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Abstract:
In spite of the heterogenous composition of the two groups, the results regarding the different behaviour of men and women of advanced age are rather similar. The differences that do exist are, however, not genuine and sex-specific, rather they attributable to socio-cultural factors which have shaped the traditional sexual roles of men and women belonging to these age groups. In view of the changes that have taken place in contemporary society, we can expect that these differences will gradually disappear in the near future, as shown by the example of the younger generation. In spite of the frequent physical disorders and regressive changes developing in both sexes because of old age, the physiological situation must not be neglected. Even people of advanced age require a full psychological assessment as soon as they begin suffering from sexual disorders. Besides substitution therapy based on hormones, psychotherapy plays an important role in the treatment of such conditions. Since life expectancy continues to rise in all developed countries, the knowledge of the sexual behaviour of older people is becoming more and more important. The physician should, therefore, be conversant with the basic factors of this stage of life and enhance his knowledge on the sexuality of people of advanced age and related problems in order to be able to understand the problems of this group of people who have the same rights as young people, and to assist them, if help is required.