Almost half of over 50s say they’re having the best sex of their lives
It turns out, there’s no need to worry about losing your libido as you get older.
According to research, conducted by OnePoll on behalf of LELO, people over the age of 50 are having the best sex of their lives.
The survey looked at how the sex habits of 2,000 people aged 50 and older changed and discovered there may be a very good reason grandma and grandpa haven't returned your phone call.
While more than three-quarters (77%) had noticed significant changes to their sex life, for many it was for the better with 45% saying they've had the best sex of their lives as they've aged.
Though many respondents admit to having less sex now than in their youth, citing their 30s as the time they were the most sexually active, an impressive one in eight 50 plus-ers still have sex at least five times a week.
Read more: Davina McCall says women in their 50s can still enjoy orgasms
What's more an impressive 35% say they are more intimate than ever before with the same figure stating their sex drive is higher than when they were younger.
So much for losing your sex mojo!
Watch: 10 factors that can cause a low libido.
The senior sex revolution isn't extending to everyone, however, with more than a third of people over 50 (38%) admitting they'd like to be more intimate but don’t have the time, possibly because they’re always working (42%), live with others (39%) or have family come over often (36%).
For those whose kids still live with them, almost three quarters (74%) say they usually wait until their child falls asleep or isn’t around to have sex with their partner.
And nearly half (48%) of those whose kids have flown the nest said their sex life had improved drastically.
Although some don’t have as much time to be intimate as they’d like, more than half (56%) said they do take advantage of their free time by being intimate with their partner.
Read more: Relate and Rankin pair up in new campaign celebrating the joy of later life sex and intimacy
The older generation aren't just sticking to bedroom sex either, while that is the most popular place to get it on with 69% getting intimate there, a more adventurous 48% say they often get raunchy in the living room, while one in four have got it on in the utility room or on the staircase.
Turns out ageing is helping seniors feel more comfortable about trying something new, with two in three admitting to being more experimental in the bedroom and over half (53%) saying they're more comfortable trying new sex positions in the bedroom now than ever before.
The top sex positions older folk have tried over the last year are doggy-style (42%), missionary (38%), and spooning (29%).
More than a third also admitted that they are more comfortable with the idea of having multiple sexual partners now than ever before, but some would rather focus on their relationships.
One respondent said “a night out enjoying each other’s company” helps to spark their intimacy, while others say it’s important to remind one another that they love each other. Aww.
Other respondents keep the spark alive by being spontaneous or trying new things in the bedroom.
“Even though we don’t see many older adults being sexually romantic in the media, it doesn’t mean they don’t enjoy it too,” said Luka Matutinovic, LELO's chief marketing officer.
"The myth around it is related to people’s discomfort with ageing. We believe that pleasure should be celebrated by everyone – regardless of age. Intimacy comes in different forms as we age and it can be just as satisfying.”
Read more: Sex guru pensioner, 73, spent lockdown helping couples improve their love lives
Need further proof that your grandma and grandpa are probably having more sex than you? Just look to science.
A recent survey found that 85% of men aged 60-69 report being sexually active, as do 60% of those aged 70-79 and 32% of those aged 80 and over.
A further study, for the National Social Life, Health and Ageing Project (NSHAP), conducted by a team of researchers at the University of Chicago, found that almost three quarters (74%) of women aged 75 to 85 believed satisfactory sex was essential to maintaining a relationship, while 72% of men felt the same.
Turns out getting in on has multiple health benefits for the older generation too.
A recent study published in the journal Sexual Medicine indicates that sexual activity is associated with improved wellbeing amongst older adults.
Led by Dr Sarah Jackson (UCL Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care) and Dr Lee Smith from ARU, the study involved analysing survey data from 6,879 older adults, with an average age of 65.
It found that older men and women who reported any type of sexual activity in the previous 12 months had a higher life enjoyment score than those who were not sexually active.
Additional reporting SWNS.
