Menopause, a brake on women’s sexuality?

Every year, October 18 is dedicated to menopause. This world day is an opportunity to highlight this natural phenomenon marked by the cessation of ovulation and the disappearance of periods. Because it varies enormously from one woman to another, some experiencing this stage of their life as a liberation, and others as a real burden.

This is due, among other things, to the numerous symptoms that those affected may experience. More than 60% of women report experiencing hot flashes when menopause occurs, according to Adam and Eve’s “SexReport”*. Fewer people suffer from sleep disorders (45 to 50%) and gain weight (more than 40%).

These physical manifestations of the cessation of ovarian function can influence their well-being and impair self-confidence. In fact, half of the women over 50 surveyed say they feel less good about their body when menopause occurs. The other half of the respondents said they did not notice any bodily changes, and only 10% said they felt better about themselves since they no longer had their periods.

Whether experienced positively or not, menopause is seen as a pivotal period in a woman’s life. It’s an opportunity to approach your sex life differently, without being afraid, for example, of getting pregnant. But we still need to free ourselves from injunctions linked to sexuality. Unfortunately, some women over 50 are unable to do this. 35% of those surveyed have already had sex without wanting to, while 21% have already experimented with practices that did not appeal to them to please their partner. Fortunately, in the majority of cases, menopausal women feel quite good, or even very good, about their sexuality.

*Adam & Eve’s “SexReport” was conducted online, in partnership with Trends Research, among a sample of 1,000 women over 50 living in mainland France.