Abstract
Sexual function in women has often been measured by clinicians using parameters which appear easier to assess (frequency and pain). Therefore, the range of normality is often broad and of limited value when investigating population groups. The most important features to explore are satisfaction and/or distress with sexual activity. Although female sexual activity decreases with age, dissatisfaction also declines, and rates of female sexual dysfunction may not change significantly. There are cultural differences in sexual behaviour across the world, but overall a satisfying sexual life is important for women’s quality of life.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Declaration of Alma-Ata (1978). International Conference of Primary Health Care, Alma-Ata, USSR. http://www.who.int/hpr/archive/docs/almaata.html
Hart G, Wellings K (2002) Sexual behaviour and its medicalisation: in sickness and in health. Br Med J 324:896–900
Glatt AE, Zinner SH, McCormack WM (1990) The prevalence of dyspareunia. Ob Gynecol 75(3Pt1):433–436
Beckman N, Waern M, Gustafson D, Skoog I (2008) Secular trends in self reported sexual activity and satisfaction in Swedish 70 year olds: cross sectional survey of four populations, 1971–2001. BMJ 337:151–154
Lindau ST, Schumm LP, Laumann EO, Levinson W, O’Muircheartaigh CA, Waite LJ (2007) A study of sexuality and health among older adults in the United States. N Engl J Med 357:762–774
Masters WH, Johnson VE (1966) Human sexual response. Little Brown, Boston
Kaplan HS (1995) The sexual desire disorders. Brunner-Routledge, New York
Basson R, Berman J, Burnett A, Derogatis L, Ferguson D, Fourcroy J et al (2000) Report of the international consensus development conference on female sexual dysfunction: definitions and classifications. Urology 163:888–893
Bancroft J, Loftus J, Long JS (2003) Distress about sex: a national survey of women in heterosexual relationships. Arch Sex Behav 32(3):193–208
American Psychiatric Association (2000) Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 4th edn. American Psychiatric association, Washington DC
Laumann EO, Paik A, Rosen RC (1999) Sexual dysfunction in the United States: prevalence and predictors. JAMA 281(6):537–544
Laumann EO, Nicolosi A, Glasser DB, Paik A, Gingell C, Moreira E, Wang T, GSSAB Investigators Group (2005) Sexual problems among women and men aged 40–80 y: prevalence and correlates identified in the Global Study of Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors. Int J Impot Res 17(1):39–57
Graziottin A (2007) Prevalence and evaluation of sexual health problems—HSDD in Europe. J Sex Med 4(Suppl 3):211–219
Nazareth I, Boynton P, King M (2003) Problems with sexual function in people attending London general practitioners:cross sectional study. Br Med J 327(7412):423
Signorello LB, Harlow BL, Chekos AK, Repke JT (2001) Postpartum sexual functioning and its relationship to perineal trauma: a retrospective cohort study of primiparous women. Am J Obstet Gynecol 184(5):881–890
Barrett G, Pendry E, Peacock J, Victor C, Thakar R, Manyonda I (2000) Women’s sexual health after childbirth. BJOG 107(2):186–195
Hayes RD, Dennerstein L (2005) The impact of aging on sexual function and sexual dysfunction in women: A Review of population-based studies. J Sex Med 2:317–330
Hayes RD, Dennerstein L, Bennett CM, Fairley CK (2008) What is the “true” prevalence of female sexual dysfunctions and does the way we assess these conditions have an impact? J Sex Med 5(4):777–787
Diokno AC, Brown MB, Herzog AR (1990) Sexual function in the elderly. Arch Int Med 150(1):197–200
Johnson AM, Mercer CH, Erens B, Copas AJ, McManus S, Wellings K, Kenton KA, Korovessis, MacDoweall W, Nanchahal K, Purdon S, Field J (2001) Sexual behaviour in Britain: partnership, practices, and HIV risk behaviors. Lancet 358;9296:1835–1842
Sarrel PM, Whitehead MI (1985) Sex and menopause: defining the issues. Maturitas 1985 7(3):217–224
Avis NE, Stellato R, Crawford S, Johannes C, Longcope C (2000) Is there an association between menopause status and sexual functioning? Menopause 7:286–288
Ballinger SE (1985) Psychosocial stress and symptoms of the menopause: a comparative study of menopause clinic patients and non-patients. Maturitas 7:315–327
Cain VS, Johannes CB, Avis NE, Mohr B, Schocken M, Skurnick J et al (2003) Sexual functioning and practices in a multi-ethnic study of midlife women: baseline results from SWAN. J Sex Res 40(3):266–276
James WH (1983) Decline in coital rate with spouses’ ages and duration of marriage. J Biosoc Sci 15:83–87
Pfeiffer E, Davies GC (1972) Determinants of sexual behaviour in middle and old age. J Am Geriatr Soc 20:151–158
