Sexual expectations and needs of middle-aged women: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND: Securing a healthy sexual relationship during middle-agedness would cause new needs and expectations in women, considering the special changes of this period. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the sexual needs of middle-aged women. METHODS: The present study was a qualitative study with content analysis approach. Participants were 15 middle-aged women; their expectations and needs about sexual relationship were gathered using in-depth semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using Graneheim and Lundman inductive content analysis. RESULTS: The main themes that were appeared in the present study included “the need for information” with subcategories of “the need for information about physiologic changes” and “information about psychological changes;” “the need for sympathy” with subcategories of “the need for receiving appropriate feedback” and “appropriate space for expressing the emotions;” “the need for changing social norms” with subcategories of “accepting middle-agedness by the society” and “the need for changing the concept of femininity;” and finally “the need for repairing the sexual relationship” with subcategories of “solutions for solving sexual problems” and “paying attention to the new aspects of sexual relationship.” CONCLUSIONS: Results showed that middle-aged women have various sexual needs and expectations and paying attention to these needs and expectations could affect the improvement of the sexual and mental health of middle-aged women and their families.