How Does Sexual Function Change in Older Adults?

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Definition of sexual functioning and dysfunction
Determinants of sexual functioning and change
Changes in sexual functioning in older adults
About the sources

Introduction

A clear comprehension of old ages in relation to sex functioning is a very essential aspect. There is only one direction in human growth that is from the youth to the old. Physical health and sexual functioning are related and therefore taking time to dig deep about sexual functioning for the later years to come is very helpful in terms of medication and biology. Undesirable sexual functioning can be the starting point of very disturbing health conditions. An astonishing revelation about erectile dysfunction found in most men is the major cause of asymptomatic coronary artery sickness and obviously damaged endothelial utility.

Out of all people infected with the HIV/AIDS in the United States of America, adults of at least 50 years comprise of nineteen percent (Delamater and Karraker, 2009 p.2). Another important thing to note is that there exists a relationship between happiness and sexual welfare/comfort as years progress. This explains that an enhanced and stable state of mind along the age progression line is an important component towards attaining a prolonged sexual function (Delamater and Karraker, 2009 p.2).

Definition of sexual functioning and dysfunction

Sexual functioning is the ability to perform any sexual related activity within the scope of sex. This may incorporate the ability to bring about the urge for sex, arousal, reaching satisfying orgasm, as well as a reasonable sustained duration of sexual activity (Delamater and Karraker, 2009 p.3). However, this definition may vary based on factors such as the absence or presence of a sexual partner and the regularity of intercourse as years progress. Sexual dysfunction may refer to the inability to perform one, some, or any of sexual or related activities. It is impairment to genital activity that leads to orgasm. There is always a postulation that sexual quality reduces with age but this may actually change if men/women but not all, attain greater control which is voluntary especially the control over ejaculation (for men), despite the frequency of the activity (Mc Anulty & Burnette, 2006 p.169).

Determinants of sexual functioning and change

The factors expounded below affect the sexual functioning offered in the following areas of psychological, social, biologic and relations/interactions.

Psychological factors

These factors are very essential for sexual functioning.They can affect the expression of other determinants of sex functioning. For instance, emotional and interpersonal motivation dictates the impact of sexual drive in the case of sexual attractiveness. Motivation can help in attaining the desired attitude about sexuality, which is another part of sexual desire. It can also compensate for reduced physiologic desire for sexual activity especially resulting from declining testosterone stage. Due to old age, Psychological situation like depression contributes a lot in sexual function especially in adults due to accruing responsibilities.

It plays an integral part in that even the medications used to treat it are associated with sexual dysfunction such as erectile dysfunction, low libido, and analgesia, which can go on long after discontinued medication (Delamater and Karraker, 2009 p.3). A case where woman responds to sexual activity not from her own initiative but from her partner will have low sexual desire. Whether the initiative is voluntary or not this psychological factor is independent from sexual functioning.

Social factors

The presence or accessibility of a partner is an important factor in sexual function. In old age, sexual function is much higher in male that in females but the difference is much smaller for those females with partners. The overall difference in performance between men and women is attributed to the relative scarcity of men due to longevity in among women and disparity in ages between men and women with men being older than their partners are. Sexual satisfaction and relationship satisfaction change concurrently and this may affect sexual functioning. It‘s more severe in old age. (Delamater and Karraker, 2009 p.5).

Relations / Interactions factors

This refers to the ways in which physical health relates to sexuality and how it affects it. For example, diabetes is attributed largely to consistent undesirable eating habits. This will ultimately decrease sexual functioning adults in the later stages of life (Delamater and Karraker, 2009 p. 5). It is not possible to look into all potential interactions and response mechanisms that may influence sexual function.

Biological factors

Sexual function reduces with age although measures used to explain sexual function keep on varying. Self-imposing health is strongly related to sexual troubles than age. Occurrence of men reaching orgasm too quickly declines with increase in age. It is similar to women experiencing pain during sexual intercourse. The association is biologic (Delamater and Karraker, 2009 p.5).

Changes in sexual functioning in older adults

Events within the realm of life

Sexual functioning can change positively or negatively in old adults. Positive changes can be due to factors like lack of fear of pregnancy and having no children in school (Delamater and Karraker, 2009 p.5).Negative changes can have the outcomes due to financial and employment status change, parents taking up the care giving roles, death and illnesses, change of partnership through separation, divorce or new found love (Mc annuity& Burnette, 2006 p.169).

Gender

Many women in their old age are met by the problem of vaginal lubrication and inability to climax while their counterpart frequently report erectile difficulties.However,many women in there old age experience positive changes in sexual functioning mostly related to sociocultural factors(Mc annuity& Burnette,2006 p.170).This is not the same to their counterpart males.

Race and ethnicity

Change in sexual functioning may be as a result of the different approaches in seeking health services by race and ethnicity as well as various genetic inheritances that alter the vulnerability to sexual dysfunction (Mc annuity& Burnette, 2006 p.170).

Interventions through healthcare system

Physical health is the best measure of predicting and managing sexual functioning level than the chronological age. A more defined healthy eating should be adopted and positive changes in sexual agency adopted. Medication which is adult-oriented and which is channeled towards addressing sexual functioning should be administered. This procedure is also referred to as pharmaceutical option. Clitoral therapy, penile therapy, sessile focus exercise, orgasm consistency training, communication training, sexual education programs can bring an effect (Mc Anulty& Burnette, 2006 p.168).

About the sources

Reference was made from the book: Sex and Sexuality.

The information contained therein is very relevant and up –to –date. The topic of sex and sexuality if exhaustively addressed with some of the major topics including psychology and human sexuality, sexual disorders and sex customs. I find it useful, relevant, and valid in my clinical studies. It provides an insight into the wide spectrum of the subject study offering very relevant explanations and guide on the same. The global sexual study on attitudes behavior on male and female adults as well as health and aging project are reviewed.

The article on Sexual functioning in older adults was also referred.

I found it useful in that, it reviews on the recent medical and social science information on sexual functioning in older adults. It provides a wide explanation of sexual functioning and collaborated forms of sexual functioning. There is a recent literature on the impact of aging and physical health. It is written at the doctoral level, hence becomes absolutely relevant and valid. The ideas are well expressed and easy to understand. In depth discussion on the topic is well achieved.The information is therefore comprehensive and helpful.

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