OVER-AGE SEX

The recent outcry over 66-year old Janice Langley’s sex education DVD for the Women’s Institute has made us all question our assumptions about the age at which we might stop enjoying a fulfilling sex life.

Langley – a retired sex therapist – sought to enlighten fellow members about how to keep a lively sex life going into old age; how to explore the pleasures of masturbation and the role of porn and sex toys in increasing sexual excitement.  For this  – surprise, surprise – she was ridiculed and told by the Daily Mail to stick to jam making.
 

Sex and the over 70's

Why?  A recent study by Swedish researchers confirmed that 68% of married men in their 70’s were still having regular sex and 56% of married women in their 70’s.  Around a third said they were having sex once a week. Other studies have shown that it’s the over 50’s who have the fastest growing numbers of sexually transmitted diseases.  Over the last two years there’s been a worrying acceleration of the numbers of over 60’s contracting chlamydia.

Sex and Beauty
 

It’s clear that seniors are continuing to heat the sheets well into their dotage. So why then do so many younger people cringe at the idea of the over 60’s having a fulfilling sex life?   On our television screens and in the cinema we’re bombarded by images of couples with perfect bodies rolling around with abandon.  From this we may well conclude that only ‘beautiful’ people really enjoy carefree sex.  A pity, since few of us – whatever our age – consider our bodies to be perfect. 

Still Lovable

We don’t consider our grandparents to be unlovable just because they’re elderly.  Yet sex is simply a natural physical expression of the love between two people.  Love doesn’t end at 60!

 

Have YOUR Say

Do YOU feel uncomfortable at the idea of ‘over-age’ sex?  Do you welcome Janice Langley’s attempt to tackle this taboo subject?  Should the over 60’s just keep quiet about their sex lives?  Tell us what you think. Join in our forums or post a comment below…..
 

Further Reading

Article: 'A Surprise?  Only for the Younger Reader'  Times Online 23/8/07

Article - 'Why Age is no Barrier to Sex for the Passionate Pensioners' (Daily Mail 24/8/07)