Your browser does not support the NLM PubReader view.

Go to this page to see a list of supporting browsers.

Sexual health and sexual activity in the elderly

Article information

J Korean Med Assoc. 2019;62(6):301-307
Publication date (electronic) : 2019 June 14
doi : https://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2019.62.6.301
Kwangsung Park, MD1,2orcid_icon, Ho Seok Chung, MD1,2orcid_icon
1Department of Urology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
2Advance Institute of Aging Science, Chonnam National Unviersity, Gwangju, Korea.
Corresponding author: Kwangsung Park. kpark@jnu.ac.kr
Received 2019 May 23; Accepted 2019 June 05.

Abstract

The increase in life expectancy has caused attention to be focused on quality of life in the elderly. Sexual health is an important part of physical health and quality of life, and poor health is associated with both a decline in sexual activity with age and sexual dysfunction. Herein, we review the topics of sexual function, sexual activity, the prevalence rate of sexual dysfunction and its risk factors, changes in sexuality-related attitudes, the relationship between sexual health and physical health, and the effects of sexual health on quality of life in the elderly. Sexual activity is associated with physical health, and is also an important component of enjoying life. Sexual activities include sexual intercourse and physical intimacy, which are indicators of sexual health in the elderly. Good physical health, stable sexual partners, and regular sexual activity are important for maintaining sexual health in old age Therefore, sexual health needs to be considered as part of the management of geriatric patients.

Keywords: Aged; Sexual health; Physical health; Sexual behavior; Sexual dysfunction

