Some Determinants of Sexual Satisfaction Among Postmenopausal Women in Shiraz City, Iran: A Cross-Sectional Study

Female sexual satisfaction is one of the main issues that can affect women’s physical and mental health as well as their family life. Although physiological and pathological changes are the main reason for the reduction of libido and sexual satisfaction in postmenopausal women, sociocultural and demographic factors are involved in this regard as well.

The main goal of this study was to examine some demographic and sociocultural factors affecting sexual satisfaction among postmenopausal women in Shiraz, Iran.

This cross-sectional study was performed on 400 married postmenopausal women aged 45 - 59 years in Shiraz in 2018. Data collection tool was a questionnaire, which consisted of four sections: demographic questionnaire, menopause attitude questionnaire, lifestyle questionnaire, and sexual satisfaction questionnaire. The results were analyzed in SPSS V. 20 using Pearson and Spearman tests and multiple linear regressions.

The findings showed that sexual motivation of about 70% of respondents had declined after menopause. In addition, 45% and 32% of respondents, respectively, had a sexual relationship once or twice and less than once a month. The results of multiple regression revealed that the main predictors of sexual satisfaction are lifestyle (B = 0.378, t = 2.09, P < 0.05), number of monthly intercourse (B = 0.199, t = 4.81, P < 0.01), and positive attitude towards menopause (B = 0.242, t = 5.99, P < 0.01).

Demographic and sociocultural factors significantly influence sexual activity and sexual satisfaction of postmenopausal women. Accordingly, researchers and health planners should pay more attention to these factors alongside physiological and psychological dimensions.