Necessity and methods of sexual education in the elderly population

Major improvements in health care have allowed people in the modern era to lead longer, healthier, and more active lives. The current generation of over-60s are more active than previous generations at the same age. In South Korea, the elderly population (65 years of age or older) has grown to more than 14% of the general population, meaning that we are already in the era of an ‘aged society’ and are transitioning into a super-aged society. Therefore, health issues in the elderly population cannot be ignored, and should be adequately addressed as soon as possible. Sexual health has become an important issue in the elderly that cannot be neglected, according to studies on sexual attitudes and behavior in older adults. As the quality of health improves in the elderly population, requests for proper sexual education and sexual health-related services have become more common. This pattern of increased sexual activity, partially driven by pharmacological advances in the treatment of sexual dysfunction and hormonal replacement products, has also led to increases in drug use and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Responses to sexual health and education issues for the elderly currently remain ill-structured, as the significance of these issues is often ignored, largely due to incorrect assumptions about sexuality and sexual health among the elderly. Stronger requirements should be implemented for properly structured education and management systems regarding awareness, risk perception, and preventive strategies for safe sex among the elderly population in Korea.