Impact of menopausal hormone therapy and physical activity on sexual function among postmenopausal women

This study investigated the association between sexual function and both menopausal hormone therapy and physical activity among postmenopausal women.

In this cross-sectional study, postmenopausal women who had used menopausal hormone therapy for at least three years were recruited as the intervention group, and those who had never used menopausal hormone therapy served as controls. Additionally, women were further categorized based on physical activity levels. All women were requested to complete the Female Sexual Function Index and the International Physical Activity Short Questionnaire for the Elderly surveys to evaluate their sexual function and physical activity levels.

Application of the inclusion and exclusion criteria led to a sample size of 260 for the two study groups combined, 109 in the intervention group (who had used menopausal hormone therapy) and 151 in the control group (who had never used it). Our study revealed that menopausal hormone therapy was effective in alleviating sexual discomfort, with higher scores on the Female Sexual Function Index in the menopausal hormone therapy group compared with the control group (43.73 vs. 37.46, P < 0.05). Specifically, users of menopausal hormone therapy experienced notable improvements in lubrication, orgasm, and overall satisfaction. Intriguingly, increased physical activity was associated with reduced sexual discomfort. Improved lubrication and pain relief were observed in the moderate- and high-exercise group receiving hormone therapy compared with controls.

Both menopausal hormone therapy and physical exercise were related to less sexual discomfort among women in this demographic. Additionally, menopausal hormone therapy appears to enhance the benefits of exercise in addressing sexual discomfort.