The sexual instinct doesn’t die with the growing of age. In fact, in older generation it shines more friskily like the glow of an expiring taper that sometimes, seems to be surpassing the younger ones even! Interestingly, this yearning doesn’t remain confined to sexual intercourse but sometimes goes to the extent of wife swapping as well.
Credit to bring out such mind-boggling facts goes to the survey conducted by AARP-the nation’s largest lobbying group for older people. This is the first survey ever done among 57 to 85 year-olds in the U.S. that included around 3005 U.S. adults (1550 women and 1455 men). Interestingly, this survey enjoyed a remarkable response rate of 75 percent with just 2 to 7 percent denied to reveal about their sexual activities or problems.
First, an overview of the survey:-
About 85 percent of this age group has some sort of intimate experience once a week, including kissing or intercourse.
More than half of those between the ages 57 to 75 admitted to have enjoyed oral sex, as did about a third of 75- to 85-year-olds.
Only 13 percent of men but 35 percent of women said sex was unimportant.
Women were significantly less likely than men at all ages to report sexual activity.
38% of men admitted to have discussed about sex with their physician since the age of 50 years, which this percentage stood at 22% for women.
About half of both men and women, who were sexually active, were found to be having at least one sexual problem, i.e.
Among women:-
43 % admitted to have low sexual desire.
39 % admitted to have difficulty with vaginal lubrication.
34% admitted to have inability to reach climax.
Among men:-
37% admitted to have erectile difficulties.
14% of the men admitted to have use medication or supplements to improve their sexual performance.
These facts seem to blow away the common perception, however, quite interesting they are! Well, from health point of view, it (sexual activeness among the older generation) could be regarded as the precursor that helps analyzing the health of older people, as sexual indulgence may bring to surface some serious health problems lying within our mechanism because sexual problems can be warning signs of diabetes, infections, cancer, etc. And this is good that a considerable number of older people visits (as this survey reveals) physicians, as untreated sex issues may give rise of some psychological problems like depression, social isolation, etc. In short, it could be stated that sex can have horseshoe effect, especially in the older age. In this context, following words of an 83-year old widow sounds perfect:
Physical satisfaction is not the only aim of sex…it is the nearness of someone throughout the lonely nights of people in their 70s and 80s. We need someone to hold, hug and confide in.
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