About this Research Topic

Background

Sexuality is the manner in which we undergo and exhibit sexuality. It includes emotions, wants, behaviors, and identities, as well as a variety of forms of physical contact or stimulation. Intimacy is a sense of togetherness and connection in a relationship, which may or may not include physical contact.

Aging creates possibilities for older individuals to reinterpret what sexuality and intimacy entail for them as a result of life changes. Certain older individuals want both a sexual and an intimate partnership, while others are fine with either, and some may opt to reject both sorts of partnership.

Normal aging also causes physiological changes that might interfere with the capacity for and enjoyment of sexual activity. Our bodies, such as our size, skin, and muscular condition, shift as we age. Certain older individuals are unhappy with their deteriorating bodies. They may be concerned that their lover no longer finds them appealing. Intimacy and a satisfying sex life may be hindered by physical issues brought on by health disorders as well as by stress and anxiety. Men and women have different sexual problems. Erectile Dysfunction, or ED, occurs when a man has difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection. In certain cases, ED is caused by prostate cancer therapies, such as prostatectomy (a procedure in which the prostate is surgically removed in its entirety or in part). The condition is also caused by other health issues, such as excessive blood sugar, heart disease, or pelvic trauma.

Notwithstanding the transformations brought on by natural aging, sexuality remains a vital aspect of our lifestyles as we age. Sexual health and function are essential elements of healthy aging. Sexual activity is connected with superior psychological health, self-esteem, marriage quality, as well as personal well-being, whereas its absence is linked to a worse standard of living.

Considering the significance of sexual function and sexual well-being in evaluating healthy aging, as well as the inadequate knowledge of urological health among elderly people, this research topic highlights some of the key urological health aspects relevant to the journeys and mental or medical consequences of healthy aging, psychological wellbeing, and sexuality.

Among the broad questions of interest are the following:

- The experiences of older adults who identify as having a urological disorder or a mental disorder

- Sexual health and sexual function/dysfunction in older adults

- Correlation between psychological disorder and urological health among older adults

- Culture/sociological discussion between psychological distress and healthy aging among older adults

- Addressing sexual function and sexual well-being and healthy aging

- Case studies of effective practice

- Specific sexual orientation issues among older adults with urological disorders

- Incorporating a patient care address for older adults with urological illnesses into the community

We are thus seeking innovative research papers, review articles, hypothesis and theory pieces, viewpoint articles, short research report articles, commentary articles, opinion articles, and book reviews. We expect that by combining the ideas of scholars from diverse disciplines or contexts, we will be able to explore the relationship between the significance of sexual function and sexual well-being in defining healthy aging and bridge the knowledge gap in urological health among older adults.

Keywords: Urological health, Mental health, Healthy aging, Sexual function, Health care policy

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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