Sexuality on old age: science, myths and auto-perception
M. Bote Díaz

SUMMARY

Objective: To find out the autoperception of people top 65 years about his sexuality, related to scientifics and cultural believes.

Design: Survey with randomized and stratified sample.

Participants: 601 subjects top 65 years living in Spain.

Main measurements: It has been studied the opinion of old people about his own sexuality and the behaviour and knowledge of a medicine for improve sexual relations.

Findings: The opinion of old people about his sexuality is divided between who thinks that is something anti-natural, 33,6% (interval of confidence 95% [IC 95%]:29,7-37,4) and who thinks that is something natural, 30,4% ([IC 95%]:27,6-35,1), being significant differences among women and men. On the other hand, the use of the Viagra is approved by the majority of the spanish elderly, though not must be ignored the percentage of persons that do not know it, 16 % ([IC 95 %]: 13-18,9), existing significant differences between men and women in relation to hearing speaking about the drug and tolerance in her use.

Conclusions: Great part of the elderly people considers the practice of the sex as something improper or “unnatural”. The use of drugs to improve the sexuality is perceived as slightly positive. Nevertheless, a wide percentage of elderly people ignore the existence of the Viagra.

KEY WORDS

Sexuality, aging, sildenafil, mythol.