A question for people over 40...

My Human Sexuality teacher has given us a mini homework assignment to be completed for next week, and I am in need of opinions of people 20+ years older than me. I'm 24, so that means technically the cut off must be 44, but if I cannot find anyone of that age range and over I'm going to fudge and say I did. lol But really, I think 40+ is a good, round figure to work with. So! Here are the questions I need answered, if you feel up to indulging me.

How old is too old for people to have sex? At what age (if any) should sex stop?

The questions arose from a documentary we watched in class about older women (over 65) and their sex lives, considering that most people over 65 in the US are women. My own answers to the questions mimic those of my boyfriend (we also have to ask people younger than us the same questions for the assignment) in that there is no real age in which people should stop having sex. It's really up to the individual..if you still feel like having sex at 87 (like one lady on the documentary) then by god, go for it.

Nate's specific comment, which I am using in class next week, was "Whenever their junk stops working, that's when they stop having sex". So, thanks to viagra, I'd say that puts the age at death, huh? lol

I appreciate any input you guys give me! Especially if there is anyone on here 50+. If you are kind enough to reply, please respond with your age, geographic location (only as specific as you want to be. Anywhere from country, to state, to city), gender (I know it's obvious, but I'm trying to compile data) and marital status.

Also, input from people younger is completely fine as well, though I don't know if I can use the information in class or not unless you are below the age of 24. I personally would like a well rounded set of data from all ages, just to see what the common consensus may be, but if I get that information it will end up mostly useful to sate personal interest.

Thanks in advance!

 

Don´t know, if it´s helpful, I am not from US

 

While the actual topic of your tutor's assignment to you is a perfectly valid area for study, I find the tone of her questioning both a tad distasteful and suspicious. Why the insistence that most respondents be 20 yrs older?

Don't get me wrong, I agree with her underlying point - that sex at any age is fine - I just don't like the underhanded method of delivery, the slick deviousness which she is converting the opinions young people. In my day, we were simply told that old people can have sex at ANY age, that it didn't matter that we emitted cries of "Urrrrrgh!", we were told to grow the **** up, that the object of our disgust was going to continue regardless of what a few pimply teens thought, and we simply needed to accept it. We accepted that our teachers had no agenda (although in fact, a few DID) and that they were conveying ONLY facts. I'd rather she just came out and said, "You kids exist in a groupthink apartheid, you haven't got a clue what your elders think. Go ask 5 people double your age, 2 triple it, and find out".

Anyway, rant over...in many ways I'm a man more of my father's generation than my own. In others a member of the yours. (technically I AM, just about!!)

There is no fixed age at which sex should stop. However, if your libido no longer arouses you AND a physician advises you to refrain, then you stop, at least temporarily.

41/Britain/London/male/single

 

Never!

42/female/Canada/UAE

 

I am 44.

I think our sexuality is an ingrained part of our beings. People never loose it, although some loose interest. I dont believe there is an age limit.

I worked in nursing home and I can tell you the most sexually active were the women. It wasnt because they made up most of the group, it was just they seemed to be the ones still interested. No idea why.

 

45/female/usa/single

lippy hopes that she never loses the desire for sex...the biggest concern growing older is if i will have a partner with that same desire for sex...fingers crossed that we desire/satisfy each other so much that that it never becomes past tense

 

Her reasoning behind asking us to discuss the questions with people at least 20 years older was mostly just to make sure we got a perspective from people in ages closer to the subject. She actually added at the end of class, "Try for 40 years older, if you can!".

I think, really, she just wanted to prove to us that it isn't gross or whatever for older people to engage in sexual activities. It seems that a lot of her classes over the years have been far more close minded about sex than the ones she's getting now, so I think it's probably an assignment she's just used to giving out. The professor has a pretty rigid structure to her classes, which leads me to believe that she's likely been going through the same set of assignments for at least 10 years.

She herself is in her mid 40s, if that helps at all.

Overall I really do like the professor, though. If you had her classes you may feel differently about the assignment...I don't know, but I think her personality is one that really must be experienced, rather than read about.

Prior to giving the assignment and watching the documentary, we had two guest speakers in class that day. One a mid-40s professional dominatrix, who has been working as one for 20 years, and a pre-op transgendered lady in her early 70s. I only use the term pre-op to reflect that she hadn't had sexual reassignment surgery, but she also doesn't plan on it due to her age, either.

The class, titled simply "Human Sexuality" is quite fun, though the professor treats it as a sociological study (which, in part, is what makes it so fun to me, honestly). It's not been as eye-opening as I think she intends it to be, though. But, I believe she's just used to kids coming from close-minded Texas families so she expects a bit less openess from us than I'm noticing from most people in my age range at my college.

I could also be weird compared to my fellow students, as well. I'm not sure how many of them really feel differently than I do about the subject. I think sex is great as long as it's consensual and safe. Doesn't matter the ages, or what fetishes, or whatever, that the people involved have. It's just fun! haha

Look, you rambled, so I did too. tsk tsk. Bad influence. lol

Thanks for your response, though! It's very appreciated. I'm going to select quotes from the responses to write down and take to class next week as part of my mini presentation on my findings.

 

No, it's helpful regardless of geographical location! I think answers from around the world make the data more well rounded, even though the sample size is obviously still small. Thanks a lot!

 

haha, exactly!

I'mma be doin' it til I die. I told Nate that if I was told I was going to die tomorrow we'd be spending the next 24 hours naked.

 

That's because you should've been spiking the men's water with viagra!

It's an interesting question, though. It wasn't specifically addressed in the documentary, though I believe it could be considered implied due to the focus on older women as the subject of the movie.

Maybe we're just awesome like that.

 

Just go for a younger guy. There was a lady on the documentary who was in her mid 60's, and her boyfriend was in his mid 20's. They were so cute together! She was absolutely glowing radiantly every time she looked at him, and he reciprocated.

I love seeing people in love. It just makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside, regardless of any perceived strange differences about them.

 

At 59 I still have desire for my wife and other women still turn my eye. I will say that the eye turning quality has changed. It is not so much the bod or boobs as it is the woman who has a little fire in the eye. I think the key to maintaining a healthy sex drive is to keep fit, that doesn't mean being thin; it means maintaining some level of physical enjoyment throughout your life. Take your pick -- Dancing, hiking, biking, and yes most especially "doin the down and dirty" with someone or anyone that likes it to.

 

You are not too old to love. Back in the day women who are 40 were considered spinsters or old maids,not anymore. Experience and maturity rules.

 

Again, thanks to everyone who responded! I've enjoyed reading the opinions.

I'm a bit pissed, though, because the teacher appeared to have forgotten all about the assignment, because she was "so disappointed" in our final papers. So it appears I've wasted my, and all of your, time. My apologies.

Also pissed because she gave us a link to a site to show us how to write in APA format, which I followed closely, and yet she marked my paper as "wrong format", along with the rest of the entire class.

When one student fucks up, I blame the student. But when a class of 30+ people -all- get it wrong...I start to question the teacher.

So now I'm confused as to how to write in APA format, and will have to try to redo my paper (she wants us all to write our papers again and turn them in after the final test next week. urg.)

 

There's plenty of horny men in their 50s.

 

Awesome post OM!!!!!!

 

I agree.

 

Since Christine`s full quote was left out I need to say that there is no age limit to stop sex. It should only cease because of poor health.

I`m 59

 

It appears to me as if we have a communication problem.. I say exactly the same as you do, but still I have the feeling you kick me..

 

I was not making a comment on your nationality. I was agreeing with your comment on the post. Sorry for the misunderstanding.