Another myth is that women lose it. their interest in sex as they reach middle age, science in particular a study in which more than 3,200 women took part for 15 years.

About a quarter of the women surveyed they think sex is very important, regardless of their age,” notes Dr. Holly Thomas, lead author of an abstract presented at the annual meeting of the North American Menopause Society in September 2020.

“The study showed that a significant number of women still value sex even as they get older, and that’s not abnormal,” adds Thomas, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh.

“If women can talk to their partner and make sure that sex is satisfying and enjoyable for them, then they are more likely to rate it as very important as they get older,” she said.

“And it’s actually a welcome change, that for a quarter of the women surveyed, sex remains not unnoticed, but very important” notes dr. Stephanie Fobion, director of the North American Menopause Society, who was not involved in the study.

“Studies like this provide valuable data to health authorities that might otherwise dismiss decreased sex drive as a natural part of a woman’s aging,” she adds.

Three categories of answers

The study, which analyzed data from a number of small studies, shows three distinct trends in how women view sex:

• About a quarter of respondents (28%) value sex less in middle age.
• However, the same number (27%) say the exact opposite, arguing that sexual intercourse remains especially important during the fifth, sixth, and seventh decades of life. – an unexpected development that completely contradicts the notion that women lose sexual interest as they grow older.
• The third trend is seen in the majority of women (48%) who seem to appreciate a healthy sex life as they approach menopause, but gradually lose interest in it in their 50s and 60s.

When women enter their premenstrual period, between the ages of 40 and 50, hormonal changes begin that make sex less enjoyable or even more painful.

Decreased estrogen production causes vaginal dryness, while at the same time making the vaginal wall thinner and less elastic. Excitation becomes more difficult, while hot flashes, sleep disturbances and other symptoms affect the woman’s mood, causing fatigue, anxiety, depression.

Source: CNN