Sex and Aging
John B. Pryor
Department of Psychology
Illinois State University
A Timeline of Your Life
I. College Years
II. Your 20s after college
III. Your 30s
IV. Your 40s
V. Your 50s
VI. Your 60s
VII. Your 70s & beyond
The Questions about your Sexuality:
1. How many times do you have sex in an
average month?
2. To what extent do you enjoy your sexual
activities?
3. What types of sexual problems are you
encountering?
4. What do you like most about sex now?
5. What do you like least about sex now?
Stanley (1991) - National Survey of Families &
Households - 13,017 Adults, 807 ≥ 60 yrs. of age
53% reported sex in the last month
Correlations
Age
Education
Frequency
of Sex
Sense of Self-Worth
Marital Satisfaction
Length of Marriage
Had sex with a partner in the last
12 months
90
83.7
80
70
61.6
67
60
50
39.5
40
men
women
38.5
30
16.7
20
10
0
57-64
65-74
75-85
N Engl J Med. 2007 August 23; 357(8): 762–774.
Did you always have an orgasm when you had
sex in the last six months?
80
74
73
67
70
60
50
40
40
30
33
28
31
30
Males
Females
20
10
0
Ages 45- Ages 50- Ages 60- Ages 70+
49
59
69
AARP Survey 2010
Physical relationship was moderately to
extremely pleasurable
90
85
80
70 70
70
60
59
74
72 72
63
50
40
30
Males
Females
20
10
0
Ages 45- Ages 50- Ages 60- Ages 70+
49
59
69
AARP Survey 2010
Physical
deterioation
Availability
and interest
of partner
Sexual activity
when one
is elderly
Attitudes and
expectations
about sex
in old age
Changes in female sexual arousal
often associated with aging
 Reduced
myotonia (muscle tension)
 Reduced vaginal lubrication
 Reduced elasticity of vaginal walls
 Smaller increases of breasts during sexual
intercourse
 Reduced intensity of muscle spasms at
orgasm
Pros & Cons of Estrogen Replacement
Therapy for Older Women
Pros
– May help prevent bone loss if started early
– May reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease
– May affect cholesterol levels & reduce heart attack risk
Cons
– May increase the risks for some forms of cancer, especially
when progestin is not also given
Testosterone production also decreases after
menopause in women
Research has found that testosterone patches may improve the
sexual function and psychological well-being of women who
have undergone surgical menopause (removal of the ovaries and
uterus).
Changes in male sexual arousal
often associated with aging
 Longer
time to erection & orgasm
 Need for more direct stimulation for
erection & orgasm
 Less semen emitted during ejaculation
 Erections may be less firm
 Testicles may not elevate as high into
scrotum
Changes in male sexual arousal
often associated with aging(CONTINUED)
 Less
intense orgasmic contractions
 Lessen feeling of need to ejaculate during
sex
 Longer refractory period
Source: The Kinsey Institute Report on Sex (1990)
Pros & Cons of Testosterone Replacement
Therapy for Men
Pros
– May enhance libido (sexual desire), the frequency of sexual
acts, and sleep-related erections
– May improve positive mood parameters, such as feelings of
wellness and friendliness, while reducing negative mood
parameters, such as anger, nervousness, and irritability
– May reduce depression
– May increase lean body mass and decrease in body fat,
increase weight and muscle size
Cons
– May increase the risks for some forms of cancer, especially
prostate cancer
– May lower sperm count (azoospermia)
– May be related to bone marrow disorders & sleep apnea
Are you able to get and keep an erection good
enough for sexual intercourse? AARP Survey 2010
70
61
59
60
50
45
40
30
26
25
23
11
9
4
29
20
17
20
10
25
27
13
7
0
Ages 45- Ages 50- Ages 60- Ages 70+
49
59
69
Always
Usually
Sometimes
Never
Erectile Dysfunction Drugs
Examples: Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, etc.
They all work by relaxing smooth muscle cells,
thereby widening blood vessels.
None of the drugs automatically produce an erection.
Rather, they make an erection possible with sexual
arousal.
Resulting side effects are comparable and may
include headaches, heartburn, and flushing.
Frequent Ejaculation May Reduce
Men’s Risk of Prostate Cancer
Most men develop prostate cancer in old age
Harvard study (2004) of 30,000 health care
professionals
The cancer risk in men who reported more than
20 monthly ejaculations was 33 percent less than
that of other men
The activity may flush out a buildup of toxins in
the prostate, lessen development of tiny crystals
linked to some cancers, and improve the immune
system's response to cancer. It may also reduce
psychological tension
Will you still need me? Will you still
feed me when I’m 64? From Beatles Song
•According to Masters and Johnson 2 factors
are critical in maintaining sexual capacity
in old age:
–Good physical and mental health
–Regularity of sexual expression - “if you
don’t use it, you lose it”
Physical
deterioation
Availability
and interest
of partner
Sexual activity
when one
is elderly
Attitudes and
expectations
about sex
in old age
Do you have a current partner?
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2009 November; 64B(suppl_1): i56–i66.
100
89.1
90
80
84.8
78.4
74.1
70
61.6
60
50
40.5
40
Women
Men
30
20
10
0
Age 57–64
Age 65–74
Age 75–85
Not necessarily a sexual partner; includes those with a current spouse; cohabiting partner;
or “other romantic, intimate, or sexual partner.
W=1550
M=1455
Are you married?
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2009 November; 64B(suppl_1): i56–i66.
90
82.3
76.6
80
70
71.2
66.7
56.4
60
50
37.2
40
30
Women
Men
20
10
0
Age 57–64
Age 65–74
Age 75–85
W=1550
M=1455
AARP Surveys
Physical
deterioation
Availability
and interest
of partner
Sexual activity
when one
is elderly
Attitudes and
expectations
about sex
in old age
Attitude Barriers toward Sex among the
Elderly
Stigma of Old Age
• Sex is for the Young
• Old sex is disgusting
• Old people interested in sex are
‘Lechers’
• The double standard - old men
are dignified, old women are a
turn off
Attitude Barriers toward Sex
among the Elderly
Internalizing socio-cultural attitudes toward
body appearance among young women is
correlated with negative attitudes toward
older people.
“I tend to compare my body to people in
magazines and on TV.”
“It would probably be better if most old
people lived in residential units with people
of their own age.”
Sex roles Haboush yr:2012 vol:66 iss:9-10 pg:668 -676
Attitude Barriers toward Sex among the
Elderly
Religious Views
• Sex is for reproduction
Adult Children’s Resistance
• “You thwarted my sex life, now its my
turn!”
• “What about mom’s silverware?”
Changing Roles
• “Real men have erections.”