TUESDAY, Dec. 17, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- A woman’s sex drive often diminishes with age, particularly during perimenopause when issues like pain and vaginal discomfort arise.

A new study, however, reveals that sexual identity may play a key role in sexual well-being during midlife.

The study, published Dec. 18 in the journal Menopause, found that non-heterosexual women were significantly more likely to remain sexually active and less likely to report pain during sexual activity compared to heterosexual women.

Up to 85% of postmenopausal women report challenges with sexual function, including pain, reduced libido and distress.

These symptoms, often emerging during perimenopause, can have lasting effects on quality of life and relationships.

Researchers led by Laura Muratore, a clinical research coordinator in psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco, analyzed survey data from more than 230 female veterans enrolled in the Veterans Health Administration. The participants had an average age of 56, and 25% identified as non-heterosexual.

Female veterans are a critical population for research, as their numbers have more than doubled in the past two decades and over half are now in midlife (40s to 60s).

What was found?

• Non-heterosexual women were 2.2 times more likely to report being sexually active in the past month compared to heterosexual women.

• Only 12% of non-heterosexual women reported pain during sexual activity, compared to 48% of heterosexual women.

• Non-heterosexual women were also less likely to report vaginal symptoms, with 39% experiencing them compared to 63% of heterosexual women.

These results are particularly noteworthy because women who aren't heterosexual often face healthcare discrimination and barriers that can negatively impact their mental and physical health.

"The results of this study highlight that menopause and aging substantively affect sexual health and functioning in women veterans and, further, that experiences may vary significantly based on sexual identity," Dr. Stephanie Faubion, medical director for The Menopause Society, said in a news release.

"Additional research is needed to better understand the unique needs of midlife sexual minority women and to promote the provision of affirming healthcare to sexual minority women Veterans.”

More information

The Menopause Society has more about sexual health during menopause.

SOURCE: The Menopause Society, news release, Dec. 18, 2024