Seniors want sex -- and they get it, study finds

By Gene Emery

BOSTON (Reuters) - Sex is important to many seniors into their 80s and 90s, and they work to enjoy it even if illness or other problems get in the way, according to a study published on Wednesday.

Many older people have sex regularly, usually as often as younger people do, said Stacy Tessler Lindau of the University of Chicago, who led the study.

"The frequency of sexual activity does not change a whole lot across age groups," she said.

Lindau's team found that 73 percent of people aged 57 to 64 reported having sex at least once in the past year, which put them into the "sexually active" category of the study.

The number fell to 53 percent for men 65 to 74 and to 26 percent for those 75 to 85. Women were less likely to be active because they were less likely to have a partner.

"We found that about 50 percent of men and a quarter of the women reported that they masturbate, and this was irrespective of whether or not they had a sexual partner," Lindau told reporters in a telephone briefing.

"This suggests that, among older adults, there is an internal drive or need for sexual fulfillment."

The study, based on surveys of more than 3,000 U.S. adults, was designed to give some insight in what is normal and what is possible for senior citizens.