Sexual behavior of older women: results of a random-digit-dialing survey of 2,000 women in the United States.
BACKGROUND
There are few reports describing sexual activity among women older than 50 years of age.


OBJECTIVE
The goal of the study was to describe sexual practices and health behaviors of women aged 18-94 years, highlighting characteristics of older women (aged 60-94 years).


METHODS
The study involved a random-digit-dialing survey (N = 2,000) of women aged 18-94 years living in the continental United States.


RESULTS
Frequency and occurrence of sexual activity decreased with age. Married women in every age group were more likely to have engaged in recent sexual activity. Condom use decreased with age and lubricant use increased with age. Over one-third of all women reported douching in a typical month, and there was no trend with age.


CONCLUSIONS
Women in older age groups vary greatly in terms of sexual practices and health behaviors.
Patel
Divya
D
Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2029, USA.
Gillespie
Brenda
B
Foxman
Betsy
B
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011897:Random Allocation; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology