Sex And Aging: Women In For A Surprise?

(WebMD)  Both men and women over 50 say they expect the desire for and ability to have sex to diminish with age. Women, however, are more likely to have physical symptoms and more likely to be surprised by them, according to a new study.

An online survey of 705 adults - about half men and half women - between ages 50 and 70 was conducted by Harris Interactive and funded by Duramed Pharmaceuticals.

Participants were in heterosexual relationships with people also between the ages of 50 and 70. The survey was conducted during the last week of June 2008.

Of the women surveyed, 67% reported having experienced at least one menopause-induced sexual symptom, such as vaginal dryness (49%), low libido (47%), and pain during sex (23%).

Of the men surveyed, 59% reported experiencing any sexual symptom. Forty-eight percent reported inability to keep an erection, 30% reported an inability to get an erection, and 16% reported low libido.

Seventy-one percent of all participants expected the frequency of sex to diminish with age. The majority of participants said they thought men were more likely to have symptoms that would affect their ability to have sex with age. However, 67% of the women (vs. 59% of the men) reported having at least one such symptom.

Sixty-five percent of women who experienced sexual symptoms related to menopause reported they had not anticipated such symptoms. This compares to 51 percent of the men surveyed.

"The survey reveals a knowledge gap about the challenges women and men experience as they age," David B. Schwartz, MD, who practices obstetrics and gynecology at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, says in a written statement.

"The majority of people surveyed believe men are more likely to experience sexual symptoms than women. This may be due to the volume and ease of accessibility to information about erectile dysfunction. Conversely, most women face sexual symptoms as they go through menopause, with less information readily available to them."
By Caroline Wilbert
Reviewed by Louise Chang
© 2008 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved

[NomadsForever]

We are in our late sixties and very sexually active. Gradually for the past twelve years I have become multi-orgasmic to the level of the "unbelievable". My husband and I spend hours enjoying each other, over and over to exhaustion. No one could have convinced me that this was possible when I was in my early fifties, but I am living proof that sex can become more enjoyable and frequent. We indulge in every fantasy imaginable, read every book on sex and keep healthy. Our sex life has kept our minds active and our bodies in shape and we see no end in sight.

[bikerb54]

This is no surprise. Every man I know with a wife over 50 says she has NO interest in ***! Puzzler125

Did you ever think maybe it''s not the wife''s libido? It may be that the thought of doing a wrinkly, beer-gut carrying, bald saggy sacked man may just turn them off? It sure would me! I''m 54, my better half is 56 and keeps himself in great physical condition. He works out at the gym 6 days a week, watches what he eats, holds a full time job and still takes time to enjoy life. We ride motorcycles, travel and enjoy a very active *** life. Maybe some of these guys should take a good look in the mirror

[docpeter1953]

laBombaOH, I''''m so sorry but the image of you doing your 77 year old just grosses me out. The thought of flabby, wrinkled old people that try to look all sweet and innocent while they''''re at the store are actually doing the n****y just grosses me out. Sorry. YUCK!

Posted by goodgen at 12:04 AM : Sep 29, 2008
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Better get used to the idea. You will be 77 one day also. Do you want your spouse/lover saying the same things about you?

It is like I told my kids years ago: when I was 18 I couldn''t imagine doing it with a woman 30, when I was 30 I couldn''t imagine doing it with a woman of 45, now that I am 55 I can imagine doing it with women from 60 down to 18. As I have gotten older there are definately many more women I would consider doing it with than when I was 18. Gosh, aging does have some nice advantages.

[goodgen]

laBombaOH, I''m so sorry but the image of you doing your 77 year old just grosses me out. The thought of flabby, wrinkled old people that try to look all sweet and innocent while they''re at the store are actually doing the n****y just grosses me out. Sorry. YUCK!

[puzzler125]

This is no surprise. Every man I know with a wife over 50 says she has NO interest in ***!

[bridgetxx]

I agree that keeping in shape is essential for a full and satisfying *** life, however let''s not disregard the fact that as we age illness and body fatigue has it''s effects.
High blood pressure, osteoporosis, life''s war wounds.
I believe the aged become limited in their abilities. It''s a natural process. Not all, but the majority.

[closethippy1]

BS - they''re fat and lazy. They lay around watching TV all the time and don''''t do squat. They just want another pill, or drive through procedure. Get off your lazy @ss and exercise, quit eating like a pig, and your s ex drive will zoom. Can''t get an erection? Your blood pressure is probably 150 over 100. Big belly and butt? Then you don''t have any energy.
Posted by matter77 at 01:25 AM : Sep 27, 2008

When it''s time to stop, the body lets you know. As you age, be grateful the physical demands of intimate performance decrease and pick up a hobby.
Posted by drivelphobe at 07:41 PM : Sep 26, 2008


Interesting contrast of opinions here but I''ll put my money on matter77.
As far as I''m concerned rigorous exercise will fix most if not all of the symptons described by the article.
Speaking from experience rigorous exercise has infused in me an amount of energy I never felt before in my life.
The key word here being "rigorous" because anything less, like a walk around the neighborhood, is not going to do the trick.
You need to challenge yourself physically to let your body know you''re still here and that you want to live life to the fullest.
Don''t let your body die on you and take your mind down with it.

[matter77]

BS - they''re fat and lazy. They lay around watching TV all the time and don''t do squat. They just want another pill, or drive through procedure. Get off your lazy *** and exercise, quit eating like a pig, and your *** drive will zoom. Can''t get an erection? Your blood pressure is probably 150 over 100. Big belly and butt? Then you don''t have any energy.