Middle-aged people have better sex

A newly released study has indicated that middle-aged people — those between 40 and 59 — lead happy and active sex lives.

But there is a caveat: They are at risk for contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

The study, which was commissioned by the makers of Trojan products, was developed in partnership with the Sex Information and Education Council of Canada.

It required detailed information from 2,400 individuals about their sexual health, happiness, pleasure, sexual behaviours and attitudes.

The findings revealed that over two-thirds of respondents who reported that they were sexually active stated that they were “very happy” or “happy” with the sexual part of their lives. A little over half of single respondents reported the same. Most respondents in the 40 to 59 age group were sexually active in the previous three months, especially those who were married or cohabiting.

Moreover, the research also revealed that as they get older, midlife Canadians are more likely to want to be adventurous. More than half of those surveyed (63 per cent) said they are now more interested in trying new things to enhance pleasure than they were a decade ago.

Of note, lubricant use for intercourse increased with age, with 22 per cent of men and 26 per cent of women aged 55 to 59 using lube at last sexual intercourse. Vibrator use was common, with 40 per cent of women reporting that they used a vibrator the last time they masturbated.

Subsequent to these findings, All Woman decided to ask some middle-aged Jamaicans if the same applies to them. Below they share their experiences.

Charles, 42:

No. I had better sex in my younger days.

Donmar, 48:

Sex nowadays is much better. I sort of rediscovered my youth when I hit age 35. As a young adult I was more cautious of life decisions and busy getting my goals. Now that all of that is done, I just enjoy being loose.

Lydia, 50:

My husband is 45 and he always says the older the berry, the sweeter the wine. It is true. I love sex and haven’t lost my sex drive either. We are also willing to explore new things and often watch porn to learn a thing or two.

Winston, 43:

I enjoy it more now because with highly sexed women the chance of becoming pregnant is slim and so they engage in unprotected sex willingly. The downside is that I don’t know if I’m the only one, so it’s a risk. So far I’m clean, but this is the time to let go of all fears and give it up. No worries about pregnancy, unless you’re lucky, and no worries about what mommy or daddy will think.

Marvia, 51:

Now that I’m older and have more time, my husband and I have sex more often. The children aren’t living with us anymore and our grandchildren come around every other weekend and spend maybe a week out of the holidays with us. Sex isn’t necessarily better, because we don’t have the energy or agility as we did when we were young and fresh, but sex is definitely occurring more often these days.

Christine, 47:

It’s a toss-up. I wouldn’t say better sex, but more adventurous. As young people my husband and I had sex frequently. We got married at 20, and never had kids until I was 31 and he 34, so for those 11 years we really went at it. Now we still do, as our children are teenagers and they are hardly with us. After school one is at football while the other is at swimming, so by the time they get home we would have finished. In order to increase pleasure we read a lot and try out things considered taboo. Better sex was in our younger days, but adventure does it now.

Mauve, 52:

Absolutely better. I do a lot of marriage counselling at my church and when I tell young couples or those courting how adventurous, wild and great my sex life is with my husband, they make up their faces. But sex was created by God for us to enjoy, and that enjoyment has got better with age. No children around, no disturbance, so we have sex. Too many marriages are ending in divorce and it’s because the man is not getting any sex. So I ensure mine gets his so he’ll stay.

Jonathan, 56:

I find it to be relaxing now and it makes me love and appreciate my older self. I also have more confidence in how my body looks.

— Kimberley Hibbert