By Amy Norton
Many women remain sexually active into their 70s, but for others, menopause symptoms and chronic health issues get in the way.
That’s among the findings from the latest University of Michigan Poll on Healthy Aging, which surveyed more than 1,200 U.S. women ages 50 to 80.
Overall, 43% said they were sexually active, be that intercourse, foreplay and caressing, or masturbation. A similar proportion, however, were limited by health issues.
More than one-quarter of women said menopause symptoms were interfering with their sex lives — including one-third of those ages 50 to 64. Meanwhile, 17% said other health conditions were the problem.
It’s not clear what specific issues were the biggest obstacles. But experts said menopause can affect a woman’s sexual function in a number of ways.
Sometimes it’s relatively straightforward, said Dr. Daniel Morgan, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Michigan Medicine.
He pointed to a prime example: The hormonal changes of menopause can cause dryness and irritation of the vagina or the vulvar skin — which can make sex painful.
Fortunately, there are good treatments, Morgan said. For vaginal dryness, women can try over-the-counter lubricants, or get a prescription for vaginal products that contain low doses of estrogen. Steroid ointments can help soothe vulvar skin conditions, Morgan said.
In other cases, sexual dysfunction is more complex.
Declining estrogen levels can directly affect a woman’s libido, said Dr. Stephanie Faubion, medical director of the North American Menopause Society and director of the Mayo Clinic’s Center for Women’s Health.
As a result, women may find their desires are dialed down, and they feel less motivated to initiate sex — though, Faubion said, they may still respond to their partner’s romantic overtures.
At the same time, some women feel exhausted during this time of life, whether that’s related to menopausal night sweats keeping them awake, chronic health conditions, or having a hectic life. Women in their 50s may be caring for kids and aging parents, while balancing that with work.
“If a woman is exhausted, sex drops down the list,” Faubion said.
Mental well-being is also a big factor. Depression can interfere with sexual activity for some women, Faubion said. In the survey, of women who indicated their mental health was poor to fair, only 36% said they were “very satisfied” with their sex lives, versus 65% of women who reported good mental health — though it’s not clear whether the mental health issues caused problems with sexual activity.
When sexual desire and activities do change as a woman ages, that’s not necessarily distressing, both Faubion and Morgan emphasized. It’s only a problem if she is bothered by it, or it’s causing issues in her relationship.
And in cases where a couple is having difficulties they can’t work out, Faubion said, counseling might be the right option.
Menopause-related symptoms were highly prevalent among poll respondents, with half saying they’d suffered one to three in the past year. problems and weight gain were most common, followed by diminished libido, hot flashes/night sweats and mood swings.
Overall, 28% said those symptoms were interfering with their sex lives.
Yet, of all women reporting menopause symptoms, only 44% had spoken with a healthcare provider about treatment options.
“Some women may not be aware there are treatments,” Faubion said. “Or they may think the symptoms will be temporary and are waiting them out.”
And, both she and Morgan said, healthcare providers may not be asking about menopause symptoms, or any issues with sexual activity.
But Faubion said it’s important for doctors of all specialties to have sexual health on their radar: Patients with conditions ranging from heart disease to hip replacements are going to have questions about sexual activity, she pointed out.
It is fine for women to let sexual activity go, if that’s what they want: In the poll, 52% of women who were not sexually active said they were satisfied with their sex lives. That was lower, however, than the figure among women who were sexually active, at 74%.
And women who are concerned about their sexual health, or menopause symptoms in general, should feel free to broach the topic with a healthcare provider, Morgan said. Your primary care doctor is a good place to start, he noted.
The poll was conducted online and by phone between January and March and has a margin of error between 2 and 4 percentage points.
More information
The North American Menopause Society has more on sexual health.
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