Sexuality in aging: Utopia or new perspective?

Author: 
Sexuality in aging: Utopia or new perspective?

Objective: The purpose of this article was to analyze the biopsychosocial and cultural implications of the sexuality of the elder, in an attempt to demystify the association of the elder with loss, limitations, inability to procreate and sexual inactivity. In this context, it tries to deal with the breakdown of paradigms and prejudices associated to the theme. Methodology: This was a bibliometric review based on a search conducted in the Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature database (LILACS), in May 2017, with the following descriptors: aging, sexuality, elder. The following filters were used: full text, elder as the main theme, Portuguese language, fully available, Brazil, published from 2007 to 2016. Results: 44 articles were found, of which nine were discarded after the exclusion criteria. The year 2011 had more publications; the most found article modality was the original one; the most frequent participant group was the elder; and the magazine Kairós Gerontologia was the journal with the highest number of publications on the subject in this period. Conclusions: Sexuality was seen as a pathological process, being insufficient the approach with respect to the sociocultural aspects. We hope this study may contribute to the promotion of reflections and changes in attitudes about sexuality in senescence.

Paper No: 
1682