[Survey on sexual satisfaction situation and some of affecting agents in postmenopausal women]

ABSTRACT

Menopause is defined as the ability of fertility to infertility and has a significant role in personality, social and cultural aspects. Menopause has a special situation in reproductive health. One of the problems during the menopause period is decreasing of sexual desire or sexual satisfaction. Sexual aspects of postmenopausal women can promote their health and quality of life. This study was conducted to determine affecting agents on sexual satisfaction of postmenopausal women referring to healthcare clinics affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran in 2007. In this descriptive study 270 menopause women were selected by convenience sampling method. A questionnaire was used for data collection comprising of two parts demographic and sexual satisfaction questions. Mean age of menopause women was 52.49 +/- 4.93 years. A desirable sexual satisfaction rate was 58.9% and 66.3% had undesirable sexual satisfaction. Sexual desire dimension was associated with womens' job [P<0.05]. Sexual excitation dimension was associated with primary and intermediate education of postmenopausal women, intermediate husband's education and spouse; free job. Sexual orgasm and relaxation after coitus was associated with unmasturbation and sexual activity of their women. Total sexual satisfaction rate was associated with age of menopause [P< 0.01], primary and intermediate education of postmenopausal women [P< 0.05], primary and intermediate education of spouse and satisfaction rate from sexual activity [P< 0.01]. Although postmenopausal stage is associated with decreased level of sexual hormones and drive intimate relationship with spouse, increasing education level leading to increasing knowledge and adaptation with menopause, can elevate sexual satisfaction