Sexual Health and Menopause

Sexual Health and Menopause

“The menopause transition and postmenopause can be
associated with bothersome changes in sexual function.
Although some women experience a stronger sense of…”.1

Umbrella

What may the Sexual Health and Menopause Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Menopause and Sexual Health
  • Sexual Health and Menopause
  • Sexual Well-Being and Menopause
  • Urogenital Problems

Changes

What are some menopause sexual health changes?

In Menopause and Sexuality the Office on Women’s Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Womenshealth.gov note:

“In the years around menopause, you may experience changes in your sex life. Some women say they enjoy sex more. Other women find that they think about sex less often or don’t enjoy it as much. Low hormone levels after menopause cause vaginal tissues to be thinner or drier. There are treatments to help your symptoms”.2

On page one in Menopause and Sexual Function the Menopause Society (formerly the North American Menopause Society) explain:

“The menopause transition and postmenopause can be associated with bothersome changes in sexual function. Although some women experience a stronger sense of sexual confidence and freedom after menopause, others find that symptoms negatively affect their relationships and well-being. The most reported sexual concerns during this time include:

  • Low sex drive
  • Decreased lubrication
  • Vaginal dryness
  • Pain with sex
  • Difficulty having an orgasm
  • Decreased sexual satisfaction”.3

Treatment Options

What are some treatment options?

In Vaginal Atrophy: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment the (United States) Mayo Clinic elaborate on:

“To treat genitourinary syndrome of menopause, your healthcare professional might recommend that you first try a remedy you can buy without a prescription. If that doesn’t help ease your symptoms, you may opt for a hormone treatment, other prescription medicine or a device to stimulate and stretch vaginal tissues, called a vaginal dilator.

  • “Vaginal moisturizers or lubricants…
    • Vaginal moisturizers…
    • Water- or silicone-based lubricants…
  • Topical estrogen…
    • Vaginal estrogen cream (Estrace, Premarin)…
    • Vaginal estrogen suppositories (Imvexxy)…
    • Vaginal estrogen ring (Estring)…
    • Vaginal estrogen tablet (Vagifem, Yuvafem)…
  • Ospemifene (Osphena)…
  • Prasterone (Intrarosa)…
  • Systemic estrogen therapy…
  • Vaginal dilators…
  • Topical lidocaine…”.4

In Sexual Health: Drug Therapy the Menopause Society include:

“Many sexual problems can be successfully treated with prescription therapies.

  • Estrogen…
  • Intravaginal dehydroepiandrosterone…
  • Ospemifene…
  • Flibanserin…
  • Bremelanotide…
  • Testosterone…”.5

Partners

What can partners be mindful of about sex and menopause?

In Menopause Information for Partners: Sex and Menopause the JH elaborate on:

“It’s common for women to have lower sex drive (libido) around the time of menopause. This may be due to changing hormone levels, low mood, changing body shape, fatigue and vaginal dryness (which can cause pain during sex)”.6

Sexual Activity

Is there an association between sexual activity and menopause?

In Sexual Health: Frequently Asked Questions – What Changes Should I Expect After Menopause? the Menopause Society include:

“Regular vaginal sexual activity is important for vaginal health after menopause because it stimulates blood flow, helps keep your vaginal muscles toned, and maintains your vagina’s length and stretchiness”.7

Health Care Provider

What if I would like help with my sexual health and menopause?

If you would like help with your sexual health and menopause, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

On page two in Menopause and Sexual Function: Causes of Sexual Dysfunction During and After the Menopause Transition the Menopause Society reassure us:

“It is important to recognize that sexual function may change as women age but is still a vital component of well-being. Successful treatment depends on identifying and addressing individual factors because the cause is often multifactorial and may require an integrative approach to management. With the right care, sexual well-being can be restored”.8

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Sexual Health and Menopause?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Sexual Health and Menopause?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

