Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sexual Problems in Postmenopausal Women and Coping Methods

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Sexuality and Disability Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Although sexual problems are prevalent in postmenopausal women, only a few women seek medical help for the problems they experience. This research was conducted as a descriptive study to identify the problems that women have in their sexual lives in the postmenopausal period and the methods they use to cope with these problems. The research sample was comprised of 309 women who were registered at a primary health care center in the city of Ankara, Turkey, who were between 45 and 65 years old, married, in menopause and sexually active. The data were collected with a questionnaire specifically developed for this study. The women filled in the questionnaire themselves. It was determined that 80 % of the women experienced a decrease in frequency of sexual intercourse, 68 % in sexual desire, and 62 % in enjoying sexual intercourse after menopause. It was found that 87.4 % of the women experienced problems in their sexual relationships. During sexual intercourse 42.4 % of the women experienced vaginal dryness, 30.1 % pain, 24.9 % burning and 4.5 % bleeding problems. The majority of the women did not do anything to solve their problems of vaginal dryness, pain, burning and bleeding. The health care professionals who work in menopause clinics should examine the sexual problems in postmenopausal women. Sex counseling services need to be integrated into menopausal care programs and include information and education about the sexual life after menopause, potential sexual problems in postmenopausal women and their husbands, causes and methods of solving them.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Atasü, T., Gezer, A.: Menopause: definition and terminology. In: Atasü, T. (ed.) Menopause-Treatment and Cancer, pp. 13–26. Nobel Medical Publishing, Ankara (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Kökçü, A., Çetinkaya, M.B.: Effects of menopause on the sexual activity. Syndrome 16(9), 43–47 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Davidson, M.R., London, M.L., Ladewig, P.W.: Women’s health across the lifespan. Olds’ Maternal-Newborn Nursing and Women’s Health Across the Lifespan, pp. 77–85, Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ (2008)

  4. Yücel, A.: Menopause and hormone therapy. In: Günalp, G.S., Tuncer, Z.S. (eds.) Gynecological Diseases and Obstetric-Diagnosis and Treatment, pp. 585–589. Pelikan Publishing, Ankara (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Pillitteri, A.: Reproductive and sexual health. In: Pillitteri, A. (ed.) Maternal and Child Health Nursing: Care of the Childbearing and Childrearing Family, p. 85. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, USA (2003)

  6. Laumann, E.O., Paik, A., Rosen, R.C.: Sexual dysfunction in the United States prevalence and predictors. JAMA 281, 537–544 (1999)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Castelo-Branco, C., Blumel, J.E., Araya, H., Riquelme, R., Castro, G., Haya, J., Gramegna, G.: Prevalence of sexual dysfunction in a cohort of middle-aged women: influences of menopause and hormone replacement therapy. J. Obstet. Gynaecol. 23(4), 426–430 (2003)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Dennerstein, L., Alexander, J.L., Kotz, K.: The menopause and sexual functioning: a review of the population-based studies. Annu Rev Sex Res 14, 64–82 (2003)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Aslan, E., Beji, N.H., Gungor, I., Kadioglu, A., Dikencik, B.K.: Prevelance and risk factors for low sexual function in women: a study of 1,009 women in an outpatient clinic of a university hospital in Istanbul. J Sex Med. 5(9), 2044–2052 (2008)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Nappi, R.E., Verde, J.B., Polatti, F., Genazzani, A.R., Zara, C.: Self-reported sexual symptoms in women attending menopause clinics. Gynecol. Obstet. Invest. 53(3), 181–187 (2002)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Danacı, A.E., Oruç, S., Adıgüzel, H., Yıldırım, Y., Aydemir, Ö.: Relations of sexual, psychological and hormonal variables during menopausal period. Turkish J. Psychiatry 11(4), 293–299 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Deeks, A.A., McCabe, M.P.: Sexual function and the menopausal woman: the importance of age and partner’s sexual functioning-statistical data included. J Sex Res. 38(3), 219–225 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Tomlinson, J.M.: Taking a sexual history. In: Rees, M., Tomlinson, J., Mander, T. (eds.) Sexual Health and the Menopause, pp. 27–31. Royal Society of Medicine Press, UK (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Güvel, S., Yaycıoğlu, Ö., Bağış, T., Savaş, N., Bulgan, E., Özkardeş, H.: Factors associated with sexual function in married women. Turkish J. Urol. 29(1), 43–48 (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Bobak, I.M., Jensen, M.D.: Health promotion and screening. In: Bobak, I.M., Jensen, M.D., Lowdermilk, D.L. (eds.) Maternity and Gynecologic Care: The Nurse and the Family, pp. 1262–1265. Mosby-Year Book, Inc., USA (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Fogel, C.I.: Common reproductive concerns. In: Lowdermilk, D.L., Perry, S.E. (eds.) Maternity and Women’s Health Care, pp. 128, 138–139. C.V. Mosby, USA (2000)

