As women get older, they tend to become less sexually active. This is already known, however, the reason behind this isn't just linked to one particular problem. Anything from menopause to relationship issues, poor physical health (hers or partner's), widowhood or even lack of a partner can all be reasons for a woman's sexual activity to decline. In addition, the sexual activity of women who have reached their menopause stage is quite low.
A study was conducted to find how intimate relationships, psychological factors, health factors and sexual intimacy affect satisfaction in postmenopausal women. "Sexual health challenges are common in women as they age, and partner factors play a prominent role in women's sexual activity and satisfaction," said Stephanie Faubion, Medical Director.
"In addition, menopause-related problems such as vaginal dryness and pain with sex have been identified which affect sexual function, yet few women seek treatment for these issues despite the availability of effective therapies," Faubion said. The study aimed to find what about menopause wanted to make women stop having sex. There were certain factors like hot flashes, painful intercourse, vaginal dryness and sleep disruption that came into play.
So, while the physical factors were clear, the researchers were still unclear on what psychological factors affected these women. They presumed that it could be due to mood changes, stress, body image issues and even lower self-confidence. Data from over 4,500 women was surveyed and it was found that before menopause more than half of these women were sexually active. It was also found that the primary reason for their sexual decline was the lack of a partner. Stay tuned for more updates.
