Menopausal experience and sexuality: women's perceptions.

Objective: Menopause can result in significant transformations in a woman's life and sexuality. A limited number of studies have investigated women's perceptions at the time of menopause and their potential impact on their sexuality. The aim of this study is to explore women's perceptions of menopause and their impact on their sexuality from a multidimensional perspective, using a qualitative approach.

Methods: We conducted 13 semistructured individual interviews with postmenopausal women aged 49 to 63 years. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and coded by 2 investigators. These codes were then classified into themes and subthemes.

Results: With regard to menopause, the participants first emphasized the physical and psychological symptoms (hot flashes, genitourinary disorders, weight gain, depression, mood swings) that they experienced during this time, which were sometimes incapacitating. They also reported a complex psychosocial context at the onset of menopause. Most of them went through this experience alone. The combination of these various factors resulted in a highly variable menopausal experience. Their sexuality was primarily influenced by the severity of the genitourinary disorders and the quality of the relationship with their partner, and sexual desire levels varied as a result.

Conclusions: The overall experience of menopause widely varies from one woman to another, mainly depending on the intensity of the physical and psychological symptoms, as well as on their life context. Sexuality and sexual desire may change quantitatively and qualitatively. Some women are at greater risk for a negative menopause experience and require special attention from health care professionals.