Hallstrom T, Samuelsson S (1990) Changes in women’s sexual desire in middle life: the longitudinal study of women in Gothenburg. Arch Sex Behav 19(3):259–268
Osborn M, Hawton K, Gath D (1988) Sexual dysfunction amongst middle aged women in the community. Br Med J 296(6627):959–962
Hawton K, Gath D, Day A (1994) Sexual function in a community sample of middle-aged women with partners: effects of age, marital, socioeconomic, psychiatric, gynecological, and menopausal factors. Arch Sex Behav 23(4):375–395
Dennerstein L, Guthrie JR, Hayes RD, DeRogatis LR, Lehert P (2008) Sexual function, dysfunction and sexual dustress in a prospective, population based sample of mid-aged, Australian-born women. Int J Sex Med 5:2291–2299
Hallstrom T (1977) Sexuality in the climacteric. Clin Obstet Gynecol 4(1):227–239
Dennerstein L, Smith AM, Morse AM, Burger H (1994) Sexuality and the menopause. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol 1994 15(1):59–66
Dennerstein L, Randolph J, Taffe J, Dudley E, Burger H (2002) Hormones, mood, sexuality and the menopausal transition. Fertil Steril 77(Supp4):S42–48
Leiblum SR (2002) Menopausal women with HSDD report decreased sexual activity. Menopause 9:474
Sarrel PM (1990) Sexuality and menopause. Obstet Gynecol 75:26s–30
Bachman GA, Leiblum SR (2004) The impact of hormones on menopausal sexuality. Menopause 11:120–130
Cardozo L, Bachmann G, McClish D, Fonda D, Birgerson L (1998) Meta-analysis of estrogen therapy in the management of urogenital atrophy in postmenopausal women: second report of the Hormones and Urogenital Therapy Committee. Obstet Gynecol 92(4 Pt 2):722–727
Suckling J, Lethaby A, Kennedy R (2006) Local oestrogen for vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women. Cochrane Database Syst Rev
Leiblum S, Bachmann G, Kenmann E, Colburn D, Swatzman L. (1983) Vaginal atrophy in the postmenopausal woman. The importance of sexual activity and hormones. JAMA 249(16):195–198
Burger HG, Dudley EC, Cui J, Dennerstein L, Hopper JL (2000) A prospective longitudinal study of serum testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and sex hormone-binding globulin levels through the menopause transition. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 85:2032–2838
Brown GW, Harris T (1978) Social origins of depression: a reply. Psychol Med 8(4):577–588
Hallstrom T (1977) Sexuality in the climacteric. Clin Obstet Gynaecol 4(1):227–239
Gracia CR, Sammel MD, Freeman EW, Liu L, Hollander L, Nelson DB (2004) Predictors of decreased libido in women during the late reproductive years. Menopause 4;11(2):144–150
Jaszmann L (1973) Epidemiology of climacteric and climacteric complaints. Front Hormone Res 2:22–34
Bachmann GA, Leiblum SR, Grill J (1989) 1989 Brief sexual inquiry in gynecologic practice. Obstet Gynecol 73(3 Pt 1):425–427
Plouffe L (1985) Screening for sexual problems through a simple questionnaire. Am J Obstet Gynecol 151(2):166–169
Berman L, Berman J, Felder S, Pollets D, Chhabra S, Miles M, Powell JA (2003) Seeking help for sexual function complaints: what gynecologists need to know about the female patient’s experience. Fertil Steril 79(3):572–576
Nusbaum MM, Helton MR, Ray N (2004) The changing nature of women’s sexual health concerns through the midlife years. Maturitas 49(4):283–291
Nusbaum MM, Braxton L, Strayhom G (2005) The sexual concerns of African American, Asian American, and white women seeking routine gynecological care. J Am Board Fam Pract 18(3):173–179
Bancroft J, Loftus J, Long JS (2003) Distress about sex: a national survey of women in heterosexual relationships. Arch Sex Behav 32(3):193–208
Dennerstein L, Lehert P (2004) Women’s sexual functioning, lifestyle, mid-age, and menopause in 12 European countries. Menopause 11(6 Pt 2):778–785
Fugl-Meyer AR, Fugl-Meyer K (1999) Sexual disabilities, problems and satisfaction in 18–74 year old Swedes. Scand J Sex 2:79–105
Nappi NE, Nijland EA (2008) Women’s perception of sexuality around the menopause: outcomes of a European telephone survey. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 137(1):10–16
Nicolosi A, Laumann EO, Glasser DB, Moreira ED Jr, Paik A, Gingell C (2004) Global Study of Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors Investigators’ Group. Sexual behavior and sexual dysfunctions after age 40: the global study of sexual attitudes and behaviors. Urology 64(5):991–997
Conflicts of interest
None.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Domoney, C. Sexual function in women: what is normal?. Int Urogynecol J 20 (Suppl 1), 9–17 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-009-0841-x
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-009-0841-x