Abstract
Relatively little is known about the usual frequency of sexual activity and how older individuals cope with sexual problems. The objective was to study sexual activity, prevalence of sexual problems and related help-seeking behaviors among middle-aged and older men and women in Brazil. Population survey, by Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Interviews were held with 1,199 Brazilians aged 40-80 years (471 men and 728 women). The standardized questionnaire investigated demographics, general health, sexual behavior, attitudes and beliefs. Overall, 92.6% of men and 58.3% of women had had sexual intercourse during the preceding year. More than half of the men and women had done so more than once a week. Early ejaculation (30.3%) was the commonest male sexual problem, followed by inability to reach orgasm (14.0%), erectile difficulties (13.1%) and lack of sexual interest (11.2%). For women, the commonest sexual problems were lubrication difficulties (23.4%) and lack of sexual interest (22.7%). Depression was a significant correlate of sexual problems, for men and women. More women than men had sought help for sexual problem(s) from a healthcare professional. The findings highlight the importance of encouraging greater use of available healthcare services, including consultation with a medical doctor regarding sexual health. This should not only enable men and women to maintain satisfactory sexual function well into their later years, but may also result in overall improvement in the quality of healthcare.
Highlights
The development of several convenient and effective oral treatments for male erectile dysfunction has contributed to the increasing level of interest in the sexual functioning of middle-aged and older adults that has been seen in recent years
Over the last 10 years or so, a large number of studies have investigated the prevalence of sexual problems among middle-aged and elderly people
Relatively little has been reported about the usual frequency of sexual activity and the value and significance of sexual relationships for older individuals, the few published studies in this area have concluded that sexual interest and activity persist well into older age
Summary
The development of several convenient and effective oral treatments for male erectile dysfunction has contributed to the increasing level of interest in the sexual functioning of middle-aged and older adults that has been seen in recent years. Over the last 10 years or so, a large number of studies have investigated the prevalence of sexual problems among middle-aged and elderly people These studies have tended to focus mainly on the populations of individual countries in Europe, the United States of America (USA), and Central and South America.. The published literature on the prevalence and correlates of sexual disorders comprises studies conducted in developed and developing countries that have employed a wide variety of study designs and definitions. This makes it difficult to conduct cross-national comparisons in a scientifically valid manner. The Global Study of Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors (GSSAB) was a population survey of 27,500 men and women aged 40 to 80 years in 29 countries representing many world regions. Brazil was one of the countries within this study
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