Sexual activity, fertility and contraceptive use in middle-aged and older men: Men in Australia, Telephone Survey (MATeS).
BACKGROUND
With limited information regarding fertility and sexual activity in the older population, men's behaviour, attitudes and concerns were explored in a representative population of middle-aged and older men using the Men in Australia, Telephone Survey (MATeS).


METHODS
A stratified random national sample of 5990 men participated in a standardized computer-assisted telephone interview. Equal numbers in the age strata 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and >or=70 years were surveyed with findings census-standardized to the national population. Broad aspects of men's health and well-being, including reproductive health, were explored.


RESULTS
The majority of men were sexually active in the last 12 months (age-standardized proportion, 78.3%) with approximately 37% of men aged >or=70 years still continuing sexual activity. Overall, 12.2% of men had never fathered children, of whom most (7.7%) had chosen not to have children. Questioning on failed attempts to produce a pregnancy suggested an involuntary infertility rate of 7.6%. The age-standardized vasectomy rate was 25.1%, with 5.6% of vasectomized men having no children. Although 9.2% of vasectomized men regretted sterilization, only 1.4% had undergone vasectomy reversal.


CONCLUSIONS
Continuing sexual activity, fertility and contraception needs in middle-aged and older men suggests that education and service delivery must be more appropriately directed to an ageing population.
Holden
C A
CA
Andrology Australia, Monash Institute of Medical Research, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Auatralia. carol.holden@med.monash.edu.au
McLachlan
R I
RI
Cumming
R
R
Wittert
G
G
Handelsman
D J
DJ
de Kretser
D M
DM
Pitts
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001290:Attitude; D001315:Australia; D001519:Behavior; D017280:Condoms; D003267:Contraception; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D003270:Contraceptive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005298:Fertility; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D014659:Vasectomy
D003270:Contraceptive Agents