Most of us, when we were little, found it hard to believe that our parents ever made love. Now, as we move past our own middle years, we still can't believe it. The notion of asexuality in older people stubbornly persists, in part, because so little is known about erotic activity late in life.

Human sexuality is generally a sparsely researched field, and the sexuality of older adults receives the least attention of all. But evidence is mounting that many older people enjoy rich, satisfying sexual lives. Sex in America, a study undertaken by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, reveals that adults over 50 report only a slightly lower rate of sexual encounters (4-5 per month) than their younger counterparts (6-7).

At Duke University, ongoing research into sexual activity among older Americans finds that 80 percent of men in their late 60s continue to be interested in sex. At 78 or older, one in four men continues to be sexually active. Women, too, retain their sexual abilities and interests throughout life. In a large national study of older adults, 80 percent of women reported that sex feels as good as, or better than, when they were younger. In fact, decreased sexual activity in older women is more likely to be the result of circumstances—the lack of a partner, for example—than because of a lack of interest.