This document discusses common false beliefs about sexuality among older adults and the impact of ageism on their sexual and reproductive health and rights. It outlines four key false beliefs: 1) older people can't have sex, 2) they don't want to have sex, 3) they shouldn't have sex, and 4) they don't have sex. It argues that ability and desire to be sexually active depends more on health issues than age alone. Ageism creates societal norms that ignore older adults' sexuality and excludes them from sexual health programs, research, and international development goals. Combating ageist views is essential to promoting sexual health and rights for all ages.

1. Caitlin Littleton
Regional Programme Adviser-Care and Health
HelpAge International
Asia Pacific Regional Office
Sexual health of
older people: An overview

2. Presentation overview
1) Four key false beliefs about
sexuality among older adults
2) The impact of ageism on sexual and
reproductive health and rights of older
people

3. Belief #1- Older people
aren’t able to have sex
Inability to have sexual
intercourse is most
strongly linked with
health issues rather
than age.
Sexual intercourse isn’t
the only means for
sexual, physical and
emotional intimacy.
• Post-menopausal drops in
estrogen can cause thinner
and less elastic vaginal walls
and vaginal dryness
• Erectile dysfunction and
underlying conditions of
diabetes, hypertension and
use of medications are more
common with age but
doesn’t effect all older men
• Urinary incontinence and
prostate issues more
common with age
• Mental health (e.g.
depression) and cognitive
health (e.g. dementia)

4. Belief #2- Older people
don’t want to have sex
Many older people
continue to desire
sex for the same
reasons younger
age groups do:
pleasure, closer
relationships,
reducing stress and
increased
wellbeing.
• Older women are more
likely to report reduced
desire for sex (but why?)
• Chronic health issues play
a role in reduced desire
• Desire affected, but not
necessarily to the degree
thought (e.g. English
Longitudinal Study of Ageing data
has 11% older women and 15%
of older men listing low sexual
desire as a sexual health
concern)

5. Belief #3- Older people
shouldn’t have sex.
Every adult should
be able to safely
and fully express
their sexuality with
respect to the
rights of others.
• This is a largely an
external viewpoint-
strongly reinforced by
media and societal norms
• Some older people
internalize this message.
• Similar to the issues faced
by other groups notably
women and youth with
‘shoulds and shouldn’ts” of
sexual behaviours

6. Belief #4: Older people
don’t have sex
• Just as with any age, there is a large variety in sexual
frequency, activities, satisfaction, etc.
• Cultural beliefs and norms, marital status,
gender/sex, sexual orientation, physical and mental
health- all influence sexual practice
(Global Survey of Sexual Behavior, 26 countries, 2009)
– 69% of Indian respondents agreed that sex is beneficial for
general health and wellbeing compared to 30% of Japanese
and 28% of Thai respondents (all ages)
– 61% of Indian respondents reported full satisfaction with their
sex life while only 15% of Japanese, and 35% Thai and
Singapore respondents did (all ages)
• A sizeable minority of older people remain sexually
active throughout their life, particularly when you
consider sexual activities other than intercourse.

7. © HelpAge International

8. Ageism
• Ageism is “the stereotyping, prejudice, and
discrimination against people on the basis of
their age”. (WHO)
– Throughout society, people make assumptions about
older people and older age which do not reflect reality.
– This results in prejudice, and discrimination, and
means that individual experiences of ageing are
ignored.
• Ageism intersects with sexism and rigid
gender roles; homophobia; ableism, etc.
• Ageism says ‘older people are no longer
sexual beings’

9. Sexual health definition
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines
sexual health as a state of physical, mental and
social well-being in the sphere of sexuality.
Intrinsic to the right to sexual health are a positive
and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual
relationships, as well as the possibility of having
sexual experiences that are pleasurable and safe,
free from coercion, discrimination, violence and
disease.

10. © BBC.com

11. Ageism is a barrier to sexual
health for older people
Negative societal messages may
detract from individual
enjoyment of sexuality
• Only young people can be
attractive;
• Inappropriate/disgusting/shameful
for older people to have or express
sexual desire;
• Focus on sexual intercourse (and
often male sexual pleasure) only
Social and health services
aimed towards older
people ignore sexual
health
• Those receiving care esp.
in residential care settings
• Social welfare residential
homes
Sexual health issues are ignored
by research on ageing and health
Older people are excluded from
SRHR research on sexual health;
LGBTQI; STIs; sexual violence and
abuse (especially older olds)
Upper age limits are used in the
SDG for gender equality:
• Proportion of women age 15-49 who
make their own informed decisions
regarding sexual relations,
contraceptive use and reproductive
health
• Number of countries with laws and
regulations that guarantee women
aged 15-49 access to sexual and
reproductive health care, information
and education
Older people are
excluded from sexual
health programming:
• Sexual health education
• Distribution of protection
from STIs
• Screening and check-ups
• Efforts to improve
primary health care
(training of health staff)

13. Two essential takeaways
• Older people are not a homogenous group and
assumptions mean that individual needs are
ignored
• Dismantling ageist views and discriminatory
practices regarding sexual health are essential
in achieving progress on:
– sexual health across the population
– right to health
– women’s rights
– LGBTQI rights
– older people’s rights

14. For more details: www.helpage.org