Sexual functioning among the elderly population in Tehran, Iran

This study aims to demonstrate the sexual functioning of elderly Iranian retirees who reside in Tehran, Iran. The participants' sexual interests are also reviewed in association with their physical and mental health status. The authors recruited 390 elders (199 men, 191 women) by convenient sampling from 4 retirement organizations in Tehran from April 2007 to October 2008. Tools for evaluation included use of a demographic questionnaire, modified Brief Index of Sexual Functioning for Women, Brief Sexual Function Inventory for Men, and the General Health Questionnaire. Sexual activity was "important/very important" in 56.6% and 17.0% of men and women, respectively (p < .005), but their satisfaction from sexual life was similar. Sexual desire and activities were more common among men than among women (p < .05). Impotency and ejaculatory problems were 40% and 33%, respectively, among the male study participants. This study indicated that having a sexual partner was the most important variable for sexual activities. This study provides a profile of sexual behaviors among elderly people in Iran and shows that although sexual decline and dysfunction are seen in both genders, both groups express satisfaction with their sexual affairs when they have a partner available.