Between Exploration, Pleasure, and Performance: Sexual Enhancement Medication Use among Older Gay and Heterosexual...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Sociology of Sexuality
• Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background:

• Pharmaceutical marketing and biomedical discourse often categorize sexual enhancement medication (SEM) use into "therapeutic" (older, heterosexual men) and "recreational" (younger, gay men) types.
• Limited understanding exists regarding the specific motivations and contexts of SEM use among older men, particularly older gay men.
• Societal representations of masculinity and sexuality linked to SEM often emphasize performance and youth, with unexplored influences on users.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the contexts and reasons behind SEM use in older men (aged 65-84).
• To explore how older men's perceptions of sexuality, masculinity, and aging shape their experiences with SEM.
• To challenge normative models of masculinity and sexuality in older age.

Main Methods:

• Conducted semi-structured interviews in French with 27 Canadian men (12 heterosexual, 15 gay) aged 65 to 84 years between 2015-2016.
• Analyzed interview narratives focusing on themes of sexual exploration, capacity restoration, and the intersection of masculinity, aging, and SEM use.

Main Results:

• Participants' narratives centered on three key themes: exploring sexual possibilities/enhancing sex life, restoring sexual capacities, and navigating masculinity and aging.
• Findings indicate diverse motivations for SEM use among older men, extending beyond a purely therapeutic framework.
• The study highlights the influence of aging and masculinity concepts on older men's engagement with SEM.

Conclusions:

• This research enhances understanding of older men's utilization of sexual enhancement medication.
• The findings contribute to deconstructing rigid, normative perspectives on masculinity and sexuality in older age.
• Results underscore the need for more nuanced approaches to studying SEM use across different age groups and sexual orientations.