In the study of Old women described their sexual interest, participation, and satisfaction in various sexual activities:

1)Two-thirds of the women said they were “very interested” in sexual intercourse.

2) Compared to their younger years, only 35 percent of the women said their present sexual interest had decreased.

3)Fifty percent or less said they participated “very often” in sexual intercourse.

4) At least 50 percent reported being very interested, active in, and satisfied with activities such as sitting next to someone and talking, making oneself more attractive, hearing or saying “I love (or like) you,” kissing, hugging, and caressing.

5)Fifty-six percent of the women said their sexual participation had decreased

6) Sexual activities for which one-third of the women or less expressed being, “very interested, active in, and satisfied with” included talking about sexuality, reading or watching erotic materials, daydreaming about sex, masturbation and oral sex.

7)Thirty-eight percent said overall sexual satisfaction had decreased. These facets of sexual behaviors do continue for this group of older women!

Although the results of this study can’t be generalized to the population of older U.S. women because the women had volunteered to participate rather than being randomly selected, the results do describe a view of positive and continuing sexuality of community-based older women.