I Asked Women Over 60 What They're Googling About Sex. Here’s What I Found

Welcome to Ethels Tell All, where the writers behind The Ethel newsletter share their personal stories related to the joys and challenges of aging. Come back each Wednesday for the latest piece, exclusively on AARP Members Edition.

If there’s one takeaway from devoutly watching The Golden Bachelor and The Golden Bachelorette, it’s this: Men and women of a certain age still want to get it on. And they like it!

After all, in your sexual heyday, you likely didn’t want to entertain the notion of older couples having sex . . . let alone imagine the 60-plus version of yourself doing it. But now? Yes, please. At this age, there’s deeper intimacy without the worry of pregnancy or pesky menopausal hot flashes. Bonus: There also are fewer distractions between kids and work, so more opportunities to hit the sheets. Not having a regular partner can still be a gateway to fun, too. As the late, great sex expert Dr. Ruth reminded all in 2021, “I want them to masturbate.  ...  And be careful not to have the Zoom on!”

Even Cosmopolitan devoted a 2024 special digital issue to the joys of sex after 60, complete with articles like “Here Are 10 Sex Toys to Fit Your Every Need” to “True Tales of (Truly Hot) Sexcapades.” According to results from a Kinsey Institute survey executed in partnership with the publication, 21 percent of the 3,001 60-and-up respondents reported having partnered sex in the last year.

Per U.S. Census Bureau data, there are roughly 44 million women 60 years and older in the U.S. Since 21 percent amounts to about 9 million 60-plus women, it appears that more than the population of New York City has knocked boots at least once in the past 365 days. And, according to AARP's “Ageless Desire: Relationships and Sex in Middle Age and Beyond” survey from 2023, 30 percent of people 40+ told AARP researchers that they have sex weekly, 27 percent said monthly or less, and 40 percent reported having no sex in the last six months. But getting hot and heavy also leads to a whole new slew of questions, issues and worries. Indeed, no matter what you see unfold on TV, senior sex isn’t always a bed of roses.

Enter Google, the handy 24/7 resource that didn’t exist back when you endured your first round of sex-ed agita. With its alluring clean white home page, the search engine delivers quick, easy and non-judgmental answers in a blink. And though the top results are now mostly A.I.-generated, you can still find plenty of reputable sources using verified research as backup. It’s also reassuring to know that Google is there for you in the middle of the night when your wheels are spinning and your body isn't cooperating when you need it to the most. (Just keep in mind that it’s never a substitute for consulting a personal doctor.)

So let’s clear both your search cache and your conscience. After doing my own research on popular keywords on Google and surveying friends (and friends of friends) 60 and older, I present 50 non-scientific examples of what people are searching for most. We're pretty certain you've Googled a few of these phrases yourself.

1. “Can sex still be good in your 60s?”

2. “What is a vaginal estrogen ring?”

3. “Did menopause make my sex drive go away?”

4. “Best home remedies for low libido” 

5. “What age does a man stop getting an erection?”

6. “Does the vagina close up if you stop having sex?”

7. “How often do married couples over 60 make love?”

8. “Best vibrators for seniors”

9. “Does vaginal estrogen help?”

10. “Tips for quicker orgasms”

11. “Yeast infections in my 60s”

12. “How old is Demi Moore?”  

13. “Can I get a heart attack from sex?”