Sexuality remains an important part of life in middle and later age, and for many people it is an important source of mental well-being and relationship satisfaction. Although many people over 50 maintain an interest in sex, this stage of life is often accompanied by a number of changes, from health and hormonal changes to increased workloads and different caregiving roles. All of these changes can negatively affect sexual desire, experience, and sexual functioning itself. Although sexual health and well-being are considered essential throughout virtually the entire life cycle, middle-aged people rarely seek professional help in the area of sexuality, and their experiences are often overlooked in research. A recent study by Gabriela Gore-Gorszewska and Anna Ševčíková addresses this gap.
In their study, the authors focused on how people over 50 perceive changes in their sex lives, how they cope with challenges in sexual health and well-being, and whether they consider these difficulties to be something for which they need to seek help. The authors conducted in-depth interviews with forty women and men aged 50 to 64 from Poland. They were open, personal interviews in which participants could talk about what they themselves considered important—relationships, changes in life, or intimate experiences. The researchers then carefully analyzed these statements and looked for common themes in order to understand how people perceive changes in sexual health and well-being during this period of their lives and how they try to cope with them.
"We're not old yet—and even if we were, we could handle it ourselves."
The study's findings suggest that most people aged 50–64 do not concern themselves with their sexual health at all—not because they have significant problems, but simply because they "don’t occur to them." Participants often emphasized that they do not feel old and that they associate sexual problems with "really old people," typically seniors over the age of 60. A strong "us versus them" theme recurred in their narratives: while they (older people) have to deal with sex problems, we are still too young for that. Although some noticed minor changes, such as weaker erections, lower sex drive, or vaginal dryness, they did not consider them a problem as long as their sex life remained satisfactory. Satisfaction, closeness with a partner, and the ability to adapt to changes proved to be more important than the presence of physical changes themselves.
The second significant finding is that people only begin to address sexual difficulties when they start to cause stress or threaten their relationship. Many described how they deal with minor problems in their own way—through open communication with their partner, a slower pace during sex, greater variety in intimacy, or the use of lubricants for vaginal dryness. Seeking professional help was often left as a last resort. Some also expressed uncertainty about healthcare professionals: they felt that doctors focused mainly on the body and "technical" functioning, but less on emotions, relationships, and overall well-being.
Understanding rather than a pill
In conclusion, the study shows that sexuality after the age of 50 does not have to be a problem that automatically requires "treatment," but rather an area where communication and understanding play a key role. Many people of this age cope with changes in sexual functioning on their own—through open dialogue with their partner, greater flexibility, and finding alternative ways to intimacy. This has an important message for practice: healthcare professionals should create a safe space for sensitive conversations about sexuality without automatically resorting to pharmacological solutions or framing sexuality as a "problem of old age." If sexuality is discussed preventively and respectfully at this stage of life, it can help people feel more competent and prepared to cope with any difficulties in the future—without unnecessary shame, pressure, or viewing natural changes as problematic.
Recommended citation:
Gore-Gorszewska, G., Ševčíková, A., & Hinchliff, S. (2025). “We are too young to worry”: late-midlife adults’ voices on sexual changes, distress, and help-seeking behaviors. Qualitative Health Research, 10497323251386250. https://doi.org/10.1177/10497323251386250
