Sex is not fading away for older people

An extensive survey in the United States revealed the truth about sex life of elderly men and women. Most Americans ages 57 to 85 consider sex playing a significant part in their life and report to engage in vaginal intercourse, oral sex and masturbation on a regular basis.

More than 3,000 men and women took part in a federally funded survey where participant underwent physical examination and were interviewed about delicate issues regarding their sexuality. Respondents were asked about heir sexual activity, physical and mental health, social and marital relationships to have a better overview of sexuality at senior age.

The survey showed high responsiveness of the volunteers - more that 75 percent of all men and women participating in the study were willing to answer most taboo subjects. This data is very important for better insight into health and relationship problems as well as sexual problems that become a main cause for decline of sex life in older age.

Senior people and sexual problems

In spite of the fact that elderly people stay sexually active, many men and women have to face sexual problems that indicates their sexual inactivity was related to poor health rather than lack of interest.

• Overall, around half of all respondents said they had at least one sexually related problem.
• Women were more likely then men reported to have sexual problem, such as lack of vaginal lubrication (39 percent), inability to reach orgasm (34 percent), decreased libido ( 43 percent).
• Men were typically claiming about erectile dysfunction (37 percent) with 14 percent using such drugs as Viagra for better sexual performance.
• Many older people felt they need discussion on their sexual problems with their physician with only 22 percent of women and 38 percent of men who actually talked about their sex life with a doctor.

Sexual problems was the main reason for older people to avoid sexual activity. Dr.Stacy Tesler Lindau,a lead author of the study, said that physicians should discuss sexually related topics with senior patients and stop consider them asexual.

Sexual activity for 50 and over

Many men and women remain sexually active till their 80s.

• More than 25 percent of all respondents said they had sex in previous year.
• About a half of all men and women said they engaged in oral sex and masturbation. People reported about masturbation irrespective irrespective of the fact of having a partner or not. These facts are the most obvious sign of sexual needs that are present even till the oldest ages.
• More than 75 percent of 57 to 64 year old respondents said they had sex with a partner compared to more than a half of men and women of 64 to 75 and 26 percent of 75 and above.
• Sexually active seniors reported to have sex two or three times per month on average.
• More men than women were sexually active but this is due to the lack of partner. The fact that women outlive men contributed to less sexual activity for women. Only 40 percent of women of age 75 and above had a spouse compared to 78 percent of men.

Lack of proper education on sexual activity and problems that occur at older age together with stereotypes that suggest that older people do not need or have sex deprive senior people of a very important part of their life.

The findings were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.