Many people want and need to be close to others as they grow older. For some, this includes the desire to continue an active, satisfying sex life. With aging, that may mean adapting sexual activity to accommodate physical, health, and other changes. There are many different ways to have sex and be intimate—alone or with a partner. The expression of your sexuality could include many types of touch or stimulation. Some adults may choose not to engage in sexual activity, and that's also normal.

A Good-quality patient-oriented evidence B Inconsistent or limited-quality patient-oriented evidence C Consensus, usual practice, opinion, disease-oriented evidence, case series. Sexuality is a central aspect of being human. While there is a decline in sexual activity with age, a great number of men and women continue to engage in vaginal or anal intercourse, oral sex, and masturbation into the eighth and ninth decades of life. The baby boomer population is aging in the United States and elsewhere. Primary care physicians typically are the first point of contact for elderly adults experiencing health problems, including sexual dysfunction. According to the American Psychological Association, sex is not discussed enough with the elderly.

Horny old broads, dirty old men. These commonly used terms speak volumes about how society views older people who are interested in sex. Experts say such derogatory labels reflect a deep level of discomfort in our youth-oriented culture with the idea that seniors are sexually active. Sex is identified with reproduction, youthful attractiveness, and power -- and most young and even middle-aged people do not want to confront the inevitability of growing old. So sexual intimacy among older Americans is a subject that people don't talk about much.

While the frequency of sex often declines with age, many older adults—of course—can and do have sex. In fact, roughly 40 percent of men and women ages 65 to 80 are sexually active, according to a survey. Although sexual activity is considered an important measure of the quality of life for the majority of older adults, there are a number of problems that can arise with age. While treatments have improved for conditions such as erectile dysfunction in men and vaginal dryness , incontinence, and uterine prolapse in women, people may not bring these concerns to their doctor's attention. Understanding more about what sex in older age can be like, what else may be affecting your sex life and how to address it, and ways to maintain or even jumpstart this kind of intimacy can go a long way in you being able to continue to enjoy this part of your life.