Sexual experiences of postmenopausal women in China: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND: Sexual dysfunction is common among postmenopausal women and can have a significant negative impact on quality of life. AIM: This study aimed to explore perceptions, experiences, and coping strategies related to sex among postmenopausal women in China. METHODS: We used phenomenologic qualitative methods in this study. On the basis of purposive sampling and the data saturation principle, 21 volunteers from a community cohort study were selected for semistructured interviews. The data were analyzed and themes were extracted. OUTCOMES: Thematic codes pertaining to sexual experiences and coping strategies were defined and assessed in this study. RESULTS: Four themes and 12 subthemes were extracted from the interview data. The sexual concepts were relatively conservative for most of the Chinese women; the majority experienced physical and psychological distress with respect to sex, although negative and positive psychological experiences were described. The women often passively accepted and adapted to negative changes to their sex lives during the postmenopause period. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: This study highlights the importance of and need for effective dissemination of sexual health–related knowledge and the opening of appropriate communication channels. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: By using a qualitative approach, this study provides individuals with the opportunity to describe their cognition and attitudes toward sexuality. Limitations include limited generalizability, as is true for most qualitative research. Additionally, the study is based solely on the female perspective and cannot fully reflect the sex life of couples. CONCLUSION: The sexual experiences of our respondents exhibited distinct Chinese cultural characteristics. The interviews show the importance of paying attention to postmenopausal women’s sexual health and providing relevant professional support and guidance to improve women’s overall health-related quality of life.