Age sexuality

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Exchange of affection among seniors in a retirement home

Aging sexuality is the acting out of sexuality and the sexual perception of people in old age . Especially with regard to the target group of old people, a broad understanding of sexuality is required, which goes beyond sexual intercourse and takes other sexual activities such as masturbation or the exchange of tenderness into account.

overview

The social tabooing of the gender of older people, changes in their physical appearance, some typical impairments of sexual functions , but also demographic factors and individual living conditions have an important influence on sexuality in old age .

In the higher age the frequency of sexual intercourse on average continuously while older people increasingly attach importance psychologically to a fulfilling and satisfying for both partners and sexually design of the entire coexistence - took - taken as a whole. However, this does not rule out the fact that older people do not perceive any change in their sexual preferences .

Age concept

Age-related changes in sexuality begin around the age of 40. Most women experience hormonal changes in the next decade that lead to climacteric ( menopause ). During this period, some men experience a break in the psychosocial age development known as a midlife crisis , which is based on psychological changes, changed living conditions and the fulfillment of reproductive tasks. From a psychological point of view, one therefore speaks of age sexuality mostly as the time after these changes and dates the transition from middle to late adulthood, depending on individual living conditions, to a period between 45 and 55 years of age.

However, since age is mainly defined socially and is perceived very differently from one individual to the next, one speaks of age sexuality as a rule only from a significantly higher age than the age of 60.

Scientific age research ( gerontology ) and medical geriatrics ( geriatrics ) generally relate to people who are in the "retirement age", i.e. predominantly over the age of 65, whereby here again often between "young old" and "old" A distinction is made between old and very old people, whose sexuality can be subject to further changes according to their age.

Statistical data

Contrary to the notion, which is predominantly cherished by younger people, that sexuality decreases significantly with age and that sexual needs no longer exist, various statistical surveys have shown that the desire for sexuality and the satisfaction of sexual desires are lived out into old age. According to a more recent study, 89 percent of the group of men living in a partnership in the age group of 51 to 60-year-olds were sexually active, and 85.6 percent of women living in partnerships. Sexual activity decreases over the years; in the group of over 80s, 30.8 percent of men living in a relationship still practice their sexuality, while 25 percent of women are sexually active within a relationship.

The activity of people not living in a partnership differs significantly from this: 55.3 percent of men and 25.3 percent of women between 51 and 60 were sexually active, the proportion of sexually active people falls to 7.1 percent over the age of 80 of men - in women over 80 there was no longer any detectable proportion. American studies come to similar results, with the question of whether the older person is in a relationship also leads to significant differences in the frequency of sexual contact. In a survey, around half of the sexually active respondents stated that they suffered from at least one disturbing sexual restriction . The most common symptoms among women were decreased sexual desire (43%), vaginal dryness (39%), and inability to reach orgasm (34%). In the male group, erectile dysfunction (37%) was the most disabling effect on sex life, with 14 percent reporting that drugs or other means helped their sexual function.

Demographic influencing factors

According to the studies by Klaiberg, Bucher and Brähler , there was a close connection between demographic development and the statistical frequency of sexual activity. This is mainly justified by the fact that older women in particular prefer to live out their sexuality in a partnership. Due to the higher life expectancy of women and the demographic turning point in many European countries as a result of the world wars , the percentage of widows in these age groups has increased. These often do not look for a new partnership and stop their sexual activities related to the couple.

Individual perspective

Sexual pleasure

With increasing age, the role of sexuality changes, the actual reproductive function loses its importance after the climacteric, and sexuality is no longer necessarily geared towards sexual intercourse as the central act of sexual pleasure. Depending on your personal disposition, however, eroticism and pleasure remain an important part of life. People who, due to their upbringing or their individual need for sexual contact, did not have sexual intercourse very often or reluctantly as younger people, are unlikely to change this in old age, while sexually very active people can continue this activity into old age. Tenderness, attachment and closeness become more important for many older people. In some cases, the preferred practices and positions change, mostly as a result of an adaptation to a changed physical condition, or because the sensation of pleasure changes, for example due to a more sensitive skin in the vaginal area or a necessary more direct stimulation in connection with erectile dysfunction.

