Menopausal Women Settle For Less Sex

More than half of U.S. women ages 35 and over are having less sex during menopause than before menopause. According to the recent Sex & Menopause Survey, commissioned by The Red Hot Mamas®, a leading menopause patient organization, sponsored by Duramed Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and conducted by Harris Interactive®, 54 percent of those polled reported a decrease in the frequency of sex after entering menopause.

The survey also revealed that more than three-quarters (76%) of women surveyed in committed or long-term relationships say that sex is at least somewhat an important part of that relationship yet less than half of those surveyed (45%) say they are satisfied with the amount of sex they have.

“Women today, specifically the boomer generation currently entering or experiencing menopause, are much more open about their needs and seek information more than previous generations, so it’s surprising to me that so many women would settle for a less than satisfying sex life as a result of menopausal symptoms,” said Karen Giblin, founder of the Red Hot Mamas Menopause Management Educational Programs.

Not every woman’s menopause is the same. Some women may experience vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes or night sweats and others may also experience vaginal atrophy (vaginal narrowing or shrinkage) which can cause vaginal dryness and painful sex. If left untreated over time, women could experience vaginal atrophy, which can lead to sexual dysfunction and/or physically uncomfortable sexual experiences. Despite the possibility of vaginal atrophy and its symptoms, 47 percent of women surveyed reported they are not at all knowledgeable about the condition as a symptom of menopause while the majority of all women reported being at least somewhat knowledgeable about the more commonly talked about symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes (95%) and night sweats (91%).

The survey also revealed that women who experienced vaginal atrophy are more likely to also report a decrease in frequency of sex:

• Seventy-five percent of these women reported having less sex since entering menopause and 68 percent reported experiencing pain during active sex
• The majority (88%) of women who experienced vaginal atrophy said their symptoms are at least somewhat problematic
• Almost half (47%) of these women reported that they have avoided, made an excuse or stopped having sex altogether because of physical discomfort

Approximately half (51%) of those who reported experiencing symptoms of menopause reported that they experienced vaginal dryness. Of those, 79 percent reported the symptom as having an effect on their sex lives.

“If left untreated, over time, women will experience changes such as vaginal atrophy and dryness that can make physical intimacy uncomfortable, even painful. But they do not need to give up on sex altogether,” stated Murray A. Freedman, M.D., Augusta GYN, P.C., Augusta, GA. “Sadly, most women are unaware that these conditions are treatable. Effective therapies, which range from over-the-counter lubricants to FDA approved hormone therapy, are readily available. Equally important is the effect of continued sexual activity. While it may seem like reverse logic, having intercourse can help ease the severity of vaginal atrophy.”