Survey shows boomers may be driving lubricant sales

WALTHAM, Mass. The aging of the baby boomers may be contributing to the uptick in personal lubricant sales more than has been previously thought, according to a new survey published in this month’s edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Sales of personal lubricants have jumped 4.9 percent, to $117.5 million, across food, drug and mass channels (minus Wal-Mart), for the 52 weeks ending Aug. 12 according to Information Resources, Inc.

A two-hour, face-to-face survey conducted with 3,005 adults between the ages of 57 and 85 found that while the prevalence of sexual activity did decline with age—73 percent among respondents who were 57 to 64 years of age, 53 percent among respondents who were 65 to 74 years of age, and 26 percent among respondents who were 75 to 85 years of age—the majority of baby boomers were still active and a significant number of their parents were too.

Among respondents who were sexually active, about half of both men and women reported at least one bothersome sexual problem. The most prevalent sexual problem reported among women was low desire (43 percent) and difficulty with vaginal lubrication (39 percent). Erectile dysfunction topped the list of sexual problems for men (37 percent).

Men and women who rated their health as being poor were less likely to be sexually active and, among respondents who were sexually active, were more likely to report sexual problems. A total of 38 percent of men and 22 percent of women reported having discussed sex with a physician since the age of 50 years.