Don”t women have sex after 50? Why is this and what can be done
Typically, the older a woman gets, the more often she has sex. She may also find intimacy less comfortable than when she was younger. Until now, experts believed that physiological changes were to blame for all perimenopausal and postmenopausal changes. But what role might other factors play here?
Contents of the article:
The real problem
As the North American Endocrine and Metabolic Practice concluded in one 2015 study, the blame can be laid at Yes, it is true that sexual dysfunction increases with age and is widespread among menopausal women.
The same study found that 42% of menopausal women reported symptoms of sexual dysfunction. After eight years, this amount increases to 88%.
Reasons
Doctors believe that the real problem should always be considered physiology — vaginal dryness and changes in estrogen levels. All this makes sex difficult and uncomfortable.
However, these are not the only factors influencing female libido in later life.
One of the latest studies on this subject was carried out by a group of scientists from the University of Sussex (UK) in collaboration with the University of London and the University of New South Wales in Sydney. He showed that the sex lives of many women in late adulthood are exacerbated by psychological stress and other psychosocial factors beyond their control.
The results of this study were obtained on a fairly large sample of subjects, including 4418 women. Their average age was 64 years. They all participated in ovarian cancer screening and also completed relevant questionnaires about their sex life and sexual health.
Physiology: not the only key factor
At the start of the study, researchers found that 65. 3% of women were involved with a romantic partner. In addition, only 22. 5% noted that they have a sex life. This is a striking difference. Over time, these trends have worsened. It turned out that far fewer women are sexually active.
Read also: Consequences of lack of sex in women
For some people, sex is simply a source of pleasure. For others, it is evidence of the seriousness of the relationship. And some perceive this process.
Widowhood as the main reason
A qualitative analysis of the data obtained showed that the main reason for the lack of sex, no matter how banal it may be, was the lack of a partner. In most cases this was due to widowhood.
I”ve been living alone for 17 years. My husband is my favorite person, and after him I have no one,” said one of the participants.
Family responsibilities
Sexual intercourse during menopause. sex for women after 50. can you have sex during menopause?
Other factors
The researchers cited other reasons:
Some respondents” partners had medical conditions that affected their libido and sexual function.
- Partners began to suffer from erectile dysfunction.
- The woman herself had health problems.
Many women emphasized that the main problems in the sexual sphere are related to physical aging, the impact on self-esteem and self-confidence. And only a small minority (just 3%) reported positive sexual experiences later in life.
What to do?
Stefaniphobia, medical director of the North American Menopause Society, offered the following explanation. Of course, aspects of a woman’s physiology and the health of her partner cannot be underestimated. Often women experiencing difficulties associated with menopause do not consult a doctor. These symptoms—vaginal dryness and pain during sex—can actually be treated effectively. Women constantly underestimate life”s sexual difficulties, which, unfortunately, manifest themselves especially clearly in old age.”
I would also recommend open discussion with all patients and their partners. Discuss your wants, needs and challenges. Openness is the main key to good sex, even in old age.”
