Seniors want sex - and get it..
2007-08-22 22:07
Boston - Sex is important to many
seniors into their 80s and 90s, and they work to enjoy it even
if illness or other problems get in the way, according to a
study published on Wednesday.
Many older people have sex regularly, usually as often as
younger people do, said Stacy Tessler Lindau of the University
of Chicago, who led the study.
"The frequency of sexual activity does not change a whole
lot across age groups," she said.
Lindau's team found that 73% of people aged 57 to 64
reported having sex at least once in the past year, which put
them into the "sexually active" category of the study.
The number fell to 53% for men 65 to 74 and to 26% for those 75 to 85. Women were less likely to be active
because they were less likely to have a partner.
"We found that about 50% of men and a quarter of the
women reported that they masturbate, and this was irrespective
of whether or not they had a sexual partner," Lindau told
reporters in a telephone briefing.
"This suggests that, among older adults, there is an
internal drive or need for sexual fulfilment."
The study, based on surveys of more than 3 000 US
adults, was designed to give some insight in what is normal and
what is possible for senior citizens.
"The prevalence of sexual activity declines with age, yet a
substantial number of men and women engage in vaginal
intercourse, oral sex, and masturbation even in the eighth and
ninth decades of life," the researchers wrote in their report,
published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Taboo subject
"Discussion of sexuality later in life has long been a
taboo subject, and physicians, like the rest of the public,
have been susceptible to perpetuating these stereotypes,"
Lindau said.
"The study provides information that allows people to see
where their experiences align against the experience of others
of similar age and similar health status."
She said it also might encourage doctors to ask more
questions about a patient's sex life and arrange for treatment
if necessary.
Among the findings:
* More than half of the sexually active people in the study
said they had sex with a partner two or three times a month,
even at age 75 to 85.
* 14% of men and one percent of women said they took
some type of drug to improve sexual function.
* 35% of women rated sex as being "not at all
important," compared to just 13% of men. Older women
were more likely to feel that way.
* About half of men and women said they had at least one
bothersome sexual problem. For men, it was often erection
difficulties, lack of interest or climaxing too quickly. For
women, the problems included pain, inability to climax or lack
of lubrication.
When the researchers asked men aged 75 to 85 who had a
spouse or intimate relationship why they had not had sex in the
last three months, 19% cited lack of interest, 17% said their partner was not interested, nine percent said
religious beliefs prohibited sex outside marriage and two percent
said they lacked the opportunity.
At the same time, 61% cited health problems or
limitations, and 23% said the limitations of their
partner was the reason.