sex in america hiv over 50

Don Juan de Marco was the greatest lover of all time, or so the story goes. In Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair, Pablo Neruda voices the feelings of lovebirds everywhere. Is it a coincidence that these legendary romantics were Hispanic? Perhaps not.

Compared with their white non-Hispanic, African American, and Asian counterparts, Hispanics ages 45 and older are the most likely to be married or to have a regular partner. They are also the most sexually active group, according to a recent study conducted for AARP. And most notable: Hispanics are the most satisfied with their sex lives.

While Hispanics have sex more frequently than their counterparts do, in other respects they are similar. The majority of respondents strongly believe that sex is not just for younger people. They also consider sex enjoyable. Yet 73 percent said today’s culture places too much emphasis on sex.

With medical advances that treat erectile dysfunction and complications from menopause, older Americans are seeking treatment for sexual problems more than ever. Curiosity about sex-related matters also is flourishing. During the five years since AARP’s last sexuality study, the number of adults seeking information about sex increased 11 percentage points. About one third of the people surveyed don’t discuss sexual satisfaction with their partners.