[Sexual activity in old age-problem-oriented counselling from the psychiatric point of view]

Empirical investigations often report sexual activity in old age. Society's negative stereotype of the aging person, however, results in the topic being socially taboo and prejudiced. Active sexual intercourse gets less frequent in advancing age, but masturbation and sexual fantasies still prevail. In higher age groups men are seemingly more active than women. Persons living inconstant partnerships are more active than persons living on their own. There is a significant shift from sexual intercourse to tenderness, confidence, and satisfying relations. There are numerous physical, psychological, and social factors influencing sex life in old age. Important physiological alterations and their consequences are to be observed in advancing age. Multiple diseases, drugs, and objective and subjective (e.g. anxiety disorders) after-effects of operations often result in reducing or totally giving up sexual activities. If a doctor has hints pointing to sex problems these ought to be talked about without any prejudice and with an intention of looking for possible solutions. Frequently these problems are indicative of psychological or functional disorders which may respond to a treatment by competent counselor or psychotherapist.