Sexuality and contraception in the perimenopause
I. Isorna Retamino, J.Mª. Escolano Güelfo, Mª.M. Garrido Arce

SUMMARY

Study objective: To measure quality and frecuency of sexual relations in the perimenopause in association with contraceptive methods.To determine their concern about pregnancy.

Study design: Transversal descriptive study.

Emplacement: Primary Care centre (Seville).

Subjects: 102 women between 45 and 55 years of age with perimenopause symptoms and sexual relations.

Principal measures: Quality and frecuency of sexual relations and perimenopause symptoms. 211 telephone calls were made, 109 of which were refused.

Results: 31,4% have more than 6 intercourses per month. The evaluation of the quality of their current relations is as follows: 78.5% value them as good or very good (66.7% and 11.8%). Their own comparison with the quality of their relations 10 years ago with the current ones shows that 64.4% valued them as good or very good (42.2% and 22.5%). Regarding the quality of the current relations compared with those 10 years ago (p= 0.000) 55% declared that they were similar, 29.2% that they were worse, and 15.8% that they were better. It has been observed an association between the relations' quality and changes in the sexual desire (p= 0.029), weakness and fatigue (p= 0.031), insomnia and humour changes (p= 0.029). 66.7% of women weren't concerned about being pregnant.

Conclusions: Perimenopause has no relation with a decrease in the quality and frecuency of sexual relations. More symptoms do not necessarily mean worse quality in the relations. Psychical symptoms have a bad influence. Less than half of women consult their doctors and only a quarter of them are under treatment. They are carefree about contraception.

KEY WORDS

Sexuality, perimenopause, contraconceptives.