Sexuality, pelvic floor/vaginal health and contraception at menopause

Abstract

A multitude of biopsychosocial factors influences sexual health at midlife, a common concern in daily practice along with vaginal and pelvic health. Health-care providers (HCPs) need to be proactive in dealing with possible symptoms because in most cases early management prevents distress and improves quality of life. Female sexual dysfunctions (FSDs) may have a complex etiology but sexual history is not difficult implementing basic knowledge of risk factors and some skills helping women to cope with hormonal and age-related changes. This work summarizes key points to approach sexual symptoms in midlife women, providing principles to diagnose and manage hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) and genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM)/vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA), as well as manage contraceptive needs.

Keywords: Contraception; Female sexual dysfunction (FSD); Genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM); Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD); Menopause; Vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA).