Elders' Sex Problems: Not Just Aging

Researchers Say
Sexual Problems Linked to Emotional and Physical Health

By Kelley Colihan

WebMD Health News

Reviewed By Louise
Chang, MD

Aug. 13, 2008 -- Sexual
problems as we get older may not be a part of the natural aging process but
instead may be related to stressors like our emotional and physical health, a
new study shows.

Researchers looked at
original interviews with 1,550 women and 1,455 men aged 57 to 85 as part of the
National Social Life, Health and Aging Project (NSHAP).

The interviews were
done face-to-face in the elders' homes between July 2005 and March 2006. Participants
were asked about their sexual activity in the previous year.

Among those seniors who
said they had been sexually active in the past year, about half of them also
reported at least one "bothersome" sexual problem.

Study authors, led by
Edward Laumann, PhD, write that there is little known
about the problems plaguing elders having sex.

In defining sexual
problems, the researchers included these issues:

• No interest or a diminished interest in having sex
• Trouble getting and keeping an erection
• Vaginal dryness or a lack of lubrication
• Not being able to orgasm or reaching climax too early
• Having pain during sex
• Feeling no pleasure during sex
• Being anxious about sexual performance

Respondents were asked
how much the problems bothered them.

Researchers also looked at age, ethnicity,
whether the person was married, divorced, widowed, or never married, and how
much education they had.

More.. www.medicinenet.com

academy awards
free consultation lawyer