According to studies, the essential basis for a fulfilled sexual relationship is a trusting, trusting and intimate relationship, in which physical changes and possible restrictions are not considered a disability, but rather as an option for a new way of expressing tenderness, physical and emotional, adapted to the age and the horizon of experience emotional closeness is understood. A healthy self-confidence and the ability to deal with one's own changing aesthetics is also essential for a shameless and relaxed approach to one's own sexuality.

American sexologists found in surveys in 2007 that achieving sexual fulfillment through masturbation in the last third of life also plays an important role for many people. Around half of all men and just under a quarter of all women stated that they self-satisfied. It became clear that the numbers differed only insignificantly between single people and people living in partnerships; so this was felt as part of sexuality in all forms of life. In partnerships, 52 percent of men and 25 percent of women masturbated; similar figures were found for men (55%) and women (23%) living alone.

Comparison between desired and actually experienced sexual activity in relation to sexual intercourse. Data source: Bucher et al. (2001): “Sexuality in the Second Half of Life. First results of a study in German-speaking Switzerland. ”In: Hermann Berberich; Elmar Brähler (Ed.): Sexuality and partnership in the second half of life. Giessen: Psychosozial-Verlag, pp. 42, 45.

Age-typical impairments of sexual functions

The need for sexual contact is based on individual preferences and personal inclination in all age groups. In the course of life, sexuality changes, possibly towards a form of sexual contact that is more oriented towards closeness and tenderness, which does not necessarily include sexual intercourse. The physical changes that go along with aging are predominantly hormonal. In particular, the drop in estrogen levels in women can lead to an altered libido , a different sensitivity and a change in the amount of secretion in the vagina . In men, the drop in testosterone levels and downregulation of hormone receptors , which affects around a third of 60 year olds and more than 80 percent of men over 80, causes a less strong and lasting erection and often requires more direct sexual stimulation. Other possible impairments are:

  • Changed sexual desire : In addition to clearly assignable physical causes, various other reasons can also lead to a decrease in sexual desire. For example, moral ideas, shame about the changed body image, but also psychological causes such as old age depression can change sexual appetite . Another aspect can represent changed living conditions, for example, living out one's sexuality can be difficult after moving to a nursing home, or demented changes in the partner lead to a waning desire for sexual contact.
  • Arousal disorders : Arousal disorders are functional restrictions that relate to female sexuality and are often noticeable after the menopause in the form of a drier and narrower vagina during sexual arousal. Another cause can be the treatment of various types of cancer in which radiation of the abdominal cavity leads to similar changes. This can make intercourse uncomfortable or painful. Using lubricants can largely correct this disorder.
  • Erectile Dysfunction : The most significant dysfunction of the man refers to the erection and is also referred to as erectile dysfunction. Age-related, but also medication, illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure or as a result of smoking , the blood vessels in the penis narrow , which means that the penis no longer receives the amount of blood necessary for a stable erection. In addition to other causes, such as fear of failure, tumors or the consequences of an operation in this area can be. These disorders can be treated, depending on their origin, for example with drugs such as PDE-5 inhibitors or apomorphine , a cavernous auto-injection therapy or the urethral administration of prostaglandin . A penis ring can also be used as a physical aid to strengthen or lengthen the erection.
  • Pain during sexual intercourse : In addition to the pain caused by physical illnesses during certain movements, for example hip arthrosis , operations such as the removal of the uterus , cancer in the rectum or prostate or even the fear of pain can disrupt sexuality. In women of all ages, this pain is known as dyspareunia and, depending on its cause, can be eliminated by using different sex positions or possibly with the help of pain therapy.
  • Incontinence : Urinary and fecal incontinence can occur in both men and women with age. Although this does not directly interfere with sexual function, it is embarrassing and embarrassing for many people, which is why they refrain from sexual contact. Treatment of incontinence as a cause of sexual dysfunction varies.
  • Side effects of medication : With increasing age, various illnesses occur more frequently that require temporary or permanent drug treatment. Some of these drugs have a lasting effect on sexual sensitivity or sexual activity, for example psychotropic drugs and antihypertensive drugs.

