A recent survey conducted by Harris Interactive asked 2000 married men and women ages 40 - 70 what was most important in a relationship - health, money or sex. Not surprisingly, sex won with 84%. But half of those who rated sex as the most important aspect of the relationship said they were unsatisfied with their own intimate physical and emotional relationships.

I say it is not surprising because if one stops to consider the survey question and the possible choices, it is only natural that most respondents chose sex. Why?

Because what they really wanted to choose was compatibility and friendship, communication and intimacy. But they weren’t given that choice, so they chose the one aspect of a relationship that employs those things.

It is in this way that surveys and statistics can be arranged to say pretty much anything the survey-taker wants them to. I doubt it would have mattered much if the respondents had answered money or health. Those would make sensational headlines too. “Baby Boomers More Interested in Money than Intimacy”, or how about “Baby Boomers Lose Interest When Spouses Fall Ill”?

Financial woes can put a great strain on a relationship as can ill-health. But they don’t destroy strong relationships where an intimacy of a deeper nature exists. Neither do sexual issues. Men and women both want deeper and more satisfying physical and emotional intimacy, according to the survey. The problem is that the survey lumps all intimacy under the word “sex” and concludes that sex is the most important aspect of a relationship to baby boomers.

I guess you would have to say - I disagree.

Key To Boomer Relationship? - Burlington Free Press

Sexuality doesn’t cease after fifty but women do experience physiological changes that may alter their sex lives. The key to remaining sexually active is knowing what changes to expect and how to adjust to them.

Lower levels of estrogen and progestin that cause the symptoms that women experience during menopause - hot flashes, for instance - also result in thinning of the vaginal walls and reduced secretions during sexual activity. There are products that will remedy vaginal dryness, so ask your pharmacist.

What menopause doesn’t do is affect your sexual desire. Women who are menopausal do not suddenly lose interest in sex. If you are menopausal, talk to your doctor about hormone replacement therapy. If your doctor agrees that HRT is right for you , it can lessen the effects of menopause and relieve some of the symptoms.

Who is today’s 50-something woman? She’s Meryl Streep, award winning actress who at 57 is still a highly sought-after performer. She’s Condoleeza Rice, 50, Secretary of State. She’s Oprah Winfrey, 51, TV personality and successful businesswoman.

She’s not fooled into worshipping the cult of youth nor envious of it. She’s been 20-something, but she’s lived a lot more, learned a lot more. She’s gained wisdom and maturity and she’s not looking back. She’s secure in her sexuality, and knows the power of it. She knows who she is and what she is worth. She’s smart, savvy, confident.

Who is today’s 50-something woman?

She’s you.

Marketing experts now know what we women have always known. According to this article at “The Mature Market,” women influence the decision of 80% of all consumer purchases. That’s a lot of bucks!! Considering the numbers of people within the Baby Boomer generation, we are talking a lot of women with a lot of power.

Have marketing people figured out how to deal with that? I must say after reading this article, I am looking forward to Imago Creative’s book, BOOM: Marketing to the Ultimate Power Consumer - The Baby Boomer Woman. I believe it will contain some very insightful information about the women of the Baby Boomer generation.

This article contains 12 tips about Baby Boomer women and how they influence the financial decisions of America.

Twelve More Things You May Not Know About Boomer Women