La salud de la mujer / Woman's HealthLos ancianos norteamericanos son sexualmente muy activos
Las personas de edad de EEUU siguen teniendo una vida sexual muy activa según una reciente encuesta, y la consideran como una parte muy importante de su bienestar a pesar de una tasa alta de aburrimiento. El estudio del National Institutes of Health (NIH) encuentra que el apetito sexual disminuye solo ligeramente entre los 50 y 70 años, con muchos varones y mujeres realizando realciones sexuales vaginales, orales y msturbación hasta entrados los 70 y 80 años.
Los investigadores de la Universidad de Chicago estudiaron a 3.005 personas de 57 a 85 años para llegar a las conclusiones. El estudio pone de manifiesto una vitalidad sexual no imaginada a edad avanzada, según el Dr. Richard Suzman que tomo parte en ele estudio. La mitad de la personas de 75 años confesaban tener relaciones sexuales orales, la mitad de los varones y un cuarto de las mujeres admitían masturbarse. La actividad sexual fue más frecuente entre los varones de edad que entre las mujeres de edad.
El estudio señala la necesidad de informar sobre los riesgos de transmisión de enfermedades sexuales. Aproximadamente el 15% de los nuevos casos de infección por el virus del SIDA se producen en personas de más de 50 años. Mas de un tercio de los varones activos confesaban sufrir disfunción eréctil, y 43% de las mujeres tenían bajo deseo sexual.
New Engl J Med 2007; 357:762-774
A Study of Sexuality and Health among Older Adults in the United States
Stacy Tessler Lindau, M.D., M.A.P.P., L. Philip Schumm, M.A., Edward O. Laumann, Ph.D., Wendy Levinson, M.D., Colm A. O'Muircheartaigh, Ph.D., and Linda J. Waite, Ph.D.
Despite the aging of the population, little is known about the sexual behaviors and sexual function of older people.
We report the prevalence of sexual activity, behaviors, and problems in a national probability sample of 3005 U.S. adults (1550 women and 1455 men) 57 to 85 years of age, and we describe the association of these variables with age and health status.
The unweighted survey response rate for this probability sample was 74.8%, and the weighted response rate was 75.5%. The prevalence of sexual activity declined with age (73% among respondents who were 57 to 64 years of age, 53% among respondents who were 65 to 74 years of age, and 26% among respondents who were 75 to 85 years of age); women were significantly less likely than men at all ages to report sexual activity. Among respondents who were sexually active, about half of both men and women reported at least one bothersome sexual problem. The most prevalent sexual problems among women were low desire (43%), difficulty with vaginal lubrication (39%), and inability to climax (34%). Among men, the most prevalent sexual problems were erectile difficulties (37%). Fourteen percent of all men reported using medication or supplements to improve sexual function. Men and women who rated their health as being poor were less likely to be sexually active and, among respondents who were sexually active, were more likely to report sexual problems. A total of 38% of men and 22% of women reported having discussed sex with a physician since the age of 50 years.<
Conclusions. Many older adults are sexually active. Women are less likely than men to have a spousal or other intimate relationship and to be sexually active. Sexual problems are frequent among older adults, but these problems are infrequently discussed with physicians.
menopausia climaterio
salud de la mujer
women's health
ginecologia
health