Female sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women

Sexuality, although only one aspect of human life, is a complex phenomenon involving psychological and physiological factors that play an integral role during the ageing process. Menopause and ageing are important factors affecting female sexuality. Decreased estrogen production related to menopause leads to atrophy and dyspareunia, and potential medical problems and associated psychological disturbances come with ageing. Although sexual dysfunctions increase with age, prevalence during the menopausal transition may vary depending on the studied population, assessment instruments and other methodological issues. A large number of well designed randomised clinical trials investigating the effects of medical interventions on female sexuality have been published recently. However, comparisons between results of these studies are difficult as, in most cases, no validated research methods have been used. To know how to translate results of studies to daily clinical practice, existing limitations in intervention studies on female sexual dysfunction should be clarified. This review discusses female sexual dysfunctions related to the menopausal transition in terms of diagnosis, classification, prevalence, associated risk factors and available treatment options.