Chronic back pain in men over 65 may increase the risk of sleep problems later in life, according to a new study from Penn State University. Researchers found that men experiencing persistent back pain were more likely to develop poor sleep over time, with the relationship running in one direction: back pain first, followed by sleep disturbances.

“We know that back pain and sleep are serious issues for older adults,” said Soomi Lee, associate professor of human development and family studies at Penn State and lead author of the study. “We studied data collected over several years to understand whether poor sleep could predict back pain or if back pain could predict poor sleep, and we found it was the latter.”

The study, published in Innovation in Aging, used data from the long-running Osteoporotic Fractures in Men study, which tracks older men to better understand aging and the development of chronic conditions. Researchers analyzed information from 1,055 men who completed clinical sleep assessments at least six years apart and reported the severity and frequency of back pain every four months between assessments.

Comparing participants’ sleep data across the two assessments, the team found that back pain predicted a 12 to 25 percent increase in sleep problems over six years. The study looked beyond total hours of sleep, examining irregular sleep schedules, difficulty staying asleep, and excessive daytime sleepiness.

The research also explored the possibility of a two-way relationship between back pain and sleep, but found that sleep problems did not predict future back pain. Researchers caution that the findings are based on observational data from primarily white, older men, and may not apply equally to women or more diverse populations.

Lee said the study highlights the importance of addressing back pain in older adults. “If caregivers or loved ones see back pain issues, this can be a warning sign,” she said. Effective management of pain, she added, may help prevent future sleep problems and reduce the risk of related health issues such as memory decline, depression, anxiety, and falls.

Quality sleep in older adults is strongly associated with better physical health, slower cognitive decline, and lower mortality risk. Recent research indicates that people with chronic insomnia—difficulty sleeping at least three nights per week for three months or more—are about 40 percent more likely to develop dementia or mild cognitive impairment than those who sleep normally.

The study’s findings suggest that addressing chronic back pain could be a key step in improving sleep quality and long-term health outcomes for older men. Clinicians and caregivers are encouraged to monitor back pain carefully and consider interventions that may reduce its impact on sleep.

A recent study challenges the widely held belief that men’s sexual desire peaks in their twenties, showing instead that male libido continues to rise into the early forties. The research, conducted by the University of Tartu in Estonia, analyzed data from more than 67,000 adults aged 20 to 84 and highlights the role of social and individual factors alongside biology in shaping sexual desire.

Traditionally, men’s sexual drive has been closely associated with testosterone levels. According to the UK National Health Service, testosterone begins to decline by about 1 percent annually after age 30, fueling the assumption that men are most sexually active in their twenties. However, the new study suggests hormones are only part of the picture.

“To say that desire is purely hormonal oversimplifies the reality,” said Toivo Aavik, professor at the University of Tartu and co-author of the study. “Our data shows that desire is sustained longer than a hormonal account predicts. Social and relational factors explain a large portion of the variation we see among men.”

The research also identified professions linked to higher libido, including machine operators, senior managers, drivers, and military personnel. By contrast, office workers and those in customer service roles reported lower sexual desire. Sexual orientation and relationship stability also played a role: bisexual men reported higher levels of desire, and men in happy, stable relationships saw modest increases.

Female sexual desire followed a different pattern. According to the study, women’s desire peaks between ages 20 and 30 and declines sharply after 50. This aligns with previous findings on the impact of decreasing estrogen during and after menopause, with Johns Hopkins Medicine reporting a 23 percent drop in sexual activity among women between their fifties and seventies.

Aavik emphasized that societal norms and survey reporting may also affect results. “Men’s sexual arousal is often more socially accepted to report, while women may under-report desire due to internalized norms or stigma,” he said. Women’s desire can be more context-dependent, sometimes not recognized in the moment or expressed differently than physiological arousal.

The study also found that life events influence libido differently across genders. After having children, men often experienced increased desire, while women’s sexual desire tended to decrease. These findings highlight the complexity of human sexuality and caution against interpreting averages as universal truths.

“Desire is central to how people experience sex, form intimate relationships, and evaluate their lives,” Aavik said. “It’s also important for relationship health and overall wellbeing.” The study, published in Scientific Reports, underscores that sexual desire is influenced by a mix of biological, psychological, and environmental factors rather than age alone.

This research provides a fresh perspective on male and female sexual desire, challenging stereotypes and encouraging a more nuanced understanding of human sexuality across the lifespan.

Last year, US authorities approved the first at-home test capable of detecting three common infections in women — gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis — as well as the first home-based kit for the virus that causes cervical cancer. Experts say these new options for testing and treatment could help reduce infection rates nationwide.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also approved two new drugs for gonorrhea in 2025, marking the first new treatment options for the disease in decades. Gonorrhea has been increasingly resistant to antibiotics, and the new oral medications provide an alternative to the standard injectable treatment. Nuzolvenc, developed through a public-private partnership, comes in granules that dissolve in water, while Bluejepa, produced by GlaxoSmithKline, is a tablet also approved for urinary tract infections.

“Sexual health can be stigmatised, and people can be hesitant about testing,” said Dr. Ina Park, a sexual health specialist at the University of California. “Now we have a lot of options for patients who may be wary of going into a provider’s office.”

The new home-based tests aim to make testing more convenient and faster. Visby Medical launched its three-in-one test for women following FDA approval in March 2025. The urine-based kit includes a vaginal swab and a small electronic device that processes the results and sends them to an online app. A telehealth consultation with a medical provider is included, allowing patients to discuss results and receive prescriptions within hours. The entire process can take as little as six hours, compared with several days under traditional lab-based testing, said Dr. Gary Schoolnik, Visby’s chief medical officer.

In May, the FDA approved Teal Health’s home-based HPV test. The Teal Wand allows women to collect samples at home and ship them to a laboratory for processing. Updated federal guidelines now endorse self-collection for HPV screening for the first time.

Provisional CDC data for 2024 showed a third consecutive year of declining gonorrhea cases, along with decreases in adult chlamydia and infectious syphilis. Experts attribute the trend to a combination of factors, including changes in sexual activity, increased use of preventative antibiotics, and the rise of at-home testing.

Some experts, however, caution that home testing could make national infection tracking more challenging. High costs may also limit access: Visby’s test costs $150 and is not covered by most insurance. Public health funding cuts may further restrict access to testing and treatment for underserved populations.

“I’m optimistic that more testing options and new drugs will help reduce infection rates,” Dr. Park said. “The risk is that cuts to public health could prevent the people who need these tools most from accessing them.”

The new approvals mark a shift toward patient-centered sexual health care, combining convenience, speed, and broader access to treatment options, even as challenges remain in ensuring equitable availability.