CYBERSPACE — A government-funded study published in this week’s New England Journal Of Medicine shows that more people in their sixties and seventies are more openly sexual and sexually experimental than previously believed. In the largest study ever done on the sexual habits of adults aged 57 to 85-years, it was reported that while interest in having sex does drop off during most people’s seventies, a quarter of those up to the age of 85 told researchers that they had sex at least once during the previous year.More than half of those between the ages of 57 and 75 reported giving or receiving oral sex and a third of those between the ages of 76 and 85 did as well.

“Most people assume that people stop doing it after some vague age,” said sex researcher Edward Laumann of the University of Chicago to the national media.

Over 3,000 seniors from all over the country were involved in the survey. They were interviewed for two hour sessions and donated blood and saliva samples for testing. Researchers are checking them for sexually-transmitted infections, hormone levels, and other things which will be mentioned in later studies.

A recap of some facts of interest from the study:

• Sex with a partner in the previous year was reported by 73-percent of people aged 57 to 64; 53-percent of those aged 64 to 75, and 26-percent of people 75 to 85 years of age. Of those who were active, most said they did it two to three times a month or more.

• Women at all ages were less likely to admit to being sexually active than men. They also lacked partners, as far more were widowed.

• Women at all ages were less likely to admit to being sexually active than men. They also lacked partners, as far more were widowed.

• People whose health was excellent or very good were nearly twice as likely to be sexually active as those in poor or fair health.

• Half of people having sex reported at least one related problem. Most
common in men was erection trouble (37-percent); in women, low desire (43-percent), vaginal dryness (39-percent) and inability to have an orgasm (34-percent).

• One out of seven men used Viagra or other substances to improve sex.

• Only 22-percent of women and 38-percent of men had discussed sex with a doctor since age 50.

The study had a high 75-percent response rate, with only 2-percent – 7-percent choosing not to answer questions about sexual activities or problems. A higher percentage declined to reveal how often they masturbate.

The study was conducted because sexual problems can indicate other health problems such as infections, cancer, and diabetes, among other things.

Most participants in the study were married, but by the time they were 75 to 85, only 37-percent of women had spouses, as compared to 71-percent of men. Roughly 10-percent of those in the survey were black and more than 6-percent were Hispanic.

The proportion of each gender reporting incidences of oral sex “matched up perfectly,” Lindau said. “This gives us pretty good reassurance that men and women are telling the same story.”

The proportion of each gender reporting incidences of oral sex “matched up perfectly,” Lindau said. “This gives us pretty good reassurance that men and women are telling the same story.”

Older people were generally more sexually conservative. A very small minority had more than one partner, and very few said they paid for sex. More men than women expressed that sex was important to them and made them feel closer to their partner. Only 13-percent of men and a significantly larger 35-percent of women said sex was “not at all important.”

To the majority that does find sex important, the internet is a great source of advice. According to a 2006 Pew survey last updated in December, 33-percent of Americans 65 and older and 70-percent between 50 and 64 use the internet.

While seniors are happily getting sex advice and vibrators online, there’s sometimes a lack of concern for contracting STIs from the senior population.
An AIDS Community Research Initiative of America study found that 30 percent of New Yorkers living with HIV and AIDS were over 50 in 2005. New cases of HIV have been diagnosed this year in people in their eighties.

In response, the New York City Department of Aging is bringing free condoms and HIV testing to senior centers as part of a campaign to educate seniors about safer sex.

Here’s hoping that taboos about Grandma/Grandpa being sexual beings drops soon — for their safety.