Why We Need to Talk About Sex After 60
Sexual health research and education often center around youth and young adults. As people age, discussions about sex tend to fade, overshadowed by conversations about physical health, chronic illness, or caregiving. But sexuality doesn’t have an expiration date.
As sexual health professionals, we know that intimacy and pleasure are integral to overall well-being across the lifespan. Yet, most public health campaigns target younger groups, often because of higher STI rates among youth. That focus leaves older adults underserved and, often times, invisible in sexual health conversations.
A new Australian study aimed to fill that gap, revealing that nearly half of adults aged 60 and older actively seek sexual health information, but many face stigma, embarrassment, or practical barriers when they do.
As we move through the World Health Organization’s Decade of Healthy Aging (2021–2030), it’s time to recognize that sexual well-being is a part of living well rather than a taboo topic or a youthful luxury.
Breaking the Myth: Older Adults Are Not “Asexual”
Society often paints older adults as disinterested in sex or “past it,” but that couldn’t be further from reality. Research shows that many older adults remain sexually active and view intimacy as essential to their quality of life.
Sexual well-being has been linked to mental health, relationship satisfaction, and even cognitive and cardiovascular benefits. Despite this, sexual health education rarely extends beyond middle age.
As people age, they may or may not face unique challenges, such as:
Managing sexual activity while living with chronic illness
Continuing intimacy after cancer, surgery, or widowhood
Adapting to physical changes such as vaginal dryness, erectile difficulties
Navigating dating after divorce or loss
Maintaining sexual connection in long-term care settings
These realities make it even more crucial to keep sexual health on the agenda—for both healthcare providers and individuals.
Sex after 60: What the Research Shows
Who’s Seeking Sexual Health Information?
About 41% of adults aged 60+ in the study had looked for sexual health information.
Men, those using online dating apps, and individuals who had an STI test after 60 were more likely to seek information.
Those who were single, not sexually active, or living in rural areas were less likely to search for it.
Where Are They Looking?
Most older adults turned to:
Healthcare providers were the most trusted and commonly used source
Online sources, including search engines, health information websites, and YouTube
Therapists or counselors
What’s Missing?
Over one-third said their questions weren’t fully answered. And even more concerning: 1 in 5 older adults didn’t seek sexual health information at all, often due to embarrassment, fear of judgment, or not knowing where to look.
The Barriers to sex after 60: Stigma, Shame, and Silence
Many older adults avoid discussing sex due to:
Embarrassment or discomfort with healthcare providers.
Fear of disapproval. One participant shared that “I’ll be told I’m too old to care about sex”
Internalized ageism, believing sex is no longer relevant.
Limited access to reliable information, especially for non-internet users or those in rural areas. Another participant shared that they “didn’t know there was helpful information available and I didn’t know the right questions to ask,”
Skepticism about finding credible answers.
These barriers highlight an ongoing disconnect between the sexual health needs of older adults and the systems meant to support them.
What’s Working and What Needs to Change
Healthcare Providers Are Key
Older adults trust doctors most, but many providers avoid sexual health discussions altogether. Training often focuses on younger populations, leaving providers unprepared to discuss intimacy, aging, or sexuality in later life.
What can help?
Make sexual health part of routine wellness visits
Display age-inclusive posters in waiting rooms
Use pre-consultation checklists prompting patients to discuss sexual health
Embrace Digital Tools And Make Them Accessible
Older adults are open to using online resources if they’re trustworthy and easy to navigate. Websites backed by universities, hospitals, or government health agencies inspire more confidence.
Use simple language and larger fonts (generally, this makes it more accessible!)
Ensure sites are SEO-friendly with search terms older adults actually use
Tailor Information for Different Groups
The study found differences in information-seeking behavior by gender, location, and sexual behavior:
Men were twice as likely to seek sexual health information as women. This could be due to differences in sexual activity among older men and women. Trans and gender-diverse elders were excluded due to sample size, reflecting a larger issue of exclusion in aging research.
Rural residents faced more barriers, including privacy concerns and fewer resources, which affect information-seeking behaviors.
Those re-entering dating after widowhood or divorce may need specific education around STIs, consent, and digital dating safety.
Lessons for Sexual Health Professionals
To create truly inclusive and effective sexual health resources for older adults, we should:
Normalize sexual health as part of aging and overall wellness.
Develop age-inclusive, shame-free campaigns that challenge ageist stereotypes.
Include sexual health in broader frameworks, connecting it to mental health, loneliness, and chronic illness.
Train healthcare providers to discuss sexuality at every life stage.
Use clear, accessible online content with large fonts and credible endorsements.
Beyond the Research: What Else Matters
To move toward truly inclusive sexual health across the lifespan, we must also consider:
Intersectionality: How region, disability, neurodivergence, race, and sexual orientation (among other aspects of our identity) shape access to information and care.
Caregiver and institutional roles: How long-term care facilities can respect residents’ sexual autonomy and privacy.
Representation in media: Pop culture is beginning to show older adults as sexual beings—helping shift public attitudes and reduce stigma.
Technology and dating apps: Increasingly popular among older adults—offering both opportunities and risks.
Consent and cognitive health: Supporting healthy sexual expression while preventing exploitation or coercion in aging populations.
Conclusion: Sex after 60 isn’t a taboo
Let’s stop treating sex after 60 as a punchline–or a taboo. Aging and sexuality aren’t opposites. They’re intertwined aspects of a full, connected, and joyful life.
Talking openly about sex in later life helps dismantle stigma, supports mental and physical health, and reaffirms that pleasure and connection belong to every age.
Written by Emma Sell-Goodhand, MPH
Emma is a doctoral student and Global One Health Fellow at North Carolina State University studying adolescent sexual health. She brings prior experience as a Technical Advisor at the World Health Organization.
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