CONCLUSION
To conclude, our study found that overall sexual activity showed a declining course with increasing age but still continued in individuals above 50 years of age. The increasing ‘interest-activity gap’ was very well demonstrated in our study in both group I (50–60 years) and group II (>60 years) subjects. Significant gender differences were found in that women were less interested and also less involved in both coital as well as non-coital activities. A better sexual function was seen with an active and working lifestyle in old age in our sample. The study showed significant reduction in the following parameters with increasing age: Quality of erection, ejaculate volume, vaginal lubrication, orgasmic pleasure and overall sexual functioning. However, the subjects did not seem to be distressed with these changes. Further, presence of co-morbid illness worsened sexual function and sexual activity.
Both sexes reported a significant increase in the time required for sexual arousal. The reasons for stopping sexual activity differed significantly in case of either gender, with loss of a partner in women and deteriorating health in men being the most important ones. Love and intimacy stayed the same for majority of our subjects.
These findings warrant considering sexual function in clinical decision making and the design of clinical trials in elder men and women. It also opens doors to a new area for research into geriatric sexuality, much of which lies neglected till now.
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