Women tend
to lose sexual function dramatically after menopause, an Australian study
concludes. But women still approaching menopause can relax. The study,
which tracked a group of women for 10 years, also identified factors that
help protect against sexual dysfunction.
Although researchers
found women going through the menopausal transition experienced a decline
in sexual interest, decreased arousal and frequency of sexual activity,
and an increase in vaginal dryness and pain during intercourse, all the
changes were linked to a plunge in levels of estradiol, an ovary-produced
hormone.
Therefore, estrogen-containing
hormone replacement therapy can protect against decline of sexual functioning
-- although other factors, such as health of a woman's sexual relationship,
are important as well, researchers said.
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Copyright 2002 by United
Press International.
All rights reserved.
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