Evaluation of Factors Affecting Sexual Desire During Menopausal Transition and Post Menopause

Abstract

Background:One of the most common problems of women especially during transient menopause and post menopause is reduction in sexual desire which affects their social and psychological health. Objectives: The present study attempted to evaluate the impact of some personal and social factors, common age-related complaints, and follicular stimulating hormone and estradiol on sexual desire. Patients and Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted on 201 females, aged 45-60 years old, without any history of psychological illness, and not receiving any hormone therapy including estrogen-progesterone. They filled three questionnaires; menopausal rating scale (MRS), symptom checklist 90 and their sexual interests and demographic characteristics. The data were analyzed using Pearson Chisquare tests and logistic regression (using SPSS 18). Results: A deceasing sexual desire was observed in 34.7% of the cases. A statistically significant relationship was found between reduced sexual desire and physical complaints and mood changes including anxiety and depression. Women who were widowed or divorced exhibited a significantly higher reduction in sexual desire. There was a significant correlation between sexual satisfaction and sexual desire. However, no significant relationship was observed between sexual desire and hot flashes, dyspareunia and level of estradiol and FSH. Conclusions: Mental and physical health of women and their sexual satisfaction play a more effective role in predicting sexual desire, regardless of age and hormonal changes during this period.

“The night comes early for a woman”: Menopause and sexual activities among urban older Yoruba men and women in Ibadan, Nigeria

“…Menopause, a product of bodily changes, is one of the critical biopsychosocial markers that come with enormous implications for women's aging experiences and their relationships, including those relating to their sexuality. Each woman enters the stage of menopause at different periods of their life spans, but an average woman can experience menopause between 45 and 60+ years (Rabiee, Nasirie, & Zafarqandie, 2014).…”

Caracterización del deseo sexual en mujeres climatéricas de un centro de salud rural

“…Existe una investigación que indica que el deseo sexual de las mujeres aumentó en un 13,6%, siendo muy relevante mencionar este estudio ya que la presente investigación muestra que la mayoría de las encuestadas (65,1%) era improbable o poco probable que presentaran deseo sexual inhibido 19 . En cuanto, al deseo sexual y religión, Rabiee y cols en su investigación encontró que aquellas mujeres que eran parte de una religión presentaban una reducción del deseo sexual, lo mismo sucede en este estudio donde las mujeres que profesan alguna religión presentaron en mayor porcentaje de inhibición del deseo, sin ser ésta estadísticamente significativa 20 .…”

“…En relación a síntomas climatéricos y deseo sexual, las mujeres que presentaron más síntomas somáticos, presentaron un mayor porcentaje de inhibición del deseo sexual al igual que la investigación de Rabiee y cols, donde se encontró una relación significativa entre los síntomas somáticos y la reducción del deseo sexual 20 .…”

The perceptions of African women regarding natural menopause in Mamelodi, Tshwane district

“…Menopause is a normal, natural phenomenon for all ageing women, irrespective of culture or country of origin (Ramakuela et al 2014 :1). Rabiee, Nasirie and Zafarqandie ( 2014 :4) explained menopause as a complex and multidimensional biological, social and psychological phenomenon for women between, on average, the ages of 45 and 60 (or more) years.…”

“…There are a multitude of factors to be considered for menopause besides the women’s age; these include biological, socioeconomic and lifestyle factors. Rabiee et al ( 2014 :1) argued about the factors which affect the transitional period in a woman’s life and its relation to sexual desire in some women.…”