*Click here for Senior Sex Charts and Stats
Few children want to think about their parents having sex. Grandma and grandpa doing it? Ugh.
From STDs to being informed about safe sex, older people have some of the same needs and issues younger people do when it comes to sex, with some unique factors that come with aging. From arthritis to menopause and beyond, senior sex may have some challenges but those may only slow things down. Don’t tell anyone, but many seniors are indeed doing it!
The sourced articles below deal with some of the misconceptions and facts about older people and their mature sex lives.
- Bridging Desire Gaps: How to Reignite Intimacy After 50
“On this episode of Sex Advice for Seniors, I had the pleasure of chatting with Susan Morgan Taylor, a somatic sex therapist from beautiful North Carolina. Susan works with couples to help them reconnect with their bodies and each other, using somatic methods to explore desire and intimacy.”
Suzanne Noble, sexadviceforseniors.com, 9/17/2025
- Guide To Sex After 60
“Why bother, you ask? Short answer: The benefits of sex are many. Just a few reasons to keep at it (and going solo counts): It boosts your immune system, burns calories, lowers blood pressure, helps you relax, eases pain, keeps your mind sharp, and may lessen the risk of heart attack and prostate cancer. It keeps you and your partner close. It just may help you live longer. Oh, and it makes you happy.”
Janie McQueen, medically reviewed by Mahammad Juber, MD, webmd.com, 2/21/2025
- Senior Sex: Tips For Older Men
“Sex may not be the same for you or your partner as it was when you were younger. But sex and intimacy can still be a rewarding part of your life. Here are some tips for keeping a healthy and enjoyable sex life:
– Talk with your partner. …
– Visit your healthcare professional. …
– See a sex therapist. …
– Expand your definition of sex. …
As you age, you and your partner may have different sexual abilities and needs. Be open to finding new ways to enjoy sexual contact and intimacy.”
Mayo Clinic Staff, mayoclinic.org, 1/25/2025
- Better Sex as You Age
“Restarting a stalled sex drive
Some older adults give up having a sex life due to emotional or medical challenges. But the vast majority of these issues do not have to be permanent. You can restart a stalled sex drive—and get your sex life back in motion. Remember that maintaining a sex life into your senior years is a matter of good health. Try thinking of sex as something that can keep you in shape, both physically and mentally.
The path to satisfying sex as you age is not always smooth. Understanding the problems can be an effective first step to finding solutions.”
Melinda Smith, M.A. and Jeanne Segal, Ph.D., helpguide.org, 1/16/2025
- Meet The Woman Leading A Sex Revolution For Seniors
“[Joan] Price’s core, practical teaching, if she has one, is to urge people to draw no distinction between penetrative and non-penetrative sex. Because while many seniors can continue having traditional intercourse, others can’t, and they should just learn to work around that hurdle. She is quick to point out that sex toys–while often imagined for the young and kinky–are actually useful tools for overcoming the practical challenges of sex and aging. But in a marketing world that champions the 18-24 demographic and the promise of eternal youth, they aren’t always marketed that way.”
Mark Wilson, fastcompany.com, 5/10/2019
- Seniors, Sex, And STDs
“For many reasons, sexually transmitted diseases (more accurately referred to as sexually transmitted infections, or STIs, because it’s possible to be infected without developing any signs or symptoms) are rising among older adults, with potentially serious health consequences.”
Paula Derrow, berkeleywellness.com, 3/1/2018; (Broken link removed 4/2024)
- Sexual Health In Retirement Communities
“Sexual health is an incredibly important aspect of life and our relationships, and this is no different for people in their senior years, yet it’s an aspect we rarely discuss.”
Kimberley Fowler, aplaceformom.com, 10/25/2017
- Better Sex For Seniors: Cardiologist Says THESE Habits ‘Guarantee Better Orgasms’
“The cardiologist explained healthy arteries can carry far more blood to the ‘critical parts’ for achieving orgasm.”
Lizzie Mulherin, express.co.uk, 1/13/2017
- Too Old For Sex? Not At This Nursing Home
“These aging lovers have challenged traditional notions of growing old and, in some cases, raised logistical and legal issues for their families, caretakers and the institutions they call home.”
Winnie Hu, nytimes.com, 7/12/2016
- “Hot And Happening: Senior Sex In The 21st Century!: Many Senior Citizens Are Still “Kickin’ It”! Have Fun, But Be Sexually Smart”
“If you thought only teenagers and twenty-somethings have high rates of venereal disease (VD)–now referred to as sexually transmitted diseases/infections (STDs or STIs)–you need to think again.”
Melody T. McCloud, MD, psychologytoday.com, 5/30/2013
- “Are Seniors Enjoying Sex More Than the Rest Of Us?: Seniors Enjoying Sexual Intimacy Are Also Happier With Their Lives”
“‘The goal of the study,’ Dr. Jackson said in an interview ‘was to spark interest in developing outside the box approaches to dealing with resolvable issues that limit or prevent older adults from participating in sexual activity.'”
Rita Watson, MPH (Master of Public Health), psychologytoday.com, 2/6/2012