Medication Use and Sexual Activity in Older Adults

Abstract

Older people are exposed to many risk factors potentially affecting sexual activity, sexual life and thus their quality of life. Pharmacology and medicaments can have a dual effect on sexual activity of both the male and female. In fact, many active ingredients commonly used for other diseases such as antidepressants and antihypertensives may negatively affect different aspects of sexual health including libido, erectile dysfunction and vaginal dryness. In contrast, effective drugs are used to enhance and improve sexual activity especially in older people in order to allow a better quality of life. Regardless of the availability of safe and effective drugs, the first-line treatment of sexual dysfunction should remove the causing conditions such as treating obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2DM) or metabolic syndrome and the promotion of healthy lifestyle and diet.