|
 Postmenopausal women reported less sexual activity and less sexual
satisfaction if they also had trouble sleeping through the night,
researchers found.
Based on the findings, doctors may want to consider an older woman's
overall health if she brings up issues like sexual satisfaction,
said lead author Dr. Juliana Kling, a women’s health internist at
the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona.
"When a patient is asking me about a sexual health concern, it's
important for me to look at other aspects of her health and ask
about sleep," she told Reuters Health.
For the new study, Kling and colleagues analyzed data collected from
nearly 94,000 women, ages 50 to 79, who were enrolled in the Women’s
Health Initiative Observational Study. The women had answered
questions about their sexual function in the previous year and their
sleep in the previous month.
Overall, 56 percent of the women reported being at least somewhat
satisfied with their current sexual activity. Additionally, 52
percent reported sexual activity with a partner during the previous
year.
Nearly one third of women had insomnia, as determined by a tool that
takes into account their ability to fall asleep, how often they wake
during the night and overall sleep quality.
After accounting for variables that may influence the results, like
hot flashes and vaginal dryness, the researchers found that women
who scored high on the insomnia tool were about 8 percent less
likely to report being satisfied with their sex lives.
The researchers also report in the journal Menopause that sexual
activity and satisfaction decreased with shorter sleep duration.
Women who slept six hours per night were about 6 percent less likely
to be sexually active and 6 percent less likely to be sexually
satisfied, compared to women who slept seven to eight hours per
night.
Likewise, women who slept only about five hours per night were about
12 percent less likely to be sexually active and 12 percent less
likely to be sexually satisfied than those who slept seven to eight
hours per night.
"The study suggests high-quality and sufficient sleep is important
for sexual function," said Kling.
[to top of second column] |
The results don't prove poor sleep causes less sexual activity and
satisfaction, however. The study also can't say whether increasing
sleep duration would improve the women's sex lives.
"It certainly suggests that, but it’s an observational study we
can’t show the directionality of that relationship," Kling said.
Women and their doctors should recognize how symptoms of menopause
and sleep affect women's lives, including their health, work, home
and relationships, said Dr. JoAnn Pinkerton, who is executive
director of the North American Menopause Society.
"We know that seven hours of sleep have been determined by the
national sleep foundation as best for your cognitive functioning and
prevention of Alzheimer's," said Pinkerton, who is also affiliated
with the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville.
For women having trouble with sleep, there are a number of
interventions that may help, including short-term hormone therapy,
cognitive behavioral therapy and good sleep hygiene, Pinkerton told
Reuters Health.
"Paying attention to getting seven hours of sleep per night is one
of the most important things you can do for your family, your
relationship your work and your health," said Pinkerton, who was not
involved with the new study.
SOURCE: http://bit.ly/2jZqFhw Menopause, online January 30, 2017.
[© 2017 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2017 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
