Menopausal Symptoms, Sexual Activity, and Sexual Satisfaction Among Women Aged 50–80 Years [ID 3386]

INTRODUCTION: Menopause marks a significant transition in a woman's life, often accompanied by physical and psychological symptoms that affect overall well-being. Sexual dysfunction during menopause is prevalent but underexplored. Understanding the effect of menopausal symptoms on sexual satisfaction is crucial to enhancing care and quality of life in this population. METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed survey data from Wave 10 of the National Poll on Healthy Aging. A total of 1,206 U.S. women aged 50–80 were surveyed. Respondents were stratified and weighted to reflect the U.S. Census. Questions addressed common menopausal symptoms, sexual activity, and satisfaction levels. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify associations between menopausal symptoms and both sexual activity/satisfaction. RESULTS: Among women aged 50–64, 36.9% reported three to four symptoms and 26.8% reported five or more. In those aged 65–80, 37.5% reported three to four symptoms and 45.7% reported five or more. Despite higher symptom burden, women in both age groups with more symptoms were paradoxically more likely to report sexual activity in the past 12 months. However, greater symptom burden was associated with lower sexual satisfaction. Sleep disturbances and low libido were most strongly linked to reduced satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS: Most menopausal women experience multiple bothersome symptoms, placing them at increased risk for sexual dysfunction and reduced satisfaction due to hormonal changes. Further research should explore how the number, severity, and type of symptoms individually and collectively affect sexual activity and satisfaction. Understanding these relationships will help health care providers better address menopausal patients’ needs and improve their quality of life.