Menopause and female sexual dysfunctions

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Psychology
• Gerontology

Background:

• Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is prevalent in menopausal women, influenced by biological and psychosocial elements.
• Midlife consultations are opportune moments for healthcare providers to proactively address sexual health concerns.
• Patients often do not spontaneously report sexual symptoms, necessitating direct inquiry.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the equal contribution of biological and psycho-relational factors in FSD development.
• To emphasize the importance of a proactive approach by healthcare providers in midlife sexual health discussions.
• To underscore the necessity of a comprehensive sexual history for accurate diagnosis and management.

Main Methods:

• Review of contributing factors to sexual symptoms and distress in menopausal women.
• Analysis of the role of midlife consultations in identifying FSDs.
• Emphasis on detailed sexual history taking to characterize symptoms and identify contributing factors.
• Discussion of common FSDs at midlife, including hypoactive sexual desire disorder and genitourinary syndrome of menopause.

Main Results:

• Both biological and psycho-relational factors are equally significant in FSD development and associated distress.
• Hypoactive sexual desire disorder and genitourinary syndrome of menopause are frequent FSDs in midlife.
• A multidimensional approach is essential for effective management.

Conclusions:

• Accurate sexual history taking is vital for diagnosing FSDs and understanding their impact.
• Management requires a multidimensional strategy, including patient education, risk factor modification, and tailored non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatments.
• Addressing both biological and psychosocial components is key to managing FSDs in menopausal women.