Advances in Nursing & Midwifery

Abstract

Background and aim

One of aspects in marital satisfaction is sexual. It has a significant role in mental health of families. With respect to increasing age and life expectancy of Iranian women, studying about sexual aspects of postmenopausal women can promote their health and quality of life. This descriptive study was conducted to determine sexual satisfaction of postmenopausal women referring to healthcare clinics affiliated to Medical Universities in Tehran in 2008.

Materials and methods

270 women were selected by convenience sampling method. A questionnaire completed by interview was used for data collection. It included 2 parts: demographic and sexual satisfaction items. Different statistical tests were used for data analysis.

Findings

Mean age of women was 52.49±4.93. Their sexual satisfaction was desired (58.9%) but their sexual drive was undesired (66.3%). All sexual aspects had a significant relationship with the satisfaction of women from sexual activities (P<0.001). Arousal was significantly related to educational level of husbands (P<0.01), and orgasm as well as resolution to the number of abnormal children (P<0.05), hormone therapy and a specific disease (P<0.01).

Conclusion

Although postmenopausal stage is associated with decreased level of sexual hormones and drive, intimate relationship with spouse, increased educational level leading to increased knowledge, adaptation with menopause, hormone therapy and decreased stress as well as complications of chronic diseases can increase sexual satisfaction.

Keywords: Postmenopausal women, Sexual satisfaction.

*Corresponding Author: Lecturer, Dept. of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. Tehran, Iran.E-mail: zsheikhan@gmail.com.