Elderly Women's Views About Sexual Desire During Old Age: A Qualitative Study

Due to the embarrassment and discomfort elderly women feel, there is insufficient information about elderly Iranian women's sexual desires. Therefore, 15 elderly married women over 60 years of age were studied. The participants all lived with their husbands and were interested in expressing the sexual desire they felt. Using qualitative content analysis, we identified three categories of sexual desire among the studied participants: a dictated role, acquired management, and glorified spirituality. In all three categories, both religious and traditional dimensions are also observed. In addition to socio-cultural and psychological factors, the evaluation of sexual desire in older women requires considering a full range of spiritual and religious issues.