One in ten people over 60 are interested in embarking on a new sexual relationship, says study

BDSM was found to be the kink of choice among the age group, with most over 60s admitting to thinking about sex on a regular basis.

It's long been thought that a healthy sex life can increase lifespan and improve physical and mental health – so why is sex so little talked about when it comes to older adults? Why is the best vibrator not a hot topic, or how to spice things up as we get older?

A new study is aiming to redress the lack of discussion around the topic by delving into the sex habits of the over 60s. And naturally, the results are fascinating.

Conducted by online marketplace OnBuy, the study spoke to2,381 over 60s – finding that 11per cent of adults are interested in striking up a new sexual relationship in later life. What's more is that around a quarter (23 per cent) admitted that they were eager to try new things in the bedroom with their current partner.

MORE:A vagina timeline of changes down there, from your 30s to your 60s and beyond

Conversely, though, just six per cent of the age group saw an increase in their sex drive, and almost half said they have had no sexual activity in the past year.

How often do people over 60 think about sex?

From speaking to over 2,000 people, the survey found that three in five (63 per cent) of those over 60 think about sex on a weekly basis.

69 per cent of men and 73 per cent of women admitted to thinking about sex between one and two times per day. Meanwhile, 21 per cent of men over 60 admitted to thinking about sex between three and five times per day, followed by 17 per cent of women.

A small margin (2 per cent) of those taking part in the study said they fantasised about sex more than 10 times per day.

What is themost popular kink among the over 60s?

Research found that the most popular kink among the over 60s was BDSM. In fact, 63 per cent of those surveyed said they were interested in trying it out with their partner.

Another favourite kink of the older population identified by the study was age play: a form of role-playing that sees individuals treat each other as if they are younger or older. 60 per cent of those surveyed said they were interested in trying it out.

More surprisingly, 58 per cent of respondents said they were interested in group sex with two or more other people – making it the third most popular kink among the over 60s. This was followed closely by dominant and submissive sex – with 56 per cent of the age group expressing interest – and scene role playing, in which 53 per cent of respondents said they would like to try it.