Older women and sexuality – are we still just talking lube?

Abstract

There is little practical information for older women about their changing sexuality. As they age, women are likely to continue to seek ways of expressing their sexuality, but there are issues to consider that both their family doctors and therapists may overlook. Physical conditions or disabilities may hamper their ability to enjoy sex. Pharmaceutical interventions only attempt to improve desire and sexual response. If an older woman begins a new sexual relationship, ignorance of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) puts her at risk. There is good evidence that the incidence of STIs is rising amongst older people. Older women's lack of knowledge about safer sex and poor communication skills may increase their risk of developing sexually acquired infection. Older women who live in long-term care facilities face additional challenges. Their right to be sexually active, along with their right to privacy, may not be realised. Such problems also present challenges for caregivers. In addition, comprehensive assessment criteria are needed to ensure that women in long-term care facilities have the capacity and knowledge to give informed consent to sexual activity and to avoid sexual exploitation. Older gay women may find themselves dealing with an additional problem: Do they feel obliged to conceal their sexual orientation? Older transgender people, who have “passed” for years and find themselves in the physical care of untrained staff, may risk prejudice and humiliation. More evidence is required to determine ways that older women may be helped to live a healthy sexual life and to augment both their knowledge and skills. Professionals working with older women would benefit from more training.

Keywords:

• women
• ageing
• sexuality
• sexual transmitted infection
• HIV
• education

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Lyba Spring

Lyba Spring has been a sexual health educator for 32 years, of which 30 years she spent working for Toronto Public Health in English, French and Spanish. Post retirement, she works independently, writing curriculum, speaking at conferences, workshops, writing articles as well as a regular blog for the Canadian Women's Health Network. Lyba's interest in reproductive health and broader sexual health issues evolved from her first encounter with feminism in 1968. As a collective member of the first women's studies programme at the University of Toronto, she became familiar with the “Boston Women's Health Book Collective”. Living in France in the 1970s, she was one of the translators of their book “Our Bodies Ourselves” into French. As a sexual health educator, Lyba has responded to scores of media requests. For five years, she was a regular guest on a television program for francophone youth. She continues to consult with television producers on documentary programs. Lyba is a passionate health advocate, in particular, regarding women's health issues. She is concerned with a broad range of issues from publicly funded programmes for human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine (which she opposes) to the underpinnings of rape culture.