[attach id=237287 size="medium"]A quarter of over-65s claimed that their love life has not changed despite their age.[/attach]

People from the UK are enjoying a thriving sex life well into their 60s, a survey has shown.

Age UK said that despite problems with getting older it did not mean an end to a sex life. The charity carried out a survey of over-65s and found that a quarter (24 per cent) said their sexual life­style has not changed despite their age.

But more than a quarter (28 per cent) feel they cannot talk to their partner about sex and over two-thirds (69 per cent) have never sought sexual health advice.

And almost one in 10 (eight per cent) of over-65s are keen to embark on a new sexual relationship.

The survey highlighted the extent to which sex remains an important part of people’s lives, with almost two-thirds (62 per cent) of over-65s in the survey saying that they are currently enjoying a fulfilling sex life.

What is more, a wish to keep the spark alive came through in the findings, as one in eight (12 per cent) said they would like to try new things with their partner.

Just under one in five (18 per cent) want to be more sexually active – rising to over a quarter (27 per cent) among men.

Lucy Harmer, from Age UK, said: “Our survey shows that having a healthy sex life is important to us regardless of our age.

Just under one in five (18 per cent) want to be more sexually active – rising to over a quarter (27 per cent) among men

“However, we also found that many older people may find it hard to speak up about sex, be it to their partner, friends or healthcare professionals. Age UK is keen to increase awareness of the importance of seeking out information and advice on sex – whatever your age.

“Some people’s knowledge will be based on guidance received when they were first sexually active a number of years ago – and it’s vital that those in later life have access to relevant, up-to-date information.”

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.