PDF
ePub
Citation
Print
Kwangsung Park, MD1, 2
, Ho Seok Chung, MD1, 2
, Ho Seok Chung, MD1, 2
Abstract
The increase in life expectancy has caused attention to be focused on quality of life in the elderly. Sexual health is an important part of physical health and quality of life, and poor health is associated with both a decline in sexual activity with age and sexual dysfunction. Herein, we review the topics of sexual function, sexual activity, the prevalence rate of sexual dysfunction and its risk factors, changes in sexuality-related attitudes, the relationship between sexual health and physical health, and the effects of sexual health on quality of life in the elderly. Sexual activity is associated with physical health, and is also an important component of enjoying life. Sexual activities include sexual intercourse and physical intimacy, which are indicators of sexual health in the elderly. Good physical health, stable sexual partners, and regular sexual activity are important for maintaining sexual health in old age Therefore, sexual health needs to be considered as part of the management of geriatric patients.
References
1. Lindau ST, Laumann EO, Levinson W, Waite LJ. Synthesis of scientific disciplines in pursuit of health: the Interactive Biopsychosocial Model. Perspect Biol Med. 2003; 46:3 Suppl. S74–S86.
2. Camacho ME, Reyes-Ortiz CA. Sexual dysfunction in the elderly: age or disease? Int J Impot Res. 2005; 17:Suppl 1. S52–S56.
3. Wylie K, Kenney G. Sexual dysfunction and the ageing male. Maturitas. 2010; 65:23–27.
4. Lindau ST, Gavrilova N. Sex, health, and years of sexually active life gained due to good health: evidence from two US population based cross sectional surveys of ageing. BMJ. 2010; 340:c810.
5. Feldman HA, Longcope C, Derby CA, Johannes CB, Araujo AB, Coviello AD, Bremner WJ, McKinlay JB. Age trends in the level of serum testosterone and other hormones in middle-aged men: longitudinal results from the Massachusetts male aging study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2002; 87:589–598.
6. Nicolosi A, Laumann EO, Glasser DB, Moreira ED Jr, Paik A, Gingell C. Global Study of Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors Investigators' Group. Sexual behavior and sexual dysfunctions after age 40: the global study of sexual attitudes and behaviors. Urology. 2004; 64:991–997.
7. Lindau ST, Schumm LP, Laumann EO, Levinson W, O'Muircheartaigh CA, Waite LJ. A study of sexuality and health among older adults in the United States. N Engl J Med. 2007; 357:762–774.
8. Feldman HA, Goldstein I, Hatzichristou DG, Krane RJ, McKinlay JB. Impotence and its medical and psychosocial correlates: results of the Massachusetts Male Aging Study. J Urol. 1994; 151:54–61.
9. Feldman HA, Johannes CB, Derby CA, Kleinman KP, Mohr BA, Araujo AB, McKinlay JB. Erectile dysfunction and coronary risk factors: prospective results from the Massachusetts male aging study. Prev Med. 2000; 30:328–338.
10. Ni Lochlainn M, Kenny RA. Sexual activity and aging. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2013; 14:565–572.
11. Jeong HC, Kim SU, Lee WC, Kim MT, Lee WK, Kim HY, Kim SY, Yang DY. Sexual behavior of the elderly in urban areas. World J Mens Health. 2012; 30:166–171.
12. Park HJ, Yun CJ, Ahn JH, Park NC. Sexual knowledge, attitudes, and activity of people older than 50 years: results from a community-based study in Busan, Korea. Chonnam Med J. 2009; 45:188–196.
13. Witherow MP, Chandraiah S, Seals SR, Sarver DE, Parisi KE, Bugan A. Relational intimacy mediates sexual outcomes associated with impaired sexual function: examination in a clinical sample. J Sex Med. 2017; 14:843–851.
14. O'Donnell AB, Araujo AB, McKinlay JB. The health of normally aging men: The Massachusetts Male Aging Study (1987–2004). Exp Gerontol. 2004; 39:975–984.
15. Ponholzer A, Temml C, Mock K, Marszalek M, Obermayr R, Madersbacher S. Prevalence and risk factors for erectile dysfunction in 2869 men using a validated questionnaire. Eur Urol. 2005; 47:80–85.
16. Park K, Hwang EC, Kim SO. Prevalence and medical management of erectile dysfunction in Asia. Asian J Androl. 2011; 13:543–549.
17. Tan HM, Low WY, Ng CJ, Chen KK, Sugita M, Ishii N, Marumo K, Lee SW, Fisher W, Sand M. Prevalence and correlates of erectile dysfunction (ED) and treatment seeking for ED in Asian Men: the Asian Men's Attitudes to Life Events and Sexuality (MALES) study. J Sex Med. 2007; 4:1582–1592.
18. Ahn TY, Park JK, Lee SW, Hong JH, Park NC, Kim JJ, Park K, Park H, Hyun JS. Prevalence and risk factors for erectile dysfunction in Korean men: results of an epidemiological study. J Sex Med. 2007; 4:1269–1276.
19. Laumann EO, Nicolosi A, Glasser DB, Paik A, Gingell C, Moreira E, Wang T. GSSAB Investigators' Group. Sexual problems among women and men aged 40-80 y: prevalence and correlates identified in the Global Study of Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors. Int J Impot Res. 2005; 17:39–57.
