By Gary Geyer

Well, here’s good news for those of us in our 50s and 60s:
Many of us can look forward to sex into our 70s and 80s.

Really? Yes!

According to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Urological Association, older people are still interested in getting it on — and more often than one might think.

Surprised? In spite of what the less enlightened might think, most Americans stay sexually active into their 60s and about half keep on going into their early 70s.

Older adults sex survey

As a result of the largest sexual behavior study among adults over 50, The New England Journal of Medicine reports that for many people sexual activity hardly diminishes at all.

The report was based on findings from 2 hour, face-to-face interviews with more than 3000 people, 57 to 85 years old, who provided the researchers detailed descriptions of their sexual activities.

Around 30 percent of men aged 70 to 80 reported having sex five times in the past month, although only 8 percent of women reported doing so. Most women said the lack of sex was due to the absence of a partner.

Perception debunked

So much for the perception of being sexually over the hill in our later years. It seems most of us are not only active in our minds but in our bodies as well.

In fact, 84% of men ages 57-64 said they had sexual contact in the past year. The percentage was 67% for women of the same age group.

The numbers get even better

Among those who reported being sexually active, two-thirds had sex at least twice a month into their 70s. And about half of those continued at that pace into their 80s.

Women not as interested

The statistics from women in the over 50 age group showed that they were significantly less likely to be sexually active after the age of 57. The reasons given were varied – from being more often without a partner to no longer finding much pleasure from sex.

Some sexual problems

About half of the sexually active people interviewed reported at least one sexual problem. 37% of the men said they had some erectile difficulties. 43% of the women experienced a diminished sexual desire and 39% reported vaginal dryness.

There’s never a doctor around when you need one

Of all those who participated in the study, only one-third of the men and a fifth of the women ever discussed sex with a doctor after the age of 50.

We all know how hard it is to get to talk to a doctor these days but don’t give up friends and don’t let the number 50 scare or intimidate you,

Get out there and shake that booty. <<

Gary Geyer is Editor-in-Chief of LetLifeIn.com (Editor@LetLifeIn.com) as well as editor of the Issues & Controversies section. Reach him at Gary@LetLifeIn.com.

Recommended DVD: Sex Over Sixty