Satisfaction and Sexual Function in Elderly Women in Recife / Pe

It is common to consider older people synonymous with "asexual" and to believe that they cannot and should not feel the desire to have sexual relations (SIQUEIRA, 2007) (AIZENBERG, 2015). This negative mindset is linked to the model of sexuality established as "normal" and is centered on the cult of the body, youth, and beauty, viewing sex as a source of pleasure restricted to intercourse and for the purpose of procreation (NONATO, 2017). We must remember that old age is not synonymous with physical disability or a lack of social and sexual experiences (VIEIRA et al., 2018). Even with the limitations of age, it is reasonable to assume that older adults can have moments of or engage in intimate sexual relationships. The study aimed to assess the sexual satisfaction and function of older women and associated factors. This is a quantitative, cross-sectional, observational-descriptive study. A total of 110 older women enrolled in language courses at the Open University for the Elderly (UNATI), part of the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), in the city of Recife, were evaluated.