not alone in enjoying sexual activity as they age or in experiencing sexual problems, some of which could be alleviated with medical attention."
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Information on this site is for interest only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should consult your own doctor about any specific health concerns.
