Sexuality: advising the older patient.

The need for sexual expression continues until death. Older patients have been erroneously denied these feelings by an uninformed society. As a result, older individuals either cease to function sexually or else continue to remain active with much needless guilt. The informed and caring physician can do much to alleviate this unnecessary suffering. Education of both patients and society is needed. The normal physiologic changes that occur need to be explained, as does the possibility of alternate means of sexual expression. Of course, the moral views of the patient must be considered. If the physician is not comfortable discussing problems related to sexuality, then he must be willing to refer the patient/couple to someone who is.