Confronting the Challenges: Epidemiological Study of Female Sexual Dysfunction and the Menopause

In spite of fast‐moving changes in this field of study, it is possible to reach some tentative conclusions about how women's sexual function changes after menopause: postmenopausal women report a relatively high rate of sexual dysfunction (higher than men). There is a marked decline in sexual interest and frequency of sexual activity. This decline can be ameliorated by a number of psychosocial factors, although vaginal dryness and dyspareunia seem to be driven primarily by declining estradiol. The effects of menopause appear to be incremental and additional to those characteristic of aging. Dennerstein L, and Hayes RD. Confronting the challenges: epidemiological study of female sexual dysfunction and the menopause. J Sex Med 2005;2(suppl 3):118-132.