Good Health Extends Sex Life

The little blue pill isn't the only thing that can extend an older man's sex life.

University of Chicago researchers say good health is an important factor and suggest the correlation between healthy lifestyle and more years of good sex should be used by doctors as a motivator for both men and women.

"Expectations about the duration of sexually active life may influence important health behaviors," researchers write in study published in British Medical Journal. "For example, patients may be motivated to stop smoking or to adhere to drug regimens if the behavior changes are expected to prolong or preserve a sexually active or sexually satisfying life."

Since 2000, the topic of sex in older adults has been predominantly focused on erectile dysfunction drugs such as Pfizer Inc.'s Viagra, researchers say. And while the pills have raised awareness for men, better understanding of good health and sex can shape public health policy and aid those consultations between doctors and patients.

The study found in a group of 3,000 adults (ages 57 to 85) that those in very good to excellent health were far more likely to be sexually active than those in fair to poor health. (Almost five times more for healthy men and almost three times for women.)

At 55, the healthiest men gained five to seven years of sexually active life compared with those less healthy men. Healthy women gained three to five years of sex life.

There's another important connection: Past studies have linked sexual activity with longer life, the researchers note.