Social perspective

Social taboo

Older people are often largely denied sexuality, desire and pleasure in a society that is geared towards youth and aesthetic physicality, as predominates in industrialized nations. Rather, the image of aging highlights increasing asexuality . Negative ideas and prejudices about sexuality in old age have deep cultural and historical roots. Even Cicero calls it "the most beautiful praise of old age", to call for any sensuality. Older people often adapt their behavior to these negative stereotypes .

In many cases, the image of the sexually active woman after the menopause does not correspond to the moral concepts of society, while older, generally active men are granted a lively sexuality, which is reflected, for example, in the conception of children even in old age. For widowed women in particular, this notion is part of their own upbringing attitude towards sexuality. Some women are not able to enter into a new relationship openly and with sexual intent, partly because of their own view of the world, or do not want to press other people, for example their children, by expressing their sexuality. Prejudices and reasons that limit women in their sexuality are, for example, the shame of expressing sexual desires verbally. Not perceiving one's own body as sexually attractive or as not conforming to common beauty ideals can be a problem. A change in these social stereotypes is expected with the advancement of generations that have grown up with extensive sexual freedom. There is already a tendency to loosen stereotypical attitudes towards age sexuality.

Sexuality in the care setting

For a long time, it was and is still common today for older people living in nursing homes to be denied normal sexuality or forbidden by restrictive home regulations. In many old people's homes, for example, it is common practice to forbid men and women from visiting their rooms in order to prevent situations in which an intimate relationship can be lived. Often caregivers are not trained to deal with questions about sexuality or for possible support with aids; one's own moral concepts, own problems with sexuality, possibly disgust and incomprehension often overlay a possible tolerant and open approach to the sexuality of the patient or resident. Training courses and further education should create a new understanding of age sexuality , especially in the field of geriatric and geriatric psychiatric care, in order to change the handling of critical or overriding situations in this context, as this aspect of the human need for closeness and intimacy has been widespread in nursing in recent years is evaluated and weighted differently than in previous decades. Sometimes situations find their way into the media and lead to initiatives that want to anchor the coexistence of old people in law.

Critique of the use of the term

The term age sexuality is not undisputed in the literature. Critics see this as a devaluation and stigmatization of sexuality in old age, because the term suggests a targeted delimitation of the sexual life of older people compared to other age groups. In the course of this, the idea is forced that sexuality necessarily becomes different or inevitably better or worse with increasing age. However, it is precisely the different sexual biographies of older people that make it necessary not to speak of age sexuality.

literature

  • Hermann Berberich, Elmar Brähler: Sexuality and partnership in the second half of life. Psychosozial Verlag, Giessen 2001, ISBN 3-89806-067-5 .
  • Moritz Braun, Theodor Klotz, Udo Engelmann: Male sexuality and age. Thieme, Stuttgart 2004, ISBN 3-13-133411-8 .
  • BzgA (ed.): Forum sex education and family planning . Issue 1/2, 2003: Age and Sexuality ( online ).
  • Robert N. Butler: Old love doesn't rust. About dealing with sexuality in old age. Huber, Bern 1996, ISBN 3-456-82805-5 .
  • Wolfgang Cyran, Max J. Halhuber: Eroticism and sexuality in old age. Urban & Fischer, Munich 1992, ISBN 3-437-00707-6 .
  • Renate Daimler: Secret pleasure. Women over 60 talk about love and sexuality. 2nd edition, Piper, Munich 2002, ISBN 3-492-23271-X .
  • Andrea Fischer, Regula Käch: Health Consultation: Love in old age. With the best TV experts from “Health Consultation Hour”. Orell Füssli, Zurich 2004, ISBN 3-280-05136-3 .
  • Erich Grond : Sexuality in old age - (not) a taboo in care. Brigitte Kunz Verlag, Hagen 2001, ISBN 3-89495-159-1 .
  • Fred Karl, Ingrid Friedrich: Partnership and sexuality in old age. Steinkopff, Darmstadt 1991, ISBN 3-7985-0883-6 .
  • Oswalt Kolle : Love doesn't age. Satisfied sexuality for a lifetime. Econ, Düsseldorf 1997, ISBN 3-612-26423-0 .
  • Hannie van Rijsingen: Sex and Fifty - About longing and love in the second half of life. Modern publishing company Mvg, 2004, ISBN 3-636-06135-6 .
  • Kirsten von Sydow: The desire for love in older people. 2nd edition, Ernst Reinhardt Verlag, Munich 1994, ISBN 3-497-01347-1 .

