One-Third of Senior Citizens Remain Sexually Active

Three out of 10 senior citizens in Seoul have sex at least once a month, a survey suggests. The poll of 1,000 senior citizens aged 65 or over using welfare centers in Seoul was carried out as part of a cooperation project between the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the University of Seoul in August and September. Some 28.4 percent answered they have sex at least once a month.

Among sexually active senior citizens, 31.3 percent said they have sex once a month, and 40.8 percent said twice a month. Some 76.4 percent had sex with their spouse and 16.2 percent with a boy- or girlfriend. Among them, 53.4 percent replied they are satisfied with their sex life.

Some 21.7 percent of all respondents said they have a boy- or girlfriend at the moment, and 51.3 percent met them at senior welfare centers while 13.1 percent met them through other organizations and meetings. Some 18.2 percent said they used drugs for erectile dysfunction like Viagra or lubricants.

Some 16.2 percent have had sex with prostitutes. Of that group, 56.7 percent did so up to five times in the last two years, and 26 percent six to 10 times.

As for sexually transmitted diseases, 10.3 percent admitted they have been infected with them in their later life, mainly from sex with partners other than their spouse -- prostitution (65.2 percent) and boy- or girlfriend (19.6 percent).

Kang Byoung-ho of the Seoul Metropolitan Government said, "With increased life expectancy, there are many senior citizens who maintain their health in later life, but only 18.3 percent of the respondents have received sex education. Based on the result of the survey, we plan to develop sex education program for senior citizens and expand counseling service and lectures."