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Previous Volume 357:762-774 August 23, 2007 Number 8 Next

	Full Text PDF PDA Full Text PowerPoint Slide Set Editorial by Bancroft, J. H.J. Letters Add to Personal Archive Add to Citation Manager Notify a Friend E-mail When Cited E-mail When Letters Appear PubMed Citation

ABSTRACT

Background Despite the aging of the population, little is known about the sexual behaviors and sexual function of older people.

Methods We report the prevalence of sexual activity, behaviors, and problems in a national probability sample of 3005 U.S. adults (1550 women and 1455 men) 57 to 85 years of age, and we describe the association of these variables with age and health status.

Results The unweighted survey response rate for this probability sample was 74.8%, and the weighted response rate was 75.5%. The prevalence of sexual activity declined with age (73% among respondents who were 57 to 64 years of age, 53% among respondents who were 65 to 74 years of age, and 26% among respondents who were 75 to 85 years of age); women were significantly less likely than men at all ages to report sexual activity. Among respondents who were sexually active, about half of both men and women reported at least one bothersome sexual problem. The most prevalent sexual problems among women were low desire (43%), difficulty with vaginal lubrication (39%), and inability to climax (34%). Among men, the most prevalent sexual problems were erectile difficulties (37%). Fourteen percent of all men reported using medication or supplements to improve sexual function. Men and women who rated their health as being poor were less likely to be sexually active and, among respondents who were sexually active, were more likely to report sexual problems. A total of 38% of men and 22% of women reported having discussed sex with a physician since the age of 50 years.

Conclusions Many older adults are sexually active. Women are less likely than men to have a spousal or other intimate relationship and to be sexually active. Sexual problems are frequent among older adults, but these problems are infrequently discussed with physicians.

Source Information

From the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Department of Medicine, and the MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine (S.T.L.); the Department of Health Studies (L.P.S.), the Department of Sociology (E.O.L., L.J.W.), and the Harris School for Public Policy Studies and NORC, University of Chicago (C.A.O.) — all in Chicago; and the Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto (W.L.).

Address reprint requests to Dr. Lindau at the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Medicine, University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC2050, Chicago, IL 60637, or at slindau{at}uchicago.edu.

Full Text of this Article

Related Letters:

Sexuality and Health among Older Adults in the United States
Caffrey N., O'Neill D., Paparrigopoulos T., Tzavellas E., Karaiskos D., Lindau S. T., Laumann E. O., Levinson W.
Extract | Full Text | PDF  
N Engl J Med 2007; 357:2732-2733, Dec 27, 2007. Correspondence

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