Sexual activity, sexual and partnership satisfaction in ageing men-results from a German representative community study

Age-related changes in men have only recently received widespread scientific attention. Although a reduction in sexual interest and satisfaction are common in the 'ageing male', little is known about sexual activity and satisfaction in the general population. We therefore investigated age-related changes in men's sexual activity, and their sexual and partnership satisfaction. We also tried to identify psychosocial determinants of sexual and partnership satisfaction. A representative community-based sample of 1299 men between 18 and 92 years was interviewed, based on a set of standardised questionnaires, on life satisfaction, physical complaints, personality and interpersonal problems. Comparing the 3 age groups (18-40, 41-60, 61-92 years), we found the proportion of sexually active men to be fairly constant up to the age of 60 (84-85%); while above the age of 60, the proportion declined to 51%. The proportion of men without a partner (32% of the total sample) who were sexually active was lower; in this group sexual activity started to decline between 41 and 60 years (from 74% to 56%), and comparably fewer older men without a partner were sexually active (17%). We also found an age-related decline in sexual satisfaction, and a slight increase in partnership satisfaction. Sexual activity was a major determinant of sexual satisfaction; sexual and partnership satisfaction were compromised in men who were dissatisfied with their health, and reported somatoform complaints and interpersonal problems. Our results emphasise the contribution of psychosocial factors to declining sexual activity and satisfaction. Future studies in the ageing male should take account of existence and quality of a partnership, and recent sexual activity.