Diabetes impairs but does not halt sex among older adults with the disease

WASHINGTON - While diabetes does impair the urge to have sex in older adults, it has no role to play in bringing their sex life to a halt, according to a survey, which found that many middle-aged and older adults with diabetes are sexually active.

The study of nearly 2,000 people aged 57 to 85 found that almost 70 percent of partnered men with diabetes and 62 percent of partnered women with diabetes engaged in sexual activity two or three times a month, comparable to those without diabetes, the study showed.

However, the disease took a toll on both the desire and the rewards of sexual activity.

Men diagnosed with diabetes were more likely to express a lack of interest in sex and to experience erectile dysfunction.

Both men and women reported a higher rate of orgasm difficulties, such as climaxing too quickly (men) or not at all (men and women).

“Patients and doctors need to know that most middle age and older adults with partners are still sexually active despite their diabetes,” said the study’s lead author Dr. Stacy Lindau, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology and of medicine at the University of Chicago.

“However, many people with diabetes have sexual problems that are not being addressed.

“Nearly half of the women in this age group do not have a partner. Women with diabetes are far less likely than women without diabetes to have a partner. Those who have partners were more likely than men to avoid sex because of a problem, and were far less likely than men to discuss a sexual problem with their doctors,” she added.

Only 19 percent of women with diagnosed diabetes, as compared to 47 percent of men, had discussed sexual problems with a physician.

Men were much more likely to initiate such a discussion than women.

The survey, performed between July 2005 and March 2006, was part of the National Social Life, Health and Aging Project.

It involved an in-home interview, self-administered questionnaire, medication audit and a blood test to assess diabetes status for 1,993 participants.

Until now, very little has been known about sexuality among people with undiagnosed diabetes, who are typically earlier in the course of their disease and lack knowledge of their diagnosis.

“Ignorance of the diagnosis protects individuals from the psychological burden and stigma associated with having diabetes. The elevated prevalence of orgasm difficulties in people unaware of their diabetes suggests that these are predominantly physical. The erectile dysfunction and loss of interest among men with a diagnosis may be due in part to the psychological burden of diabetes,” said Lindau.

The aspect of sexuality most affected by diabetes may have been the reduction of sexual drive.

The study found that a little more than 60 percent of men without diabetes had masturbated in the prior 12 months, but for those with diagnosed or undiagnosed diabetes, the rate fell to about 47 percent.

The study was presented in the September 2010 issue of the journal Diabetes Care. (ANI)