Background: As a result of increase in life expectancy in the world, women spend at least one third of their age in the middle-age. Middle aged is associated with bio-psycho-social changes that effect on women’s health. The aim of this study is a review on different dimensions of middle-aged women’s sexual health in a holistic bio-psycho-social approach.
Methods: This is a narrative review in 2019. Published studies in English language Databases including Pubmed, Science direct, ProQuest and Cochrane library were searched using “sexual health”،”sexuality”، “midlife”، “Middle-aged” ، “Menopause” as keywords. The Persian language database was SID using the same words in Farsi. Google and Google scholar websites were searched to introduce new pharmaceutical drug products.
Results: Most middle-aged people have some diseases and use some drugs to control them. Diseases and or drugs Psychological side effects such as depression are also prevalent. These factors have a multifaceted effect on the sexual health of middle-aged women. Concerns about physical changes due to raise age are also common, sometimes leading to cosmetic surgeries in different parts of body including the genitalia. In many cultures, sexual issues are taboo, especially sexual behaviors, in the elderly results in the neglect of many issues related to sexual health at this age. Also beliefs about sexual activity in middle- aged are factors that influence the quality and quantity of women's access to sexual health services. Genitourinary tract atrophy is a common complication of menopause that requires medical intervention, including the use of water-soluble lubricants, topical or systemic estrogen products, or non-estrogenic oral products.
Conclusions: Interventions based on the needs of middle-aged women with the aim of maintaining and promoting their sexual health can include the management of symptoms and complications of diseases and or medications effect on sexual life, the correction of misconceptions, and life skills, including self-awareness and effective interpersonal communication. On the other hand, empowering health care providers to screen, manage and refer middle-aged clients with sexual concerns or problems is a key step in promoting the sexual health of middle-aged women.