The Joys (and Challenges) of Sex After 70

Maggie Jones explores sex among elders. Profiling older couples for whom sex is still important, and featuring some of the best and brightest in the field of senior sexology, she considers the obstacles and joys of sex once you’re past 70.

“There’s a poignant paradox about older people and sex. As our worlds get smaller — work slows down or ends, physical abilities recede, traveling gets more challenging, friendship circles narrow as people die — we tend to have more time and inclination to savor the parts of our lives that are emotionally meaningful, which can include sex. But because bodies change, good sex in old age often needs reimagining, expanding, for example, to include more touching, kissing, erotic massage, oral sex, sex toys.”

Note: The New York Times provides up to four free articles per month to users.