Thanks to medical advances and changing mentalities, the number of sexually active seniors is increasing day by day.
Make no mistake about the bias: Seniors are having sex — and more and more. People aged 60 and older have, on average, one sexual act a week, according to a survey by the University of Michigan, USA. In addition, 46% of respondents aged 65 to 70 said they were sexually active.
On the other hand, young people had less sex. Data from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, and the Department of Medicine at Washington University in St. Louis, USA, point out that 31% of men and 19% of women aged 18 to 24 said they not having had intercourse in the 12 months preceding the survey.
In the face of that, one thing is certain: the maxim of asexual old age has fallen to the ground. This conquest of a longer sex life can be considered recent, thanks to medical progress and a change in mentality. On the other hand, the fact that the topic is taboo for a large part of society is nothing new.
Sex between seniors: a taboo to break
Many people mistakenly believe that sex life ends after the age of 60, assuming that the elderly are only used to looking after their grandchildren and cooking, for example. However, the reality is quite different, as these studies show.
It is worth mentioning that the topic is taboo even among the elderly. Be it for religious reasons, stereotypes, prejudices from other members of the cohabitation circle, and even the belief that sex is only for procreation.
Fortunately, these outdated thoughts are left behind. Of course, there is still strong resistance to the issue. But things seem to change.
What made people discuss sex more in later life?
Figures released by the United Nations reveal that the population aged 65 and over corresponds to around 700 million people in the world. The organization believes the number could reach the 1.5 billion mark by 2050.
In other words, society will be made up of more and more elderly people. This is due to the constant evolution of medicine, which ensures higher quality and prolongs people’s lives. In Brazil, life expectancy has increased from 76.8 years to 77 years, as revealed by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE).
As a result, the debate about sexual activity at an optimal age will naturally escalate. Along with this, ease of access to information also contributes to the discussion.
After all, the lack of sex education among members of this age group is one of the central factors in the formation of the taboo. Misinformation only serves to fuel myths, conveying a sense that sex between seniors either doesn’t exist or is wrong.
Benefits of sex in old age
It is already known that sex is good for physical and mental health. Not only young people and adults, but also sixty-year-olds.
“Sex provides a state of well-being and has a lot of influence on a physical level: for the circulatory system, for the heart, to reduce the level of stress,” says Miren Larrazabal, president of the International Society of Specialists in Sexology to the O Globe newspaper .
Sexual intercourse is a sacred medicine against pain. The endorphins, released during the practice, have the power to relieve pain as a sort of painkiller. The peak of release occurs in the middle of orgasm.
The sum of endorphins and oxytocin, which is also produced during the sexual act, can relieve chronic pain in the head and joints, according to some specialists in the field.
Also, stress eases through sex. A study from the University of Paisley in Scotland points out that sexually active people respond better to stressful scenarios.
Intercourse also contributes to good lubrication of the vagina, which becomes drier as estrogen drops with the onset of menopause. Women who keep records after this period can reduce the likelihood of genital atrophy. In these cases, in addition to sex, the daily use of intimate moisturizing creams, easily available in sex shops, is recommended to avoid dryness of the vagina.
Sex also has a positive effect on sleep, as what you do within four walls helps to relax your muscles.
Thus, it is clear that sex in later life brings a number of benefits. And it shouldn’t be considered taboo. On the contrary, the subject must be approached naturally, since sexuality is part of everyone’s life.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