  17. Sarrel, P.W.M., Whitehead, M.I.: Sex and the menopause: defining the issues. Maturitas 7, 217–224 (1985)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Biri, A., Korucuoğlu, U., İlhan, M., Bingöl, B., Yılmaz, E., Biri, H.: Turkish women’s level of knowledge on and attitude toward sexual health. Maturitas 58, 236–240 (2007)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Karataş, N.: Sampling in research. In: Erefe, I. (ed.) Nursing Research–Principle, Process and Methods, pp. 125–138. Odak Offset, Istanbul (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  20. National Family Opinion: Shaping the Future with Your Opinion. http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/health/mmsexsurvey_womq.pdf (1999). Accessed 23 March 2013

  21. Hunter, M.S.: The women’s health questionnaire (WHQ): frequently asked questions (FAQ). Health Qual Life Outcomes 1, 41 (2003)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Snell, W.E.: The Multidimensional Romantic Perfectionism Questionnaire. http://www4.semo.edu/snell/scales/MRPQ.HTM (1997). Accessed 23 March 2013

  23. Snell, W.E.: Sexuality Scale. http://www4.semo.edu/snell/scales/SS.htm (1997). Accessed 23 March 2013

  24. Snell, W.E.: The Sexual Relationship Scale. http://www4.semo.edu/snell/scales/SRS.htm (1997). Accessed 23 March 2013

  25. Harley, W.F.: Personal History Questionnaire. http://www.marriagebuilders.com/forms/phq.pdf (1998). Accessed 23 March 2013

  26. SIECUS: Fact Sheet—Sexuality in Middle and Later Life. SIECUS Report Supplement. December 2001/January 2002. http://www.hawaii.edu/hivandaids/Sexuality%20in%20Middle%20and%20Later%20Life-Fact%20Sheet%20(2002).pdf. Accessed 23 March 2013

  27. Hotun, N.: The Specific Needs of Women in the Climacteric Period and Nurses’ Role. Doctorate thesis, Istanbul University Institute of Health Sciences, Istanbul (1996)

  28. Nappi, R.E., Nijland, E.A.: Women’s perception of sexuality around the menopause: outcomes of a European telephone survey. Eur. J. Obstet. Gynecol. Reprod. Biol. 137(1), 10–16 (2008)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Oskay, U.Y.: Cultural and psychological aspects of orgasm in women. Androl. Bull. 22, 261–263 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  30. İncesu, C.: Sexual functions and sexual dysfunctions. J. Clin. Psychiatry 7(Ek 3), 3–13 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Meston, C.M.: Aging and sexuality successful aging. West. J. Med. 167(4), 285–290 (1997)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Kısa, S., Ozdemir, N.: Vaginal dryness problems among southeastern women aged 40–65 years in Turkey. Sex. Disabil. 31(1), 71–82 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Yanikkerem, E., Oruc Koltan, S., Goker Tamay, A., Dikayak, Ş.: Relationship between women’s attitude towards menopause and quality of life. Climacteric 15, 552–562 (2012)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Castelo-Branco, C., Cancelo, M.J., Villero, J., Nohales, F., Juli′a, M.D.: Management of post-menopausal vaginal atrophy and atrophic vaginitis. Maturitas 52(1), 46–52 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Seyisoğlu, H.: Menopause and sexual life. In: Atasü, T. (ed.) Menopause-Treatment and Cancer, pp. 385–396. Nobel Medical Publishing, Istanbul (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  36. Aygin, D., Eti Aslan, F.: What do we do about sexual dysfunction? What should we do? Androl. Bull 22, 264–267 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  37. The Society for Sexual Education, Treatment and Research: Old age. In: Eker, E., Ertüngealp, E., Kayır, A. (eds.) Healthy aging for women in terms of sexual and reproductive health, pp. 11, http://www.cetad.org.tr/doc/bilgilendirme_dosyasi_3.pdf (2007). Accessed 23 March 2013

  38. Sanders, S.A.: Midlife sexuality: the need to integrate biological, psychological and social perspectives. SIECUS Report 27(3), 3–7 (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  39. Önem, K., Kadıoğlu, A.: Hormone replacement therapy in female orgasmic dysfunction. Androl. Bull. 23, 348–351 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  40. Arslan, H., Gürkan, Ö.C., Yiğit, F.E., Eşki, Z.: Assessment of sexual life of the women in menopause. J. Health Soc. 14(4), 67–74 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Part of this work has been presented as a poster at the 5th International Congress of Reproductive Health and Family Planning, June 28–29, 2007, Ankara, Turkey.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hacettepe University Faculty of Nursing, 06100, Ankara, Turkey

    Çiğdem Yücel

  2. Koc University School of Nursing, Guzelbahce Sokak No: 20, Nisantasi, 34365, Istanbul, Turkey

    Kafiye Eroğlu

Authors
  1. Çiğdem Yücel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kafiye Eroğlu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Çiğdem Yücel.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Yücel, Ç., Eroğlu, K. Sexual Problems in Postmenopausal Women and Coping Methods. Sex Disabil 31, 217–228 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-013-9306-8

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-013-9306-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation