Ireland’s middle-agers enjoy healthy sex lives

LIFE may well indeed begin at 40 after a new survey revealed that middle-aged men and women in Ireland still have regular sex.

The report on the sexual habits of those aged 40-80 shows that a significant number of elderly people continue to enjoy a healthy sex life.

Three-out-of-four Irish women aged 50-59 have had sex within the past 12 months, while 70% of Irish men in the same age group have also engaged in sexual activity.

Although the numbers having regular sex decrease among those over 60, it is believed this is a reflection of the decreasing ability of men to have sex as they get older. Only half of all men in their 60s had sex in the past year.

The results are contained in a new survey commissioned by the pharmaceutical company Pfizer Ireland, which makes the high-profile impotence drug Viagra, as part of an international study into global sexual attitudes and behaviour.

Almost 65% of Irish people rated sex as very important in order to be able to express love and affection for their partner.

“The fact that an overwhelming majority of Irish people recognise sex as an important part of their overall health highlights the enormous impact which erection problems may have on a man,” said Prof John Fitzpatrick, consultant urologist at Dublin’s Mater Hospital.

He claimed sexual health was as important as diet and exercise in accounting for a person’s overall wellbeing.

Prof Fitzpatrick said older Irish men should not be discouraged from sexual activity because of erectile dysfunctional problems as there were now a variety of treatments available for the condition.