Sexual Function and Aging in Racially and Ethnically Diverse Women

This cross-sectional study had a very large sample size compared to the studies in our previous readings. Approximately 2,000 women participated in this study investigating sexual function and aging. These women were already part of a cohort study looking at risk factors for urinary tract dysfunction in middle-aged and older women at the Kaiser facility. The Kaiser facility is an integrated medical care facility in Northern California. The participants had to be between 45 and 80 years old at the time of their study visit. They had to be enrolled in the Kaiser study since the age of 24 and had at least half of their childbirths at the Kaiser facility. Women of nonwhite race or ethnicity were oversampled and 20% of the women had diabetes.

Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires and in-person interviews. Sexual activity was not confined to vaginal intercourse, but included any behavior that was arousing. Women were asked if they had sexual activity in the last three months and how often. Sexual partners may have been men, women, both men and women, and never had sex with a man or woman. Women who indicated no sexual activity in the last three months were asked to give a reason why, such as lack of a partner, no interest, physical problems with their partner or themselves.

The average age of the participants was 57. More than half were non-whites. 19.6% were black, 17.6% Latina, and 18.5% were Asian women. Some of the findings included:

• African American women were more likely to report a moderate sexual desire or interest compared to white women. 
• Women were less likely to report at least a moderate desire if older or postmenopausal. 
• If the cohort of women were moderately sexually satisfied then they had a stronger sexual desire or interest in sex. 
• Nearly 60% of women reported some sexual activity in the last three months.
• For those women who had not had sexual activity they reported it was due to lack of interest in sex followed by lack of a sexual partner. 
• Married women or living as married were more likely to report weekly sexual activity. 
• Health problems and household income did not appear to affect sexual desire or interest. 
• Expectations about sex may change as you age. 

This study along with our other readings and the film, "Use it or lose it" prove to our youth oriented society that older women remain interested in and are having sexual relations. As we discussed in class, this knowledge needs to become more mainstream, so education can be done with these older adults on safer sexual practices.

Huang, A., Subak, L., Thom, D., Van Den Eeden, S., Ragins, A., Kuppermann, M., et al. (2009). Sexual function and aging in racially and ethnically diverse women. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 57(8), 1362-1368.