Notes

Conflict of Interest

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

References

1. Lindau ST, Laumann EO, Levinson W, Waite LJ. Synthesis of scientific disciplines in pursuit of health: the Interactive Biopsychosocial Model. Perspect Biol Med 2003;463 Suppl. :S74–S86.
2. Camacho ME, Reyes-Ortiz CA. Sexual dysfunction in the elderly: age or disease? Int J Impot Res 2005;17Suppl 1. :S52–S56.
3. Wylie K, Kenney G. Sexual dysfunction and the ageing male. Maturitas 2010;65:23–27.
4. Lindau ST, Gavrilova N. Sex, health, and years of sexually active life gained due to good health: evidence from two US population based cross sectional surveys of ageing. BMJ 2010;340c810.
5. Feldman HA, Longcope C, Derby CA, Johannes CB, Araujo AB, Coviello AD, Bremner WJ, McKinlay JB. Age trends in the level of serum testosterone and other hormones in middle-aged men: longitudinal results from the Massachusetts male aging study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2002;87:589–598.
6. Nicolosi A, Laumann EO, Glasser DB, Moreira ED Jr, Paik A, Gingell C. Global Study of Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors Investigators' Group. Sexual behavior and sexual dysfunctions after age 40: the global study of sexual attitudes and behaviors. Urology 2004;64:991–997.
7. Lindau ST, Schumm LP, Laumann EO, Levinson W, O'Muircheartaigh CA, Waite LJ. A study of sexuality and health among older adults in the United States. N Engl J Med 2007;357:762–774.
8. Feldman HA, Goldstein I, Hatzichristou DG, Krane RJ, McKinlay JB. Impotence and its medical and psychosocial correlates: results of the Massachusetts Male Aging Study. J Urol 1994;151:54–61.
9. Feldman HA, Johannes CB, Derby CA, Kleinman KP, Mohr BA, Araujo AB, McKinlay JB. Erectile dysfunction and coronary risk factors: prospective results from the Massachusetts male aging study. Prev Med 2000;30:328–338.
10. Ni Lochlainn M, Kenny RA. Sexual activity and aging. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2013;14:565–572.
11. Jeong HC, Kim SU, Lee WC, Kim MT, Lee WK, Kim HY, Kim SY, Yang DY. Sexual behavior of the elderly in urban areas. World J Mens Health 2012;30:166–171.
12. Park HJ, Yun CJ, Ahn JH, Park NC. Sexual knowledge, attitudes, and activity of people older than 50 years: results from a community-based study in Busan, Korea. Chonnam Med J 2009;45:188–196.
13. Witherow MP, Chandraiah S, Seals SR, Sarver DE, Parisi KE, Bugan A. Relational intimacy mediates sexual outcomes associated with impaired sexual function: examination in a clinical sample. J Sex Med 2017;14:843–851.
14. O'Donnell AB, Araujo AB, McKinlay JB. The health of normally aging men: The Massachusetts Male Aging Study (1987–2004). Exp Gerontol 2004;39:975–984.
15. Ponholzer A, Temml C, Mock K, Marszalek M, Obermayr R, Madersbacher S. Prevalence and risk factors for erectile dysfunction in 2869 men using a validated questionnaire. Eur Urol 2005;47:80–85.
16. Park K, Hwang EC, Kim SO. Prevalence and medical management of erectile dysfunction in Asia. Asian J Androl 2011;13:543–549.
17. Tan HM, Low WY, Ng CJ, Chen KK, Sugita M, Ishii N, Marumo K, Lee SW, Fisher W, Sand M. Prevalence and correlates of erectile dysfunction (ED) and treatment seeking for ED in Asian Men: the Asian Men's Attitudes to Life Events and Sexuality (MALES) study. J Sex Med 2007;4:1582–1592.
18. Ahn TY, Park JK, Lee SW, Hong JH, Park NC, Kim JJ, Park K, Park H, Hyun JS. Prevalence and risk factors for erectile dysfunction in Korean men: results of an epidemiological study. J Sex Med 2007;4:1269–1276.
19. Laumann EO, Nicolosi A, Glasser DB, Paik A, Gingell C, Moreira E, Wang T. GSSAB Investigators' Group. Sexual problems among women and men aged 40-80 y: prevalence and correlates identified in the Global Study of Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors. Int J Impot Res 2005;17:39–57.
20. Nicolosi A, Glasser DB, Kim SC, Marumo K, Laumann EO. GSSAB Investigators' Group. Sexual behaviour and dysfunction and help-seeking patterns in adults aged 40-80 years in the urban population of Asian countries. BJU Int 2005;95:609–614.
21. Shin H, Min B, Park J, Son H. A 10-year interval study to compare the prevalence and risk factors of female sexual dysfunction in Korea: the Korean Internet Sexuality Survey (KISS) 2014. Int J Impot Res 2017;29:49–53.
22. Levin RJ, Both S, Georgiadis J, Kukkonen T, Park K, Yang CC. The physiology of female sexual function and the pathophysiology of female sexual dysfunction (Committee 13A). J Sex Med 2016;13:733–759.
23. Nappi RE, Cucinella L, Martella S, Rossi M, Tiranini L, Martini E. Female sexual dysfunction (FSD): prevalence and impact on quality of life (QoL). Maturitas 2016;94:87–91.
24. DeLamater J. Sexual expression in later life: a review and synthesis. J Sex Res 2012;49(2-3):125–141.
25. Ambler DR, Bieber EJ, Diamond MP. Sexual function in elderly women: a review of current literature. Rev Obstet Gynecol 2012;5:16–27.
26. Freak-Poli R, Kirkman M, De Castro Lima G, Direk N, Franco OH, Tiemeier H. Sexual activity and physical tenderness in older adults: cross-sectional prevalence and associated characteristics. J Sex Med 2017;14:918–927.
27. Cayan S, Bozlu M, Canpolat B, Akbay E. The assessment of sexual functions in women with male partners complaining of erectile dysfunction: does treatment of male sexual dysfunction improve female partner's sexual functions? J Sex Marital Ther 2004;30:333–341.
28. Beckman N, Waern M, Ostling S, Sundh V, Skoog I. Determinants of sexual activity in four birth cohorts of Swedish 70-year-olds examined 1971–2001. J Sex Med 2014;11:401–410.
29. Smith L, Yang L, Veronese N, Soysal P, Stubbs B, Jackson SE. Sexual activity is associated with greater enjoyment of life in older adults. Sex Med 2019;7:11–18.
30. McCabe MP, Sharlip ID, Lewis R, Atalla E, Balon R, Fisher AD, Laumann E, Lee SW, Segraves RT. Risk factors for sexual dysfunction among women and men: a consensus statement from the fourth International Consultation on Sexual Medicine 2015. J Sex Med 2016;13:153–167.
31. Lane-Cordova AD, Kershaw K, Liu K, Herrington D, Lloyd-Jones DM. Association between cardiovascular health and endothelial function with future erectile dysfunction: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Am J Hypertens 2017;30:815–821.
32. Horstman AM, Dillon EL, Urban RJ, Sheffield-Moore M. The role of androgens and estrogens on healthy aging and longevity. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2012;67:1140–1152.
33. Liao PW, Wu CC, Chen KC, Jaw FS, Yu HJ, Liu SP, Ho CH. Testosterone threshold for increased cardiovascular risk in middle-aged and elderly men: a locally weighted regression analysis. J Sex Med 2016;13:1872–1880.
34. Rejeski WJ, King AC, Katula JA, Kritchevsky S, Miller ME, Walkup MP, Glynn NW, Pahor M;. Physical activity in prefrail older adults: confidence and satisfaction related to physical function. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2008;63:P19–P26.
35. Patterson R, McNamara E, Tainio M, de Sa TH, Smith AD, Sharp SJ, Edwards P, Woodcock J, Brage S, Wijndaele K. Sedentary behaviour and risk of all-cause, cardiovascular and cancer mortality, and incident type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and dose response meta-analysis. Eur J Epidemiol 2018;33:811–829.
36. Silva AB, Sousa N, Azevedo LF, Martins C. Physical activity and exercise for erectile dysfunction: systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Sports Med 2017;51:1419–1424.
37. Gerbild H, Larsen CM, Graugaard C, Areskoug Josefsson K. Physical activity to improve erectile function: a systematic review of intervention studies. Sex Med 2018;6:75–89.
38. Smith L, Grabovac I, Yang L, Veronese N, Koyanagi A, Jackson SE. Participation in physical activity is associated with sexual activity in older English adults. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019;16E489.
39. Chung HS, Shin MH, Park K. Association between hand-grip strength and erectile dysfunction in older men. Aging Male 2018;21:225–230.
40. Lee DM, Nazroo J, O'Connor DB, Blake M, Pendleton N. Sexual health and well-being among older men and women in England: findings from the English longitudinal study of ageing. Arch Sex Behav 2016;45:133–144.
41. Flynn KE, Lin L, Bruner DW, Cyranowski JM, Hahn EA, Jeffery DD, Reese JB, Reeve BB, Shelby RA, Weinfurt KP. Sexual satisfaction and the importance of sexual health to quality of life throughout the life course of U.S. adults. J Sex Med 2016;13:1642–1650.
42. Corona G, Rastrelli G, Maseroli E, Forti G, Maggi M. Sexual function of the ageing male. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab 2013;27:581–601.

Article information Continued

© Korean Medical Association
Korean Medical Association

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.