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New or Updated

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  5. Anatomy of the Vagina
  6. Birth Control Options: Things To Consider
  7. Caredownthere.com.au
  8. Complementary & Alternative Therapies: Non-Hormonal Treatments for Menopause Symptoms
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  10. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2024 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Preparing for Your Menopause Health Care Visit
  11. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
  12. Douching
  13. EMAS On-Demand Webinars [European Menopause and Andropause Society] [Multiply Languages]: Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM): Diagnosis and Evidence-Based Management
  14. EMAS On-Demand Webinars [European Menopause and Andropause Society] [Multiply Languages]: Sleep Disturbances In Menopause
  15. Enjoying Your Sex Life
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  17. FAQs: Disorders of the Vulva: Common Causes of Vulvar Pain, Burning, and Itching
  18. FAQs: Vulvovaginal Health
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  21. FDA Approves Expanded Use of Flibanserin for Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder In Women
  22. FDA Public Meeting: Testosterone Use In Menopausal Women
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  23. Find A Member [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  24. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  25. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  26. Gaslighting of Genitourinary Symptoms of the Menopause
  27. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause
  28. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM)
  29. HRT Types and Doses | Dr Louise Newson
  30. Health.gov.au/perimenopause [Australia]
  31. How Menopause Affects Sexuality
  32. How Perimenopause Can Really Impact You and Your Partner
  33. How Vaginal Hormones Can Transform the Health of Women
  34. Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder HSDD—Open the Door to Discussion
  35. International Menopause Society (IMS) Recommendations and Key Messages on Women’s Midlife Health and Menopause
  36. International Society for Sexual Medicine: Sexual Health Topics
  37. International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Diseases: Patient Handouts
  38. International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health: Find A Provider
  39. Is It Too Late To Start HRT?
  40. Is There A Medicine Like Viagra for Women?
  41. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Sexual Wellbeing, Intimacy and Menopause [+ Video: Menopause Is the End of Your Sex Life]
  42. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Supporting Someone Through the Menopause [+ Video: Men Don’t Need To Know About Menopause]
  43. Loss of Libido
  44. Lubricant Alternatives: What To Use and What To Avoid
  45. Looking After Yourself Around the Time of Menopause [Multiply Languages]: What You can Do About Low Libido and Menopause
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  47. MenopauseSexual Health and Menopause
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  49. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
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  52. Navigating Menopause Care Resource Guide
    Sexual Health and Menopause
  53. Navigating Menopause: Honest Answers To All Your Questions [+ Video: What To Expect in Menopause]
  54. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: IMS Partnership Symposia Series – Dyspareunia – Vaginal Atrophy and Beyond [Webinar] [ Sign In To Confirm Your Age]
  55. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2025: The Burn, the Itch, the Pain, the Urge: GSM In Women
  56. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2026: New IMS Recommendations – Midlife Body Changes
  57. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2026: New IMS Recommendations: Sexuality and Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause
  58. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2026: Sex In Menopause: Medical Understanding and Therapies In Managing Sexual Dysfunction
  59. Pain Down There? 9 Reasons Your Vagina Hurts
  60. Painful Sex (Dyspareunia)
  61. Perimenopause and Menopause Checklist: Translated Checklists
  62. Prosayla Supported By ISSWSH [International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health]
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  76. The Menopause Society Show: Menopause & Sexual Desire
  77. The Vulva & Vagina Explained: Sex Ed #2
  78. Thriving Through Midlife for the Aging Female: Menopause, Sexual Health and Wellness
  79. Top Menopause Questions Answered: Hormones, Bones, Sex & Sleep
  80. Understanding the Sexual Concerns of Older Women Presenting for Care To Women’s Health Clinics: A Cross-Sectional Study
  81. Vaginal Atrophy
  82. Vaginal Dryness Alternative Treatments
  83. Vaginal Laser Therapy
    Sexual Health and Menopause
  84. Vulva and Vagina
  85. Vulval Irritation and Treatment
  86. Vulval and Vaginal Conditions
  87. Vulval and Vaginal Conditions: Vaginismus
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  91. What Types of Vaginal Oestrogens Are There?
  92. What Women’s Health Providers Need To Know About Testosterone Therapy and Menopause
  93. Which Vaginal Moisturiser Should You Use?
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  95. Why Men Need To Understand The Menopause & Women’s Hormones | Dr Louise Newson
  96. Why You Do Not Ever Need To Douche
  97. Why You Get An Itch or Thrush on Vaginal Estrogen and What To Do About It
  98. Women’s Sexual Health: Talking About Your Sexual Needs
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  100. Your Daily Dose: Perimenopause, Don’t Suffer In Silence

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Menopause and Sexual Function. 2026:1. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/wp-content/uploads/for-women/Menonote-Menopause-and-Sexual-Function.pdf Accessed: 10 September 2026
  2. Menopause and Sexual Health. Page Last Updated: 12 March 2025. Office on Women’s Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Womenshealth.gov https://womenshealth.gov/menopause/menopause-and-sexuality Accessed: 10 September 2026
  3. Menopause and Sexual Function. 2026:1. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/wp-content/uploads/for-women/Menonote-Menopause-and-Sexual-Function.pdf Accessed: 10 September 2026
  4. Vaginal Atrophy: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment.20 December 2025. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vaginal-atrophy/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352294 Accessed: 10 September 2026
  5. Sexual Health: Drug Therapy. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/sexual-health Accessed: 10 September 2026
  6. Menopause Information for Partners: Sex and Menopause. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-topics/menopause/menopause-information-for-partners/#section-sex-and-menopause Accessed: 10 September 2026
  7. Sexual Health: Frequently Asked Questions – What Changes Should I Expect After Menopause? Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/sexual-health Accessed: 10 September 2026
  8. Menopause and Sexual Function: Causes of Sexual Dysfunction During and After the Menopause Transition. 2026:2. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/wp-content/uploads/for-women/Menonote-Menopause-and-Sexual-Function.pdf Accessed: 10 September 2026
Topic Last Updated: 18 September 2026 – Topic Last Reviewed: 10 September 2026

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