Promoting the sexual health of the older couple

Abstract

Many studies show a deterioration of sexual health in men and women with increasing age. Each partner’s sexual problems may negatively impact on the sexual life of the other but at the same time partners can serve as a help and resource to restore and maintain the sexual health of the other. Furthermore, sexual health is part of the quality of life of older people and may not only increase their general wellbeing but also their general health status. Taking into account the availability of medical treatment for sexual dysfunction in both genders and the increasing number of older couples, it becomes evident that a specialized field of sexual medicine focusing on older couples has to be developed. This field will have to include knowledge and skills coming from various disciplines and this multidisciplinary approach must also include one additional dimension, namely the couple and the possible influences each partner has on the other’s health. Altogether this has to be integrated into a comprehensive model of sexual health promotion.