Physical fitness, aging, and sexuality

Sexuality is a major quality-of-life issue, even into advanced age. Althoug h relatively few studies have addressed sexuality, most studies have emphas ized the decline in both sexual performance and satisfaction with aging. In an effort to assess possible positive modifiers of the decline, we include d questions concerning sexuality in a multipurpose 90-item questionnaire su bmitted to members of the Fifty Plus Fitness Association based in Stanford, California. This group is unique in its commitment to a very active lifest yle and has served as a cohort for many prior studies related to fitness an d medical outcomes. Sixty-seven percent of the membership returned the mail questionnaire, and 59% of these respondents replied to the sexually releva nt items. The results indicated a high level of sexual activity and satisfa ction in both older men and women of the Fifty Plus Fitness Association mem bers. Further, sexual satisfaction seemed to correlate with the degree of f itness. We conclude that physical fitness and high levels of sexual activit y are mutually supportive elements of successful aging.