Seniors Today Having More Sex Than Those of 30 Years Ago
By Todd Neale
GOTHENBURG, Sweden, 10 july 2008-- Sexual activity is on the rise among 70-year-olds, a cross-sectional survey here revealed.
From 1971 through 2001, the proportion of 70-year-olds who reported having sex within the past year increased for both men and women, regardless of marital status (P=0.016), Ingmar Skoog, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Gothenburg, and colleagues reported online in BMJ.
Women seemed to be deriving the most enjoyment from the increased activity, with a significantly greater percentage reporting that they had high satisfaction with their sex life (P=0.039) and that they always or usually had an orgasm (P=0.015), and a lower percentage saying they had low or no satisfaction (P<0.05).
From 1971 through 2001, the proportion of 70-year-olds who reported having sex within the past year increased for both men and women, regardless of marital status (P=0.016), Ingmar Skoog, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Gothenburg, and colleagues reported online in BMJ.
Women seemed to be deriving the most enjoyment from the increased activity, with a significantly greater percentage reporting that they had high satisfaction with their sex life (P=0.039) and that they always or usually had an orgasm (P=0.015), and a lower percentage saying they had low or no satisfaction (P<0.05).
Compared with those in the earlier cohorts, men and women in the later cohorts more often reported that sexuality had been a positive factor in their lives and that they had a positive attitude about sexuality (P<0.05 for both).
"Our study … shows that most elderly people consider sexual activity and associated feelings a natural part of later life," the researchers said. "It is thus important that sexuality is taken into consideration when dealing with elderly people."
According to the researchers, little is known about the normal sexual behavior of older persons.
So they surveyed four separate representative population samples of 70-year-olds living in Gothenburg in 1971-1972, 1976-1977, 1992-1993, and 2000-2001, totaling 1,560 participants (946 women and 560 men).
Each assessment included a physical and psychiatric examination, which included questions about sexual behavior.
Among both sexes, the percentage of participants who were divorced, cohabiting, or in a relationship but living apart increased from the first sample to the last (P<0.05 for all).
The percentage who were widowed or who had never been married decreased for both genders (P<0.05 for both).
In all subgroups, the percentage reporting sexual intercourse within the past year increased from the beginning of the study as follows:
Married men: 52% to 68%, P=0.002
Married women: 38% to 56%, P=0.001
Unmarried men: 30% to 54%, P=0.016
Unmarried women: 0.8% to 12%, P<0.001
Among those who were sexually active, a greater percentage of participants in the 2000-2001 cohort said they had sex at least once a week than in the 1971-1972 cohort for both men (31% versus 10%, P=0.006) and women (26% versus 9%, P=0.047).
In a logistic regression analysis of all participants, those born in the later cohorts had increased odds of being sexually active (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.10 to 2.00), which was independent of several confounding variables.
In the later cohorts, the participants were more likely to report becoming sexually active before age 20 (52% to 77% for men and 19% to 64% for women, P<0.001 for both).
Participants in the 2000-2001 cohort were significantly more likely to report being in a happy relationship than those in the earliest cohort (57% versus 40% for men and 52% versus 35% for women, P<0.001 for both).
Among men, there were no significant changes in satisfaction with sex or in the occurrence of erectile or ejaculation dysfunction or premature ejaculation.
Men and women seemed to agree that, when intercourse was not occurring, it was the man's choice. The most frequently cited reason for lack of sex by both men and women was the man's illness or loss of desire and capability.
The authors acknowledged several limitations to the study: the low response rate, potential survival bias, the sensitive subject matter, differences in the examiners and data evaluators for each cohort, the self-reported data, the exclusion of questions about homosexual activity, and possible confounding by depression.
They also cautioned that "it is possible that our results reflect a more open-minded attitude in society to sexual matters rather than real changes in sexual behavior."
Nevertheless, in an accompanying editorial, Peggy Kleinplatz, Ph.D., of the University of Ottawa, wrote that the study "makes a welcome contribution to the limited literature on sexuality in older people."
The results have clinical implications, she said.
