While the frequency of sex often declines with age, many older adults—of course—can and do have sex. In fact, roughly 40 percent of men and women ages 65 to 80 are sexually active, according to a survey, and women in their 70s often express more satisfaction with sex than women in their 40s. Although sexual activity is considered an important measure of the quality of life for the majority of older adults, there are a number of problems that can arise with age. While treatments have improved for conditions such as erectile dysfunction in men and vaginal dryness , incontinence, and uterine prolapse in women, people may not bring these concerns to their doctor's attention. Understanding more about what sex in older age can be like, what else may be affecting your sex life and how to address it, and ways to maintain or even jumpstart this kind of intimacy can go a long way in you being able to continue to enjoy this part of your life. Until recently, there have been relatively few studies and surveys that have looked into how often older adults are having sex, and the results have been surprising to some. A National Poll on Healthy Aging conducted in association with the University of Michigan confirmed what some earlier studies have found with regard to sexual activity in older adults:. Similar findings were noted in the British Longitudinal Study of Aging, though older men were much more likely to be sexually active than older women. In this study, 31 percent of British men between the ages of 80 and 90 reported masturbating and having sex, with just under 60 percent of men ages 70 to 80 being sexually active. Meanwhile, only 14 percent of women between the ages of 80 and 90, and 34 percent of women ages 70 and 80 regularly engaged in sex or masturbation.
Good sex at any age
Talking about sex is the gateway to having sex
Learn more. But what about everyone else's? In a survey that's still under way, more than 8, people over 50 have already revealed what happens in their relationships — and in their bedrooms. Read on for a look at 14 survey questions, think about how you would answer and see how you stack up with the results thus far. Then take the larger survey yourself. See the sidebar below to learn how. The sight of a lip-locked couple generally makes other people happy — and shows that deep affection and love can thrive in long relationships.
A new survey reveals how typical your romance is ... or isn't
Katy Thorn February 7, Users currently reading: 2. This article was scientifically fact-checked by Human Sexuality expert Dr. Laurie Mintz. Youth may be wasted on the young, but sex is for people of all ages. Even with great benefits like the above, a lot of us worry about sex in our advanced years for reasons that exist only in our heads, and also some that are very real.
IT'S a common belief that older couples have less sex - but one elderly pair are challenging this stereotype, by making a porn movie. John and Dr Annie Campbell - who are both in their 70s - are experts on sex and met six years ago on a dating website called Spiritual Singles. Together with film director Erika Lust, they're trying to prove that sex doesn't stop as you get older by making a movie called "Soul Sex". They explain that "soul sex" is a slower and more intimate form of intercourse with no goals or expectations. John, 73 and Annie, 72, believe the idea that older couples don't have sex is drilled into us from a young age and maintained through advertising and prescriptions for erectile dysfunction in elderly men. Despite their confidence, the pair say they were both nervous during filming, with Annie explaining John's penis "went on strike" and "almost vanished". They found this rather funny, explaining it was "perfect as it gave a synchronistic experience of how exquisite this sexual experience can be even without an erect penis! Director Erika explained: "The actual sex scene could not have been further from a typical, mainstream set.
