Notes

Outline

Sexuality and older adults

Frequency of sexual activity Stereotypes very pervasive College student survey of frequency of parental intercourse Never 25% No more than twice a month 75% Parental results At least 3 times per month 98% Nursing home complaints

Estimates of frequency of sexual activity

Estimates of frequency of sexual activity

Methodological issues Difficulty of obtaining good estimates Conformation to stereotypes Cross-sectional vs. longitudinal Viagra effect Erectile dysfunction and male sexual activity

Sexual activity and older males Role of testosterone Effects of age on testosterone levels Physiological/Psychological effects Erectile function Time to orgasm Potential benefit Subjective experience of orgasm

Factors affecting sexual acitivity Perceived health Study examining estimate of stress associated with intercourse Average response Actual stress associated Satisfaction with reduced sexual activity Percent want to return to earlier levels 33% implications

Sexuality and older women Physiological changes compared with males Ability to have orgasm Time to orgasm Psychological changes compared with males Subjective experience of orgasm Importance of perceived health

Frequency of sexual activity Gender differences What accounts for gender differences? Gender differences for singles over age 65 Single males reporting sexual intercourse in last year 82% Single males reporting sexual intercourse in last year 4% Implications Men Age of sexual partners Satisfaction with sexual activity Women Age of sexual partners Satisfaction with sexual activity Ability vs. availability

General findings of age and homosexuality Female homosexuality Male homosexuality Major difference between homosexual and heterosexual activity Mean number of lifetime sexual partners for heterosexuals 5 Mean number of lifetime sexual partners for homosexuals 110 Effect of aging on number of partners

Homosexuality and aging