The sexual needs of ageing population have been ignored by healthcare professionals and policymakers. Their sexual needs, for example, are rarely part of a care plan for the elderly. The negative stereotype of a 'dirty old man' is prevalent. Erectile dysfunction increases with age, lower economic status, diabetes, heart disease and hypertension. As women go through the menopause, there are significant decreases in sexual responsiveness, frequency of sexual activity, libido and tender feelings for partner. Men in infertile couples had decreased satisfaction with intercourse and a trend to lower desire than their fertile counterparts. Changing sexuality with age may be further influenced by gynaecological procedures such as hysterectomy and urinary incontinence treatments. Urinary incontinence studies report an association between incontinence and sexual dysfunction of between 26% and 43%. Psychosocial factors and mood are just as important as physiological and pathological processes in ageing women.