20. Nicolosi A, Glasser DB, Kim SC, Marumo K, Laumann EO. GSSAB Investigators' Group. Sexual behaviour and dysfunction and help-seeking patterns in adults aged 40-80 years in the urban population of Asian countries. BJU Int. 2005; 95:609–614.
21. Shin H, Min B, Park J, Son H. A 10-year interval study to compare the prevalence and risk factors of female sexual dysfunction in Korea: the Korean Internet Sexuality Survey (KISS) 2014. Int J Impot Res. 2017; 29:49–53.
22. Levin RJ, Both S, Georgiadis J, Kukkonen T, Park K, Yang CC. The physiology of female sexual function and the pathophysiology of female sexual dysfunction (Committee 13A). J Sex Med. 2016; 13:733–759.
23. Nappi RE, Cucinella L, Martella S, Rossi M, Tiranini L, Martini E. Female sexual dysfunction (FSD): prevalence and impact on quality of life (QoL). Maturitas. 2016; 94:87–91.
24. DeLamater J. Sexual expression in later life: a review and synthesis. J Sex Res. 2012; 49(2-3):125–141.
25. Ambler DR, Bieber EJ, Diamond MP. Sexual function in elderly women: a review of current literature. Rev Obstet Gynecol. 2012; 5:16–27.
26. Freak-Poli R, Kirkman M, De Castro Lima G, Direk N, Franco OH, Tiemeier H. Sexual activity and physical tenderness in older adults: cross-sectional prevalence and associated characteristics. J Sex Med. 2017; 14:918–927.
27. Cayan S, Bozlu M, Canpolat B, Akbay E. The assessment of sexual functions in women with male partners complaining of erectile dysfunction: does treatment of male sexual dysfunction improve female partner's sexual functions? J Sex Marital Ther. 2004; 30:333–341.
28. Beckman N, Waern M, Ostling S, Sundh V, Skoog I. Determinants of sexual activity in four birth cohorts of Swedish 70-year-olds examined 1971–2001. J Sex Med. 2014; 11:401–410.
29. Smith L, Yang L, Veronese N, Soysal P, Stubbs B, Jackson SE. Sexual activity is associated with greater enjoyment of life in older adults. Sex Med. 2019; 7:11–18.
30. McCabe MP, Sharlip ID, Lewis R, Atalla E, Balon R, Fisher AD, Laumann E, Lee SW, Segraves RT. Risk factors for sexual dysfunction among women and men: a consensus statement from the fourth International Consultation on Sexual Medicine 2015. J Sex Med. 2016; 13:153–167.
31. Lane-Cordova AD, Kershaw K, Liu K, Herrington D, Lloyd-Jones DM. Association between cardiovascular health and endothelial function with future erectile dysfunction: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Am J Hypertens. 2017; 30:815–821.
32. Horstman AM, Dillon EL, Urban RJ, Sheffield-Moore M. The role of androgens and estrogens on healthy aging and longevity. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2012; 67:1140–1152.
33. Liao PW, Wu CC, Chen KC, Jaw FS, Yu HJ, Liu SP, Ho CH. Testosterone threshold for increased cardiovascular risk in middle-aged and elderly men: a locally weighted regression analysis. J Sex Med. 2016; 13:1872–1880.
34. Rejeski WJ, King AC, Katula JA, Kritchevsky S, Miller ME, Walkup MP, Glynn NW, Pahor M;. Physical activity in prefrail older adults: confidence and satisfaction related to physical function. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2008; 63:P19–P26.
35. Patterson R, McNamara E, Tainio M, de Sa TH, Smith AD, Sharp SJ, Edwards P, Woodcock J, Brage S, Wijndaele K. Sedentary behaviour and risk of all-cause, cardiovascular and cancer mortality, and incident type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and dose response meta-analysis. Eur J Epidemiol. 2018; 33:811–829.
36. Silva AB, Sousa N, Azevedo LF, Martins C. Physical activity and exercise for erectile dysfunction: systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Sports Med. 2017; 51:1419–1424.
37. Gerbild H, Larsen CM, Graugaard C, Areskoug Josefsson K. Physical activity to improve erectile function: a systematic review of intervention studies. Sex Med. 2018; 6:75–89.
38. Smith L, Grabovac I, Yang L, Veronese N, Koyanagi A, Jackson SE. Participation in physical activity is associated with sexual activity in older English adults. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019; 16:E489.
39. Chung HS, Shin MH, Park K. Association between hand-grip strength and erectile dysfunction in older men. Aging Male. 2018; 21:225–230.
40. Lee DM, Nazroo J, O'Connor DB, Blake M, Pendleton N. Sexual health and well-being among older men and women in England: findings from the English longitudinal study of ageing. Arch Sex Behav. 2016; 45:133–144.
41. Flynn KE, Lin L, Bruner DW, Cyranowski JM, Hahn EA, Jeffery DD, Reese JB, Reeve BB, Shelby RA, Weinfurt KP. Sexual satisfaction and the importance of sexual health to quality of life throughout the life course of U.S. adults. J Sex Med. 2016; 13:1642–1650.
42. Corona G, Rastrelli G, Maseroli E, Forti G, Maggi M. Sexual function of the ageing male. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2013; 27:581–601.
XML Download