Facilitators and barriers affecting sexual desire in elderly Iranian women: a qualitative study

Elderly people are very common perceived as asexual but some studies have reported some variations. However, very little research has been done to determine the facilitators and barriers that affect sexuality, especially in relation to elderly women. This study was undertaken to explore perceptions of sexuality among a selection of married older women in Iran in terms of facilitators and barriers. Accordingly, a study was done on 27 married women, older than 60 years. Qualitative content analysis was used to identify four distinct subthemes that served as facilitators of sexual desire. These were determined as life satisfaction, favourable outcome, spouse's characteristics, and a sense of duty. Four other subthemes were determined as barriers to sexual desire; namely physical weakness, evolving emotions, a sense of taboo, and a sense of insecurity. All these variables appeared rooted in religious teachings, social stereotypes, or cultural traditions that constituted women's perceptions of themselves as elderly married women. Further study is recommended on elderly people that includes participants of both sexes and with different marital statuse