Although prostitution is illegal throughout most of the United States, it’s not uncommon for Americans to buy sex. Most of the purchasers are men, but beyond this, we don’t actually know all that much about who's buying sex or why. In fact, it wasn’t until recently that researchers really began to start looking into this.

Although this body of research is growing, almost none of it has yet focused on older men (age 60+), which is an important oversight. They represent an interesting and important group to study in this context because, contrary to popular belief, many older men maintain active sex lives—and, in fact, they may be more active today than they were in the past thanks to erectile dysfunction medications and testosterone supplementation. Moreover, it may be the case that what motivates older men to pay for sex may be different from what motivates younger guys.

For a revealing look at the characteristics, motivations, and behaviors of older men who buy sex, check out the infographic below. One of the interesting things you'll see is that a lot of these guys are looking for more than just sex. In fact, many appear to be looking for the "girlfriend experience"--that is, they want someone who can provide emotional intimacy and companionship in addition to sex.