J Menopausal Med.  2019 Apr;25(1):15-27. 10.6118/jmm.2019.25.1.15.

Sexual Function and Factors Affecting Menopause: A Systematic Review

Affiliations
  • 1Community-Oriented Nursing Midwifery Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran.
  • 2Young Researchers and Elite Club, Abadeh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Abadeh, Iran.
  • 3Department of Infectious Disease and Tropical Medicine, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
  • 4Department of Nursing, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
  • 5Prehospital Emergency Care, Disaster and Emergency Medical Management Center, ShahreKord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran.
  • 6Health Management and Economics Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. rahim.shaykhi94@gmail.com

Abstract

The purpose of this review study is to evaluate sexual function and its effective factors in menopause. A systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The key words of "menopause,""postmenopause,""postmenopausal,""premenopause,""pre-menopausal period,""sexual function,""sexual health,""sexuality,""sexual and gender disorders,""sexual development,""sexual dysfunction,""sexual disorders,""sexual behavior and "sexual activity" were used in combination with the Boolean operators OR and AND. After reviewing the selected articles, 27 papers were selected based on the criteria for entering the study and the goals set. The results of the reviewed articles showed that, in the physical domain, the factors affecting sexual function can be mentioned, age, hormonal changes, medical problems and reproductive history. Sexual disorders in menopause can be affected by some of the individual and social characteristics and psychological problems. Considering the fact that many psychological and social injuries occur in this period following sexual disorders; therefore, policies and programs for improving the quality of life of women in menopause should be aimed at eliminating sexual dysfunction, correcting attitudes and negative emotions and help to women for more comfortable in menopause.

Keyword

Sexual health; Sexual dysfunctions; Sexual behavior; Menopause

MeSH Terms

Female
Humans
Menopause*
Quality of Life
Reproductive Health
Reproductive History
Sexual Behavior
Sociological Factors

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Review selection process and results, in accordance with the the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.


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