Over 50s still enjoy play time: sex poll

Couples turn to spicy bedroom antics once their teenagers leave home, a Tauranga Adult Shop worker says.

"They've got more time on their hands and ... it's a time when they can rediscover themselves," said Gloria McCoy of Aristocrat Adult Boutique.

Many people liked to visit the store with their partner or spouse, and about half of the customers were over 50 years.

"We get lots of people in the 50 to 80 age group.

"It's just adding something extra to their [sex] life," she said.

This week a bedroom survey into over-50s revealed naughty sex and a morning tumble were favourites among older lovers.

About 700 Kiwis nearing their golden years participated in the survey, performed by online social club and lifestyle magazine GrownUps.

Many are indulging in pleasures of the flesh on a daily basis, with others choosing to save it for "special occasions".

Sex toys are also popular and even rest home residents are not immune to a little physical intimacy.

More than 30 per cent of those surveyed nominated the morning as the preferred time for getting intimate and about half said sex toys featured in their antics.

Dr Christine Roke, national medical adviser at Family Planning, said people of all ages enjoyed intimacy in the bedroom.

"Even in rest homes and retirement villages people are sexual beings and they need to have privacy. Sexual feelings are there for life."

But findings that suggested nearly one in five older lovers had never used a condom had to be taken with a grain of salt, she said.

"This is a survey that has been done by a fun, social club, and people who took part tend to be quite social."

There had been a slight rise in the number of sexually transmitted infections in people aged over 50, which could be related to New Zealand's high divorce rate and more casual relationships, Dr Roke said.

GrownUps website founder Richard Poole said the results showed how important it was to practise safe sex. "It's ... important to make sure you know your partner has had a 'Sexual Warrant of Fitness'."

Lovers over 50 keep their love alive

4 per cent - at least once a day.

11.5 per cent - never.

14.3 per cent - on "special occasions".

51.1 per cent - use sex toys.

38 per cent - don't need sexual performance enhancers like Viagra.

NZ divorce rate:

(per 1000 marriages)

2011: 9.8

2010: 10.2

2009: 10.2