Many women lose interest in sex at midlife, and doctors should consider addressing the problem, experts say.
In a recent study of 2,020 Australian women between the ages of 40 and 65, almost 70% had low sexual desire, based on their scores on validated questionnaires.
Other assessments showed that 41% of the women felt distress over their sexual lives, and 32% could be diagnosed with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD).
It’s not unusual for women to experience drops in libido from time to time. However, women with HSDD have a chronic lack of sexual interest that can’t be easily explained, along with feelings of distress. Not surprisingly, HSDD can cause conflict in relationships and leave women and their partners feeling anxious or depressed.
HSDD has been researched in the past, but some of those studies did not use validated assessment tools. For this study, the researchers wanted to know more about the prevalence of HSDD and its effects on women with partners and those without.
The women completed several questionnaires concerning their menopausal status, sexual function, sexual desire, sexual distress, and any symptoms of depression. They also told the researchers about any medications they were taking, as some drugs can have sexual side effects like low desire.
Just over a quarter of the women had not yet reached menopause. Nineteen percent were perimenopausal, which means they were in the midst of the menopausal transition. Fifty-five percent were postmenopausal. About 71% had a regular sexual partner.
Fourteen percent of the participants had moderate to severe depression, and 24% took medications that could affect sexual function.
Partnership status was an important factor for the women’s experiences with desire and distress. Those with partners were twice as likely to have sexually related personal distress and HSDD compared to women without partners. Over half of the partnered sexually active women were at “high risk” of sexual dysfunction.
Older women and un-partnered women were more likely to have low desire in general, not necessarily HSDD. For all women, vaginal dryness and pain during sex added to distress and HSDD, as did depression and medication side effects.
Fortunately, issues like vaginal dryness, pain, and depression can be treated. For more information about sexual health in older women, please click here.
The study was published earlier this year in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.
Resources
The Journal of Sexual Medicine
Worsley, Roisin, FRACP, et al.
“Prevalence and Predictors of Low Sexual Desire, Sexually Related Personal Distress, and Hypoactive Sexual Desire Dysfunction in a Community-Based Sample of Midlife Women”
(Full-text. May 2017)
http://www.jsm.jsexmed.org/article/S1743-6095(17)30418-6/fulltext
You may also be interested in...
Other Popular Articles
What Is Jelqing, and Does It Actually Work?
The term “jelqing” refers to a set of penis stretching exercises that some believe can make the penis bigger. Although the practice has gained attention and popularity in blogs and internet forums in recent years, there is no scientific evidence that it is an effective way to permanently increase the size of one’s penis. In fact, in some cases, jelqing may actually cause damage to the penis, so it is a good idea to get all the facts before setting off to try it.
What Is the Average Penis Size?
If you have ever wondered how your penis compares to others in terms of size, you are not alone. Many men are curious to know how their penises stack up compared to the average. Unfortunately, general curiosity can sometimes give way to full-on obsession and anxiety about penis size. This can be an unhealthy and often unnecessary fixation, especially because most men who think their penises are too small have perfectly normal-sized penises.
What Is Sensate Focus and How Does It Work?
Sensate focus is a technique used to improve intimacy and communication between partners around sex, reduce sexual performance anxiety, and shift away from ingrained, goal-oriented sexual patterns that may not be serving a couple.
What Is Edging and Why Do People Do It?
Edging is the practice of stopping sexual stimulation before reaching orgasm to prolong a sexual experience. The term stems from the concept of approaching the metaphorical “edge” of orgasm but stopping before going over the edge.
Can Sex Reduce Menstrual Cramps?
The SMSNA periodically receives and publishes ‘guest editorials.’ The current article was submitted by Mia Barnes, a freelance writer and researcher who specializes in women's health, wellness, and healthy living. She is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Body+Mind Magazine.
Having sex while you experience menstrual cramps is healthy and can provide significant benefits. While it might not be the first activity that comes to mind when your PMS or period cramping begins, many people enjoy sex to reduce menstrual cramps, experience increased pleasure and benefit from other advantages. Learn more about having sex while menstrual cramps are happening and how it can help your body.
Can Sex Throw off Your Vaginal pH Balance?
The SMSNA periodically receives and publishes ‘guest editorials.’ The current article was submitted by Mia Barnes, a freelance writer and researcher who specializes in women's health, wellness, and healthy living. She is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Body+Mind Magazine.
Your vagina is a pretty powerful organ. It is a pathway for menstrual blood and babies. It also is a main player in sexual intercourse. You might hear about your vagina’s pH and worry that yours is at risk. Here’s what to know about vaginal pH, including the impacts sex could have.
