title: Sexual disorders among elderly: An epidemiological study in south Indian rural population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Realizing a dearth of data on this topic, especially in the Indian context, an epidemiological study was conducted in a south Indian rural population to identify the sexual activity patterns and sexual problems among the population above 60 years of age.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  (1) Assessment of sexual activity patterns among individuals above 60 years. (2) Assessment of the prevalence of sexual disorders among individuals above 60 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study sample consisted of 259 participants, which included both males and females above 60 years of age. Subjects who were sexually active and fulfilled the study criteria were administered Arizona Sexual Experience Scale as a screening tool, for the presence of sexual problems. Those who were found to have sexual problems were interviewed further using appropriate questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 27.4% of the individuals above 60 years were sexually active, and it progressively dropped as age advanced and none were sexually active after 75 years of age. Among the sexually active males, erectile dysfunction (ED) was prevalent in 43.5%, premature ejaculation in 10.9%, hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSSD) in 0.77% and anorgasmia in 0.38% of the subjects. Among females, arousal disorder was prevalent in 28%, HSSD in 16%, anorgasmia in 20% and dyspareunia in 8% of the subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study gives us an insight into the sexual problems of the elderly and brings home the point that sexual problems are very much common among both men and women in the older population. Among elderly males, ED is the most common sexual disorder whereas in elderly females, arousal disorder is the most prevalent female sexual dysfunction, implicating biology plays an important role in men, whereas psychology plays an important role in women sexual functioning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, JSS Medical College and Hospital, JSS University, Mysore, India.
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Sathyanarayana Rao
authors.affiliation: Consultant Psychiatrist Argyll House, Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Trust, # 9 Williamson Road, Sheffield, UK.
authors.forename: Shajahan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ismail
authors.affiliation: Founding Director & Consultant Neuropsychiatrist, Prerana Hospital for Neurocare, Psychiatry and Deaddiction, Mysore, India.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Darshan
authors.affiliation: Director and Consulatant (Neuro) Psychiatrist, Dr. AK Tandon Neuropsychiatric Centre, Allahabad, India.
authors.forename: Abhinav
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tandon
keywords: Epidemiological study; chronic medical disorders and sexual function; elderly sexuality; geriatric sexuality; prevalence of sexual disorders in India; prevalence study; sexual disorders