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Sexual desire, erectile dysfunction and the biomedicalization of sex in older heterosexual men
Author(s) -
Gledhill Susan,
Schweitzer Robert D.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of advanced nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.948
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1365-2648
pISSN - 0309-2402
DOI - 10.1111/jan.12256
Subject(s) - erectile dysfunction , context (archaeology) , sexual desire , reproductive health , psychology , older people , human sexuality , sexual dysfunction , gerontology , medicine , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , gender studies , psychiatry , population , sociology , paleontology , environmental health , biology
Aim To examine sexual desire in older age and the use of pharmaceuticals for sexual enhancement in the context of erectile dysfunction. Background The ability of the older person to fulfil sexual desire has not been well supported in Western society. Design The paper draws on themes that emerged during a phenomenological study of sexual desire in older age. Method Narratives were collected between 2008–2010 from in‐depth interviews with six men and two women aged 65–84 years who were part of a larger Australian study of sexual desire in older age. Findings Emergent themes reveal that for some older people, the biomedicalization of sex can be a disappointing experience. Conclusion The findings illuminate the need for nurses who are at the front line of health care, health policy makers and educators, to consider sexual desire experienced in older age in the context of sexual health and healthy ageing . This study will contribute to a growing body of knowledge about sexual desire in older age.