Sex After 65: Poll Finds Links to Health, Gender Differences, Lack of Communication

The findings of a survey from the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation contradict stereotypical views about older Americans' sex lives, reports ScienceDaily . Seventy-three percent of 1,002 people reported satisfaction with their sex lives, and 18 percent of older men and 3 percent of older women noted they have taken medications or supplements to improve sexual function in the past two years. However, just 17 percent of older adults said they have talked with their doctor or other healthcare providers about sexual health in that period. Most who had such consultations noted they brought the topic up, suggesting the need for more proactive conversations. U-M's Erica Solway says the survey uncovered sharp differences in terms of health, age, and gender. Compared with the 45 percent of respondents with excellent, very good, or good health who said they were sexually active, only 22 percent of those in fair or poor health also were sexually active; just 28 percent of those with fair or poor health said they were extremely or very happy with their sex lives. Moreover, those between 65 and 70 were almost twice as likely as those in their late 70s to be sexually active, while 33 percent of those in their late 60s said they were extremely or very interested in sex, versus 19 percent of those in their late 70s. The most pronounced gender difference was the percentage of those who said they were extremely or very interested in sex, with half of men 65 to 80 saying they had this level of interest, compared with 12 percent of women in the same age range.