Retirement is Busier than Expected - Sex and the Older American

Mike Esposito, M.D The image of retired folks sitting on the couch watching daytime television seems to be way off the mark. Older citizens are more active than ever, playing golf, tennis, attending exercise classes and having active sex lives. A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that Americans, age fifty-seven through eighty-five years of age had sex as frequently as Americans age eighteen to fifty-seven. I read it twice to make sure I saw it correctly. So what is going on here?

It seems that as we age our sexuality remains an important part of our lives. Even women who had lost their partner found their sexuality to be important to them. The study affirms the fact that people are the same at all ages. They have similar desires and hopes but there are differences. The older people have sexual problems fairly unique to their age group. Nearly fifty percent of people admit to having some problem with sexual functioning.

The most common problem facing older couples is erectile dysfunction or ED. The condition is commonly caused by long term illnesses such as atherosclerosis, diabetes or hypertension. Listing all the causes is beyond the scope of this article. The first line of treatment includes the drugs, which have been heavily marketed in the U.S. including Viagra, Cialis and Levitra. The drugs are very successful in helping a man overcome ED. There are side effects so they have to be prescribed by a physician.

In a percentage of men, the drugs don’t have any effect. There are other medical options such as penile injection and suppositories, which can be discussed further with your doctor or urologist. The last option is penile implant, which is the placement of a mechanical device inside the penis. The implant is actually the cure that gives the most satisfaction to the patient. (pardon the pun). The device is concealed and can be activated upon command.

Up to this point, I’ve ignored half the population. The sexual issues in older women have been neglected and are just now being addressed. The female ‘viagra’ pills are becoming available. These will help with the female sexual response. Women have had problems physically with intercourse with a partner who has discovered ED medications. These women have been unaccustomed to intercourse and it was painful and in some cases caused trauma. Couples need to educate themselves so both partners can be ready together and their intimacy can be a positive experience for both. The woman’s OB/GYN doctor is a valuable resource for such information.

Americans are living longer and are enjoying the same things as their younger neighbors. If you are on the sidelines sexually and are having problems, you are not alone. Ask your doctor about what is best for you and your health. Don’t forget about your partner because he or she needs to be prepared too. When the partner is involved in treatment, the results have been better. If you have the time, you might as well be doing what you want. You are never too old. Listen to me on RadioMD.