Exploring barriers to help-seeking for sexual issues in Iranian postmenopausal women: a qualitative analysis

Sexual health is integral to the well-being of postmenopausal women, yet in Iran, cultural taboos and systemic limitations create significant barriers to seeking help for sexual issues. This study explores the lived experiences and perspectives of Iranian postmenopausal women regarding barriers and facilitators to sexual help-seeking to inform culturally sensitive interventions. A qualitative study using conventional content analysis per Graneheim and Lundman’s methodology was conducted. Seventeen semi-structured interviews with sexually active, married postmenopausal women were held from December 2024 to April 2025 at health centers affiliated with Qazvin University of Medical Sciences. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed to identify themes. Analysis yielded 366 primary codes, 248 main codes, 35 subcategories, 9 categories, and three themes: (1) Individual, Family, and Social Barriers to Seeking Sexual Help, (2) Communication and Structural Challenges of Healthcare Providers in Sexual Help-Seeking, and (3) Infrastructure Deficiencies in Sexual Health Services. Sexual help-seeking is hindered by psychological, cultural, and systemic factors. Interventions should include education campaigns, stigma reduction through media, and improved access to affordable, empathetic sexual health services to enhance well-being among Iranian postmenopausal women.