Regular Sexual Activity Linked to Fewer Genitourinary-Related Symptoms in Menopause
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, July 3, 2025 -- Regular sexual activity is associated with a lower prevalence of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM)-related symptoms, according to a study published online June 25 in Menopause.
Yoshikazu Sato, M.D., Ph.D., from Sanjukai Urological Hospital in Sapporo, Japan, and colleagues examined the association between sexual regularity and sexual symptoms among perimenopausal and postmenopausal Japanese women. A total of 911 sexually active women aged 40 to 79 years were divided into two groups: those with regular sexual activity in the past three months (716 women) and a lower sexual activity group, which included women with sexual activity in the past year but not in the past three months (195 women).
The researchers found with age, there was a significant decrease in sexual desire, arousal, and lubrication ability, while sexual pain increased. No significant decline was seen in orgasm and satisfaction with age. Sexual symptoms did not differ significantly in the regular and lower sexual activity groups; however, the regular sexual activity group had significantly lower vulvar symptoms than the lower sexual activity group. Lower odds of vulvar pain, dryness, and irritation were seen in association with sexual activity in the past three months.
"Some sexual functions and symptoms change with age but may be maintained in women who engage in more regular sexual activity," the authors write. "This study also revealed that women with regular sexual activity showed a low prevalence of GSM-related symptoms."
Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co. cooperated in data collection.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted July 2025
Read this next
Moderate-to-Severe Asthma Up for Female Permanent Night Shift Workers
THURSDAY, June 26, 2025 -- Female permanent night shift workers have higher odds of moderate-to-severe asthma than female day workers, but this relationship is not seen in men...
Plant-Based Diet Tied to Weight Loss, Fewer Hot Flashes in Postmenopausal Women
THURSDAY, June 5, 2025 -- A plant-based diet rich in soy, regardless of the level of processing, may benefit both hot flash and weight management in postmenopausal women...
ASCO: Elinzanetant Cuts Vasomotor Symptoms in Women With Breast Cancer on Endocrine Therapy
TUESDAY, June 3, 2025 -- For women with moderate-to-severe vasomotor symptoms associated with endocrine therapy for hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer, elinzanetant, a...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.