Midlife LGBTQ women report better sexual function vs. heterosexual women

Lesbian, bisexual and pansexual perimenopausal and postmenopausal women reported being sexually active more often than heterosexual women and had better sexual function, according to data presented at the NAMS Annual Meeting.

“Much of the extant literature on menopause experience focuses on heterosexual, cisgender women,” Anna Blanken, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center at the time of the study, told Healio. “We hoped our study may open a door to more inclusive descriptions and resources regarding the menopause experience for all people who enter the menopause transition.”

Blanken and colleagues administered surveys to 198 female veterans aged 45 to 64 years who received health care from the Veterans Health Administration. Women self-reported sexual orientation and completed questionnaires assessing sexual function; genitourinary symptoms related to sexual function; and depression, anxiety and trauma symptoms.

Overall, 26% of women identified as lesbian, bisexual or pansexual. A greater proportion of these participants reported solo or partnered sexual activity during the past month compared with heterosexual women (65% vs. 40%; OR = 1.21; 95% CI, 1.32-8.55).

Compared with heterosexual women, lesbian, bisexual and pansexual women also reported better sexual function, were less likely to report pain during sexual activity and were less likely to report vaginal dryness (P for all = .02).

Military sexual assault was associated with lower sexual function for heterosexual women (P = .03), but not lesbian, bisexual and pansexual women.

Additionally, depression (P < .001), anxiety (P < .01) and trauma (P < .01) symptoms were associated with lower sexual function among heterosexual women, but not among lesbian, bisexual and pansexual women.

“Our study had some limitations, including a small sample size, and we are unsure if these findings would extend to civilian women,” Blanken said. “Future research could also focus on exploring how gender identity, partner gender, relationship factors, type of sexual intimacy or other important factors play a role in attitudes towards or experience of menopause among different sexual orientations.”

References:

• Blanken AE, et al. Abstract S-23. Presented at: North American Menopause Society Annual Meeting; Oct. 12-15, 2022; Atlanta.
• The effect of sexual orientation on sexual function in peri- and postmenopausal women. www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/press-release/sexual-function-by-sexual-orientation-release.pdf#:~:text=The%20Effect%20of%20Sexual%20Orientation%20on%20Sexual%20Function,sexual%20functioning%20and%20less%20pain%20during%20sexual%20activity. Published Oct. 12, 2022. Accessed Oct. 14, 2022.