Older Australians aged 60+ are interested in a wide variety of sexual health topics, with 'sexual anatomy and physiology', 'sex and ageing', and 'sexual difficulties' being the most sought-after categories, and men more likely to seek information while women expressed interest in a wider range of issues.
Key Findings
Results
The most desired sexual health information categories among older Australians were 'sexual anatomy and physiology', 'sex and ageing', and 'sexual difficulties'.
'Sexual anatomy and physiology' was of interest to 83.6% of respondents (1043/1248; 95% CI: 81.4-85.6)
'Sex and ageing' was of interest to 80.2% of respondents (942/1175; 95% CI: 77.8-82.4)
'Sexual difficulties' was of interest to 75.8% of respondents (937/1236; 95% CI: 73.3-78.2)
Data were collected via the SHAPE2 online survey conducted in 2021 among Australians aged 60 and older
Results
The most frequently desired specific sexual health topics were 'ageing and libido (sex drive)', 'ageing and sexual pleasure', and 'ageing and sexual performance'.
'Ageing and libido (sex drive)' was of interest to 65.6% of respondents (771/1175; 95% CI: 62.8-68.3)
'Ageing and sexual pleasure' was of interest to 65.2% of respondents (766/1175; 95% CI: 62.4-67.9)
'Ageing and sexual performance' was of interest to 65.1% of respondents (765/1175; 95% CI: 62.3-67.8)
These three topics were closely clustered in prevalence, suggesting broad interest in the intersection of ageing and sexual function
Results
Men were significantly more likely than women to have sought sexual health information since turning 60 years old.
51.5% of men reported seeking sexual health information compared to 30.6% of women
This difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001)
Men also indicated higher overall levels of interest in sexual health topics
The survey included 1470 respondents with a gender balance between men and women, with a median age of 69 years
Results
Women expressed interest in and had sought information on a wider range of sexual health issues compared to men.
Despite lower rates of actual information-seeking, women's interests spanned more diverse sexual health topics
This suggests a breadth-versus-frequency distinction between women's and men's sexual health information needs
Differences were observed between sexual health issues of interest and those that participants had actually sought information about
Results
There were notable discrepancies between the sexual health topics older adults were interested in and the topics they had actually sought information on.
The survey captured both topics participants wanted more information about and the most recent topic sought since turning 60 years old
These two measures did not fully align, suggesting unmet information needs among older adults
Free-text comments were classified using content analysis to supplement quantitative topic data
Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and chi-squared tests
Methods
The study sample consisted of 1470 respondents aged 60 and older with a median age of 69 years and an approximate gender balance between men and women.
The SHAPE2 survey was conducted online in 2021 in Australia
Participants were Australians aged 60 years or older
Median age of respondents was 69 years
Gender balance was described as being between men and women
Quantitative data were collected as Topics and organised into Categories
What This Means
This research suggests that older Australians — those aged 60 and over — have substantial interest in a wide range of sexual health topics, yet this age group is rarely targeted by sexual health education or promotion programs. A 2021 online survey of 1,470 Australians with a median age of 69 found that the most desired information fell into three broad areas: how sexual anatomy and physiology works, how sex changes with ageing, and how to address sexual difficulties. Specifically, topics like changes in sex drive, sexual pleasure, and sexual performance as one ages were each of interest to about two-thirds of respondents.
The research also found meaningful differences between men and women. Men were much more likely to have actually looked up sexual health information (about 52% of men versus 31% of women), but women were interested in a broader range of topics. This suggests that while men may be more active information-seekers, women may have more diverse but potentially unmet needs. Importantly, there was a gap between what people were interested in learning and what they had actually sought information about, pointing to barriers that may prevent older adults from accessing the sexual health information they want.
This research suggests that sexual health promotion efforts should not treat older adults as a low-priority group. Given that people in their 60s, 70s, and beyond have significant interest in maintaining their sexual wellbeing, health education campaigns and clinical services would benefit from addressing the specific concerns of this age group — including how ageing affects libido, pleasure, and performance — rather than focusing resources primarily on younger populations.
Bourchier L, Bittleston H, Temple-Smith M, Malta S, Hocking J. (2026). What sexual health information do older adults want? Findings from the Australian SHAPE2 survey.. Sexual health. https://doi.org/10.1071/SH25069