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Current Sexual Health Reports
Published in: Current Sexual Health Reports 4/2019

01-12-2019 | Human Immunodeficiency Virus | Female Sexual Dysfunction and Disorders (T Lorenz and R Nappi, Section Editors)

Sexuality and Intimacy Among Older Women Living with HIV: a Systematic Review

Authors: Amelia M. Stanton, Georgia Goodman, Sara E. Looby, Gregory K. Robbins, Christina Psaros

Published in: Current Sexual Health Reports | Issue 4/2019

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Sexual well-being and intimacy are critical to overall quality of life and retain a high degree of significance for aging individuals, even though these considerations are often overlooked in older populations. Sexual health may be particularly impacted in older individuals living with HIV, especially women, as a result of both physical and psychosocial disease-specific factors. Despite this, sexuality research related to HIV has traditionally focused on risk reduction, rather than on other elements of sexual wellness. In this review, we examine several aspects of sexual well-being that may be important to older women living with HIV (OWLH).

Recent Findings

This review summarizes existing literature on sexuality in OWLH over the age of 50 and explores five themes related to sexual health: physical and emotional intimacy, desire/interest, satisfaction/pleasure, frequency of sexual activity, and abstinence. Reduced intimacy among OWLH was reported across most studies, due to stigma and disclosure concerns, lack of opportunity for relationships, and difficulty communicating sexual preferences. Data on sexual desire/interest and satisfaction/pleasure among OWLH were mixed. Frequency of sexual activity varied widely across studies, and abstinence emerged as both an intentional and inadvertent decision for OWLH. Factors related to menopause as it relates to sexuality and HIV are also discussed.

Summary

Sexual health and well-being are important to women living with HIV over 50, though key components such as intimacy, desire, and pleasure remain poorly understood. As this population continues to grow, comprehensive and age-specific interventions are needed to examine positive aspects of sexuality and promote sexual wellness among OWLH.
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Metadata
Title
Sexuality and Intimacy Among Older Women Living with HIV: a Systematic Review
Authors
Amelia M. Stanton
Georgia Goodman
Sara E. Looby
Gregory K. Robbins
Christina Psaros
Publication date
01-12-2019
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Current Sexual Health Reports / Issue 4/2019
Print ISSN: 1548-3584
Electronic ISSN: 1548-3592
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-019-00227-6

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