Women who were ≥55 and reported very good or excellent health were more likely than those in fair or poor health to be sexually active; older men were more likely than older women to be interested in sex.
Sexual activity has been associated with health benefits and longevity. To examine the relations between self-reported physical health, sexual activity, and quality of sex life, investigators evaluated survey responses from 6000 middle-aged or older men and women (age range, 55–85) in two U.S. population-based cross-sectional analyses. In both surveys, definitions of sexual activity required involvement of another person.
Whereas 80% of men reported having sexual partners during their middle and later years, women's partnership rates declined from 70% in midlife to 58% at ages 65 to 75 and to 39% after age 75. Overall, 17% of women and 39% of men were sexually active at age 75; however, older men and women who had partners showed no signific…