Sexuality Tips For You.

September 7, 2008

Relationship Sexuality - After-50 Sex!

By Marlene Shiple, Ph.D.

What have you heard about sexuality and aging? What images have these myths conjured up for you? If you are getting older (!), what are the ramifications for your own life and sexual pleasure?

Common myths include:
1. Increasing age brings about a decline in sexual desire and interest.
2. Older adults are not physically capable of engaging in sexual intercourse.

Comedians make jokes about "being over the hill". Stereotypes seem to abound. Isadore Rubin ("The 'Sexless Older Years'", 1976) reported that undergraduate students at Brandeis University participated in a study designed to measure attitudes toward the elderly. Among the items on the survey, respondents were asked to complete the sentence, "Sex for most old people . . ." The responses illustrated the most common views on the sexual experiences of the elderly. Responses included "negligible", "unimportant", and "past". The responses revealed a pronounced tendency for younger adults to either minimize or flat-out deny the importance of sexuality for older persons.

But what is the truth about this growing population and their interest in, and ability to enjoy, healthy sexuality?

The truth is: The world's population is aging. Persons over 60 currently comprise the fastest growing segment of the population internationally (American Association of Retired Persons, 1998). U.S. Census Bureau statistics (1999) show individuals over 65 years old accounted for 12.7% of the population in 1998; they project this to reach 16.5% by the year 2020.

When Seniors are asked, they reveal that they ARE retaining their interest in sex and continue to be actively involved in enjoying it. These results were validated in the following research studies:
a) survey of 254 men and women between the ages of 60 and 94 (Duke University's Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Busse & Maddox, 1985)
b) data collected from 800 healthy men and women aged 60 to 91 (Starr and Weiner, 1981)

So, what can you do? 3 steps to Healthy Sexuality ... at any age:

Step #1: You can actively choose to NOT adopt damaging stereotypes yourself.

Step #2: You can focus on GOOD Health ... and ways to create and maintain it.

Step #3: You can apply to yourself the aphorism, "You are only as old as you think!" and think yourself active and healthy ... without letting myths about aging program YOUR future!

I encourage you to use these steps over and over to maintain your own Healthy approach to Sexual interest and satisfaction.

And I invite you to learn more about how to enhance your relationship, and increase intimacy and satisfaction by visiting our blog at http://www.sex-coach-online.com or Click Here. Join our list by entering your name and email address, or click on "RSS" to add yourself to our the RSS-feed -- you will be informed right away about new additions and information that can benefit your sexual enjoyment and your relationship! Get Practical Ideas & Tips that You can Use Right This Minute!

Presented by Dr. Marlene Shiple, the Sexuality Coach, & the SexualityCoachNetwork for Relationship Sexuality.

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