Web links

Commons : Sexuality in Old Age  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. Leo Zehender: Age and Emancipation. A socio-philosophical search for traces in a gerontological and nursing science context. Facultas-Verlag, Vienna 2006, ISBN 3-85076-738-8 , p. 46.
  2. ^ Toni Faltermaier, Philipp Mayring, Winfried Saup: Developmental Psychology of Adulthood. 2nd edition, Kohlhammer, 2002, ISBN 3170160540 .
  3. See definition of age according to WHO, quoted in Ulla Walter, Uwe Flick et al.: Old and healthy? Images of old age and prevention concepts in medical and nursing practice. VS Verlag, Wiesbaden 2006, ISBN 978-3-8100-4084-8 , p. 40 (Chapter 3.1).
  4. a b A. Klaiberg, E. Brähler, J. Schumacher: Determinants of satisfaction with sexuality and partnership in the second half of life. In: H. Berberich, E. Brähler (Ed.): Sexuality and partnership in the second half of life. Psychosozial-Verlag, Giessen 2001, ISBN 3-89806-067-5 , pp. 105-127.
  5. a b Stacy Tessler Lindau, L. Philip Schumm et al: A Study of Sexuality and Health among Older Adults in the United States. In: New England Journal of Medicine 357, 2007, No. 8, pp. 762-774 ( online ).
  6. JS Tenover: Declining testicular function in aging men. In: International Journal of Impotence Research , August 15, 2003, Supplement 4, pp. 3-8 ( PMID 12934044 ). This hormone decline is sometimes referred to with the critically discussed term andropause .
  7. Rita Bourauel: On the assessment of age- and gender-specific sexual attractiveness . Publishing house Dr. Kovac Hamburg 1992.
  8. Beate Schultz-Zehden: The sex life of older women - a taboo subject? In: Forum Sexuality Education and Family Planning . Issue 1/2, 2003: Age and Sexuality , pp. 31–33 ( online ).
  9. Oswalt Kolle: Nothing stays as it is: From loss-making to the self-confident, creative design of age-appropriate sexuality. In: Forum Sexuality Education and Family Planning . Issue 1/2, 2003: Age and Sexuality , pp. 38–40 ( online ).
  10. ^ Johannes Wickert: Partnership in old age (vol. 5). Sexuality and tenderness . Cologne 1983.
  11. Michael Frank: Sexuality in old age - a taboo? In: Austrian care magazine. 2004, No. 11, pp. 18–22 ( online ( memento of September 27, 2007 in the Internet Archive ); PDF; 326 kB).
  12. ^ Wilhelm Frieling.Sonnenberg: care relationships. On the question of the lived and not lived sexuality of caregivers and old people in homes. In: Care. No. 7/4, 1994, pp. 302-304.
  13. Vera Bamler: Sexuality in the third phase of life. In: S. Buchen; MS Maier (ed.): Rethinking aging. Interdisciplinary perspectives on demographic change. VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, Wiesbaden 2008, ISBN 978-3-531-15772-6 , pp. 193–194