This includes a doubling of the likelihood of experiencing decreased libido and arousal in premenopausal women.
This study, considered the largest of its kind, examined the prevalence of sexual difficulties and psychological distress related to sexual life among women aged 40 to 69.
The results showed that the early premenopausal stage represents a critical period in which indicators of sexual health decline, which calls for the development of clear treatment guidelines and effective support options for women during this stage.
Professor Susan Davis, lead author of the study and head of the Women’s Health Research Programme at Monash University, said there is a significant lack of accurate data on the prevalence of decreased libido among middle-aged women and the impact of hormonal changes associated with menopause on various aspects of sexual life.
She added that sexual health is a fundamental element of public health, and its impact on intimacy, mental health, and overall quality of life cannot be ignored.
The study included 5,468 Australian women and showed that 2,583 of them experienced sexual distress. One in four women reported overt sexual dysfunction, while a similar proportion experienced sexual distress without a specific dysfunction.
The study explained that the most common disorders were decreased sexual desire (13.3%), decreased arousal (13.1%), and a decline in sexual self-image (12.8%), noting that women suffering from a weak sexual self-image were the most prone to psychological distress.
Dr. Yuan Yuan Wang, from the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine and a participant in the study, stated that the analysis, which took into account factors such as origin, marital status, body mass index, vaginal dryness, symptoms of depression, and experiences of psychological or sexual abuse, showed that sexual difficulties increase with age, while the severity of the associated distress decreases.
She noted that women between the ages of 55 and 59 are more likely to suffer from sexual disorders compared to younger age groups, highlighting that age is a major factor affecting sexual health.
Davis concluded by emphasizing that early perimenopause is a vulnerable period in the development of sexual desire disorders, calling for expanded research and clear treatment guidelines to support women at this stage, given the limited treatment options currently available.
The study results were published in The Lancet Gynecology & Obstetrics & Women's Health journal.
