88-Year-Old Proclaims: “Sex is My Vitamin” – Refuses to Give Up Pleasure!

Getting older doesn’t mean the end of sexual enjoyment. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. A comprehensive survey shows that about 65% of older adults still engage in sexual activities, and 33% of those aged 65 and older do so at least once a week. At 88, Dr. Miriam Stoppard is not letting age make decisions for her. As a physician and author, she maintains an active intimate life and champions the idea that pleasure is a key component of aging well. Her message is emphatic: desire does not expire. “I’m here to tell you that you’re missing out on extraordinary intimate moments. Intimacy at an older age can be just as good, if not better, than when you were younger,” she writes in her book Sex, Drugs and Walking Sticks: A guide to living your best life in your 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond, as reported by the Daily Record. Desire always exists, as long as you make room for it “and age is no reason for it to stop.”

With over 25 million books sold worldwide, Miriam Stoppard also adopts a nearly activist stance on this issue. For her, continuing to enjoy a fulfilling sex life is an act of defiance. “Think of it as a remedy against ageism,” she asserts. “The best sex of your life could still be ahead if you desire it. It’s there, waiting to be discovered.” She rejects the notion that intimacy is trivial at life’s end. “We all need intimacy and we crave it until our last breath,” she reminds us. “Sex makes us feel desired, confident, and joyful. Think of it as a vitamin: it floods your body with well-being hormones and vital energy.” This optimistic view sharply contrasts with the often stagnant portrayal of old age, characterized by loss and resignation.

Yet, this perspective does not overlook the recent hardships the doctor has faced. “In the past five years, I have endured two losses,” she shares. “My husband, Sir Christopher Hogg, passed away five years ago, and my ex-husband, Tom Stoppard, just a few weeks ago. It’s been a double blow.” Now a widow and single, her discussion on sexuality is not about shared intimacy with a specific partner but about a general relationship with desire, intimacy, the body, and pleasure.

“Between the ages of 60 and 80, you are probably more assertive than ever,” she points out. “You have more free time, more independence, and better healthcare support.” This combination paves the way for a different kind of sexuality, less driven by performance, more focused on sensations, and more chosen, whether experienced as a couple or individually. It’s a bold message that challenges taboos and reminds us that pleasure knows no age.