"Given that sex plays an increasingly valuable role in the lives of older men and women," she concluded, "[the] study reinforces the dictum that doctors should ask -- and be trained to ask -- every patient, regardless of age, 'Any sexual concerns?'"
The study was supported by the Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research, the Alzheimer's Association Stephanie B. Overstreet Scholars, the Swedish Research Council, the Bank of Sweden Tercentary Foundation, Stiftelsen for Gamla Tjanarinnor, and Handlanden Hjalmar Svenssons Forskningsfond.
Neither the study authors nor the editorialist declared any competing interests.
"Our study … shows that most elderly people consider sexual activity and associated feelings a natural part of later life," the researchers said. "It is thus important that sexuality is taken into consideration when dealing with elderly people."
According to the researchers, little is known about the normal sexual behavior of older persons.
So they surveyed four separate representative population samples of 70-year-olds living in Gothenburg in 1971-1972, 1976-1977, 1992-1993, and 2000-2001, totaling 1,560 participants (946 women and 560 men).
Each assessment included a physical and psychiatric examination, which included questions about sexual behavior.
Among both sexes, the percentage of participants who were divorced, cohabiting, or in a relationship but living apart increased from the first sample to the last (P<0.05 for all).
The percentage who were widowed or who had never been married decreased for both genders (P<0.05 for both).
In all subgroups, the percentage reporting sexual intercourse within the past year increased from the beginning of the study as follows:
Married men: 52% to 68%, P=0.002
Married women: 38% to 56%, P=0.001
Unmarried men: 30% to 54%, P=0.016
Unmarried women: 0.8% to 12%, P<0.001
Among those who were sexually active, a greater percentage of participants in the 2000-2001 cohort said they had sex at least once a week than in the 1971-1972 cohort for both men (31% versus 10%, P=0.006) and women (26% versus 9%, P=0.047).
In a logistic regression analysis of all participants, those born in the later cohorts had increased odds of being sexually active (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.10 to 2.00), which was independent of several confounding variables.
In the later cohorts, the participants were more likely to report becoming sexually active before age 20 (52% to 77% for men and 19% to 64% for women, P<0.001 for both).
Participants in the 2000-2001 cohort were significantly more likely to report being in a happy relationship than those in the earliest cohort (57% versus 40% for men and 52% versus 35% for women, P<0.001 for both).
Among men, there were no significant changes in satisfaction with sex or in the occurrence of erectile or ejaculation dysfunction or premature ejaculation.
Men and women seemed to agree that, when intercourse was not occurring, it was the man's choice. The most frequently cited reason for lack of sex by both men and women was the man's illness or loss of desire and capability.
The authors acknowledged several limitations to the study: the low response rate, potential survival bias, the sensitive subject matter, differences in the examiners and data evaluators for each cohort, the self-reported data, the exclusion of questions about homosexual activity, and possible confounding by depression.
They also cautioned that "it is possible that our results reflect a more open-minded attitude in society to sexual matters rather than real changes in sexual behavior."
Nevertheless, in an accompanying editorial, Peggy Kleinplatz, Ph.D., of the University of Ottawa, wrote that the study "makes a welcome contribution to the limited literature on sexuality in older people."
The results have clinical implications, she said.
"Given that sex plays an increasingly valuable role in the lives of older men and women," she concluded, "[the] study reinforces the dictum that doctors should ask -- and be trained to ask -- every patient, regardless of age, 'Any sexual concerns?'"
The study was supported by the Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research, the Alzheimer's Association Stephanie B. Overstreet Scholars, the Swedish Research Council, the Bank of Sweden Tercentary Foundation, Stiftelsen for Gamla Tjanarinnor, and Handlanden Hjalmar Svenssons Forskningsfond.
Neither the study authors nor the editorialist declared any competing interests.
Primary source: BMJSource reference:Beckman N, et al "Secular trends in self-reported sexual activity and satisfaction in Swedish 70-year-olds: cross-sectional survey of four populations, 1971-2001" BMJ 2008; DOI: 10.1136/bmj.a279.
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