Why we should talk about sex after age 60
Research and education in sexual health often focuses on adolescents and young adults. As people grow older, discussions about sex fade, overshadowed by conversations about physical health, chronic illness or caregiving. But sexuality has no expiration date.
As sexual health professionals, we know that intimacy and pleasure are integral to overall well-being throughout life. Yet most public health campaigns target younger groups, often because higher STD rates among young people. This focus leaves older adults underexposed and often invisible in conversations about sexual health.
A new Australian study aimed to fill this gapIt shows that almost half of adults aged 60 and over actively seek out sexual health information, but many face stigma, shame or practical barriers when they do so.
As we go through the The World Health Organization’s Decade of Healthy Aging (2021–2030), it is time to recognize that sexual well-being is part of a good life and not a taboo subject or a youthful luxury.
Busting the Myth: Older Adults Are Not ‘Asexual’
Society often portrays older adults as uninterested in sex or “past it,” but that couldn’t be further from reality. Research shows that Many older adults remain sexually active and consider intimacy essential to their quality of life.
Sexual well-being has been linked to mental health, relationship satisfaction, and even cognitive and cardiovascular benefits. Despite this, sexual health education rarely extends beyond middle age.
As people age, they may or may not face unique challenges, such as:
Managing sexual activity while living with a chronic illness
Continued intimacy after cancer, surgery or widowhood
Adaptation to physical changes such as vaginal dryness, erection problems
Navigating dating after divorce or loss
Maintaining sexual connection in long-term care settings
This reality makes it even more important to keep sexual health on the agenda – for healthcare providers and individuals alike.
Sex After 60: What the Research Shows
Who is looking for information about sexual health?
About 41% of adults aged 60 and over in the study had searched for information about sexual health.
Men, people who use online dating apps and people who had an STD test after the age of 60 were more likely to seek information.
Those who were single, not sexually active, or lived in rural areas were less likely to search for it.
Where are they looking?
Most older adults turned to:
Healthcare providers were the most trusted and most used source
Online resources, including search engines, health information websites, and YouTube
Therapists or advisors
What is missing?
More than a third say their questions have not been fully answered. Even more troubling, 1 in 5 older adults did not seek sexual health information at all, often out of shame, fear of judgment, or because they didn’t know where to look.
The barriers to sex after 60: stigma, shame and silence
Many older adults avoid discussing sex because:
Shyness or discomfort among healthcare providers.
Fear of disapproval. One participant shared that “I’m told I’m too old to care about sex”
Internalized ageismbelieving that sex is no longer relevant.
Limited access to reliable information, especially for non-internet users or people in rural areas. Another participant said that she “I didn’t know there was any useful information available and I didn’t know what questions to ask,”
Skepticism about finding credible answers.
These barriers highlight an ongoing gap between the sexual health needs of older adults and the systems designed to support them.
What works and what needs to change
Healthcare providers are crucial
Older adults trust doctors the most, but many providers avoid discussions about sexual health absolutely. Training often focuses on younger populations, leaving providers unprepared to discuss intimacy, aging, or sexuality later in life.
What can help?
Embrace digital tools and make them accessible
Older adults are open to using online resources if they are reliable and easy to navigate. Websites supported by universities, hospitals, or government health agencies inspire greater trust.
Use simple language and larger fonts (generally this makes it more accessible!)
Make sure sites are SEO friendly with search terms that older people actually use
Tailor-made information for different groups
The study found differences in information-seeking behavior by gender, location and sexual behavior:
Men sought twice as much information about sexual health as women. This may be due to differences in sexual activity among older men and women. Trans and gender diverse older adults were excluded due to sample size, reflecting a larger problem of exclusion in aging research.
Rural residents faced more barriers, including privacy concerns and fewer resourcesthat influence information seeking behavior.
Those returning to dating after widowhood or divorce may need specific education about STDs, consent, and digital dating safety.
Lessons for sexual health professionals
To create truly inclusive and effective sexual health services for older adults, we must:
Normalize sexual health as part of aging and overall well-being.
Develop age-inclusive, shame-free campaigns that challenge age stereotypes.
Include sexual health in broader contexts and link it to mental health, loneliness and chronic diseases.
Train healthcare providers to discuss sexuality at every stage of life.
Use clear, accessible online content with large fonts and credible recommendations.
Beyond the research: what else matters
To move towards truly inclusive sexual health across the lifespan, we must also consider:
Intersectionality: How region, disability, neurodivergence, race, and sexual orientation (among other aspects of our identities) shape access to information and care.
Caregivers and institutional roles: How long-term care facilities can respect residents’ sexual autonomy and privacy.
Media Representation: Pop culture is beginning to view older adults as sexual beings, changing public attitudes and reducing stigma.
Technology and dating apps: Increasingly popular among older adults, they present both opportunities and risks.
Consent and cognitive health: supporting healthy sexual expression while preventing exploitation or coercion in the aging population.
Conclusion: Sex after the age of sixty is not taboo
Let’s stop treating sex after 60 as a punchline or as a taboo. Aging and sexuality are not opposites. They are interwoven aspects of a full, connected and joyful life.
Talking openly about sex later in life helps dismantle stigma, supports mental and physical health, and reaffirms that fun and connection belong at every age.
#Lets #Talk #Sex #Sexual #Health #Alliance