Studies in the Nordic countries show that most women are still sexually active after the age of 50. Many factors (social status, personal characteristics, physical and psychological conditions, relationship factors, and social representations of sexuality) other than hormones influence sex life during and after middle age.
The goal of this new scientific study led by researcher Virginie Ringa of the Center for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health (CESP) tends to analyze the different components of sexuality, including its social representations, in women aged 45-55. years, when they reach menopause to understand their sexual mechanisms.
To establish results, the researchers compared the responses of three groups of women: postmenopausal women (277), postmenopausal women without hormone therapy (209), and postmenopausal women who are currently using hormone therapy (68), with a control group of pre-menopausal women (408).
They were interviewed by phone about their sex life. In particular on the regularity of the reports, the type of sexual practices (vaginal penetration, fellatio, cunnilingus, anal penetration, and the masturbation), the satisfactions of the frequency of the reports, the expectations, the sexual dysfunctions (pain, lack of desire, lubrication dysfunction). These women were also questioned about their sociological representations of sexuality (the importance of sexuality for their balance, their interest in sexuality, and the frequency norm).
Menopausal women have so much desire
According to her analyzes, Virgini Ringa suggest that ” middle-aged women near the onset of menopause, undergo biological and hormonal changes that do not negatively affect sex life. The reported negative effects on sexuality are most likely due to the anticipation or misrepresentation of sexuality at menopause. The effect of menopause at this point in women’s lives may therefore be more symbolic than biological, it surely expresses a form of anticipation of old age. “.
Catherine Solano, sex therapist confirms “that at menopause there is hardly any objective reason for sexual desire to decrease. The estrogen peaks are absent, since there are no more ovulations. The desire will therefore be more constant, without monthly rise for a few days. As for stopping hormonal contraception (pill, patch …), it can have a positive effect on desire “.