Sexuality across the Lifecycle
Age, but not urinary incontinence, is associated with decreased sexual activity in older community-dwelling women.
Tannenbaum, Cara*,1, 2, Franco, Jessie 1, Corcos, Jacques3, Assalian, Pierre 4, 1 Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada2 University of Montreal, Montreal, Qc, Canada3 Department of Urology, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC4 Human Sexuality Unit, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, QC
ABSTRACT- Introduction: Widespread belief exists that aging and the presence of urinary incontinence impact negatively on women's sexuality, but objective, corroborative data from large community-based samples of older women are lacking. The objective of this research was to study the association between age, urinary incontinence, and sexual activity in older community-dwelling women. Methods: Two data sources were used: a national sample of 2,573 community-dwelling women aged 55-95 from 10 Canadian provinces, and a convenience sample of 100 socially active women aged 55 years and older recruited from Montreal community centers. The questionnaires queried sexual activity, urinary incontinence, physical and emotional intimacy, and physical and mental health status (SF-12). Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the effects of age and urinary incontinence on sexual activity while controlling for marital status, physical and mental health (reported as odds ratios (95% confidence intervals)). Results: Mean age of the participants in the national sample was 70 (range 55-95), 27% reported being sexually active, and 48% experienced urinary incontinence (UI). In the local sample, participants had a mean age of 67 (range 55-89), 54% were married, 45% were sexually active, and only 19% reported UI. In univariate regression analyses using the national sample, both age and UI were significantly associated with sexual activity, but only age remained independently associated with sexual activity in analyses adjusted for marital status, physical and mental health (OR 6.5(4.6-9.1) for women aged 55-64 vs. women aged 75 years and older, and OR 2.4(1.8-3.2) for women aged 65-74 vs. women aged 75 years and older). The local study revealed that the most common reason given by women for changes in sexual activity was a decrease in health of their partner or death of their partner. 85% of women reported little or no change in sexual desire regardless of age. Emotional and physical intimacy was rated more important than sexual intercourse in a relationship. Conclusion: Sexual activity decreases with age, but not UI status, in older community-dwelling women. Reasons will be discussed.
Key words: aging, sexual activity, urinary incontinence, women