Researchers from the University of South Florida have investigated how certain health issues affect sexual activity or inactivity among residents of an American retirement community.
The study subjects lived in a Florida community called The Villages. Residents of The Villages are age 55 and over.
Questionnaires were mailed to all 87,131 residents. The questionnaires addressed sexual activity, health conditions, and lifestyles. Participants gave information on 22 particular health conditions, including cancer, diabetes, mental health, heart disease, and poor vision.
Although 38% of the residents responded to the questionnaire, not all of the responses were complete. Therefore, data from 22,654 residents were analyzed.
Most of the participants were in their sixties and seventies. Fifty-five percent of the men and about 45% of the women said they were sexually active.
For both men and women, sexual inactivity was linked to the following conditions:
• Cardiovascular risk factors, such as diabetes, high cholesterol, and hypertension
• Cancer
• Bladder and bowel issues
• Chronic wound care
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Joint, bone, and back issues
• Major surgery
• Poor vision
• Lack of interest or depression in the previous two weeks
There were some differences between men and women, however.
For example, hearing loss in men was associated with sexual inactivity. The researchers suggested that men with hearing loss were not as social and that women “want to be intimate with men who listen to them.” It’s also possible that hearing loss is connected to other conditions that cause sexual dysfunction.
For women, gum disease was linked to less sexual activity. The researchers were not certain why, but suggested that gum disease could accompany other conditions that impair sexual function, like diabetes.
Women’s sexual inactivity was also connected to alcohol misuse and skin conditions.
Alcohol intake affected sexual activity in two ways. Both men and women had increased sexual activity when they drank moderate amounts of alcohol daily (one to three drinks for men, one or two drinks for women.) However, when men and women drank more, they were more likely to be sexually inactive.
Men and women who participated in social activities tended to be more sexually active than those who did not.
The study findings may help healthcare providers understand the relationship between overall health and sexual health in older populations, the authors noted.
“Lifestyle factors, including regular exercise, tobacco cessation, participation in organized clubs or other physical and social activities, as well as a good social support network and psychological well-being, were associated with increased sexual activity and may improve sexual health for older adults,” they concluded.
The study was published online in August in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.
Resources
The Journal of Sexual Medicine
Bach, Lynea E., MPH, et al.
“The Association of Physical and Mental Health with Sexual Activity in Older Adults in a Retirement Community”
(Full-text. First published online: August 23, 2013)
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jsm.12308/full