IN THE NEWS.....
SEX & AGING
by Beverly Vaughn, MD

Sex is always news, so when the New England Journal of Medicine's August article was published it received a lot of well deserved press. This was a very well done study. Many prior studies had fewer participants (this one had 3000) and many did not include individuals over the age of 70. In the New England Journal's study, sexual activity was described as all acts of intimacy even if intercourse and/or orgasm didn't occur. This is important since many people tend to focus on intercourse and dismiss that the fact that other forms of intimacy can be pleasurable.

The good news provided by the study is that most older adults remain sexually active. Not surprisingly the number of sexually active adults declined as the participants aged. One important finding was that the level of sexual activity was more directly related to health than to age. Healthier adults were more likely to be sexually active than their less well counterparts. Here are some other interesting findings noted in the New England Journal article.

As women aged they had less sexual activity than men. This wasn't necessarily reflective of a decreased interest but was in part because they were less apt to be in a relationship. A fact of our society is there are more women who survive into old age than there are men.

Half of the individuals questioned for the study admitted to problems with sex. Women reported diminished desire and poor vaginal lubrication. Men reported diminished interest as well but this was second to erectile dysfunction. Despite having concerns about their sexual health the majority of women and men hadn't had a conversation with their health care provider.

In summary stay healthy! You will be more likely to remain sexually active if you do. We all change! We shouldn't expect sex to be just like it was when we were younger but that doesn't mean it can't be fulfilling. Don't be embarrassed! If you have questions or concerns about sexual issues talk to your health care provider.