Sexual activity and background variables among Finnish middle-aged women.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize the associations of sexual experience, orgasm experience, and lack of sexual desire with background variables.


METHODS
Questionnaire was mailed to population-based samples (n=5510, 70% response) of soon-to-be-menopausal (aged 42-46 years) and menopausal (aged 52-56 years) women.


RESULTS
Being married/having a spouse meant more sexual activity for both groups but also the likelihood to experience lack of sexual desire. Hormones emerged as the most important perceived reason for lack of sexual desire.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings indicated a discrepancy between the reported frequencies of sexual experiences/orgasms with spouse and lack of desire.
Ojanlatva
Ansa
A
Department of Teacher Education, and Institute of Biomedicine, Center for Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, University of Turku, Turku/Finland. ansa.ojanlatva@utu.fi
Helenius
Hans
H
Jokinen
Kirsi
K
Sundell
Jari
J
Mäkinen
Juha
J
Rautava
Päivi
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires