In a study of Australian men ages 75-95, if men are breathing, they consider sex important -- if medical conditions don't hold them back, researchers say.
Zoe Hyde of the University of Western Australia in Perth and colleagues said their study of 3,274 men ages 75-95 was to determine the proportion of men who are sexually active and to explore factors predictive of sexual activity.
The researchers questioned the men from 1996 to 1999, 2001 to 2004 and 2008 to 2009 to assess social and medical factors. Sex hormones were measured from 2001 to 2004. Sexual activity was assessed by questionnaire from 2008 to 2009.
Nearly half the men said sex was considered important and 31 percent said they had been sexually active at least once in the past 12 months.
Of the men sexually active, 56.5 percent were satisfied with the frequency of sexual activity, but 43 percent said they had sex less often than
preferred.
However, increasing age, partner's lack of interest, partner's physical limitations, osteoporosis, prostate cancer, diabetes, antidepressant use and beta-blocker use were independently associated with reduced odds of sexual activity, the researchers said.
Living with a partner and higher testosterone levels were associated with increased odds of being sexually active, the researchers added.
The findings are published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.