Vulvar/vaginal atrophy
Miranda A. Farage, Howard I. Maibach in The Vulva, 2017
In general, physical therapy, including pelvic floor exercises, medical devices, laser technology, and other activities with the aim of learning new areas of sexual expertise, are useful alone or in association with other treatments in order to improve urogenital health (22,92). It is also important to mention that regular sexual activity, when it is possible, facilitates active blood flow to the vagina and increases vaginal lubrication. Psychoeducational programs and cognitive reconstruction have been shown to be highly effective in menopause, namely after gynecological and breast cancers, and such techniques are both for the individual woman and also for the couple (66,91). Indeed, recent data indicate that evaluation of men’s attitudes regarding VVA affecting their postmenopausal partners may lead to better understanding of the impact of VVA on sexual intimacy and may help couples to address the consequences of vaginal discomfort with their HCPs (4).
Sexuality, sexual intimacy and sexual health in later life
V. Minichiello, I. Coulson in Contemporary Issues in Gerontology, 2012
In both men and women, physiological changes that can impact on sexual activity may occur. For example, as men age a decrease in testosterone levels generally occurs, and while this does not directly affect sexual functioning it has been attributed to a decline in libido (Meston 1997). To experience an erection more direct stimulation for longer periods is often required. The ability to achieve orgasm remains, although contractions may be fewer with less intensity and ejaculation may also have less volume (Zeiss & Kasel-Godley 2001). For women, changes predominantly occur due to the loss of estrogen after menopause. Changes may include thinning of the vaginal lining and a reduction in vaginal lubrication that may lead to pain during intercourse. Orgasmic response remains, however, as with men, intensity of contractions may be reduced. There is some suggestion that maintaining sexual activity reduces the chances of these physiological changes in both men and women (Meston 1997; Zeiss & Kasel-Godley 2001).
Physiology of normal sexual function
Jacques Corcos, David Ginsberg, Gilles Karsenty in Textbook of the Neurogenic Bladder, 2015
Role of sex steroids on physiological genital changes Androgens, acting directly or through their conversion to estrogens in the central nervous system (CNS) and in periphery, are essential for the development of reproductive function and play a critical role in maintaining the structural and functional integrity of vaginal tissues, and modulating physiological changes occurring during sexual arousal.66,67 In addition, clinical and experimental studies suggested a role for estrogens in modulating genital blood flow. In women, the decline of circulating estrogen associated with menopause affect vaginal lubrication and can be responsible for clitoral fibrosis and diminished thinning of the vagina wall.68
Risk factors associated with recurrent referral to the emergency room following surgical treatment of Bartholin’s gland abscess
Published in Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 2020
Reut Rotem, David Yahoy, Chagit Diamant, Noa Greenberg, Misgav Rottenstreich, Boaz Sheizaf, Adi Y. Weintraub
The Bartholin glands secrete mucous for vulvar and vaginal lubrication during sexual intercourse (Lee et al. 2015). They are located deep to the posterior aspects of the labia majora, just below the hymenal ring and drain through ducts into the vestibule (Sośnik et al. 2007). Most lesions of the Bartholin gland are cysts or abscesses with a ratio of 1:3 (Heller and Bean 2014) with an estimated incidence of 2% worldwide (Omole et al. 2003). While a simple cyst may remain asymptomatic, an abscess usually presents with painful vulvar swelling and dyspareunia and, at times, even systemic fever (Kessous et al. 2013). A higher prevalence of Bartholin’s gland cysts and abscesses is seen in the early reproductive years and this may be attributed to a gradual involution of the glands that may occur at the age of 30 and onwards (Stillman 1995). The known risk factors, other than the age and a previous occurrence of a cyst or an abscess, have not been clearly identified (Heller and Bean 2014). The knowledge with regard to the microbiological characteristics of an abscess has evolved over time. Initially thought to be a sexually transmitted disease (Aghajanian et al. 1994), recent studies have demonstrated a polymicrobial origin that most commonly involves Escherichia coli (Kessous et al. 2013; Lee et al. 2015).
The Effects of Hormonal and Non-Hormonal Intrauterine Devices on Female Sexual Function: A Systematic Review
Published in International Journal of Sexual Health, 2023
Katherine Ogle, Ariel B. Handy
Nine studies measured the effects of IUDs on vaginal lubrication. Three articles were assessed as being high quality and six articles were assessed as being moderate quality. Of these nine studies, four noted no significant between-group differences in lubrication (Bastianelli et al., 2011; Koseoglu et al., 2016; Skrzypulec & Drosdzol, 2008; Umran & Melike, 2016). For example, two studies found no notable differences in lubrication between women with a Cu-IUD (Koseoglu et al., 2016) or LNG-IUD (Skrzypulec & Drosdzol, 2008) and women not using contraceptives, though poorer lubrication in IUD users has been noted elsewhere (Fataneh et al., 2013; Sakinci et al., 2016). A large study by Hassanin et al. (2018) partially supported neutral effects of IUDs with results indicating no significant differences in FSFI lubrication scores between Egyptian women with Cu-IUDs (n = 45) and women not using contraceptives (n = 100). However, they did report better lubrication in Cu-IUD users (n = 45) than in women using progestin injectables (n = 22), combined oral pills (n = 21), or progestin-only pills (n = 19).
Gender Differences in the Relationship of Sexual Functioning with Implicit and Explicit Sex Liking and Sex Wanting: A Community Sample Study
Published in The Journal of Sex Research, 2020
Jacques van Lankveld, Kenny Wolfs, Andrea Grauvogl
In the female subsample, the regression model using sexual arousal scores as criterion variable and implicit sex-liking, implicit sex-wanting, and erotophilia scores as predictor variables in the first step was significant when compared to a constant-only model, R2 = .23, F (3, 52) = 5.18, p = .003 (see online Supplementary Table 1). Erotophilia (β = .456, p = .001) significantly contributed to the model. In the second and third steps, no additional explained variance was revealed. The regression model using orgasmic function scores as criterion variable and implicit sex-liking, implicit sex-wanting, and erotophilia scores as predictor variables in the first step was significant when compared to a constant-only model, R2 = .18, F (3, 52) = 3.90, p = .014. Implicit sex wanting (β = −.313, p = .021) and erotophilia (β = .327, p = .014) contributed to prediction. In the second and third steps, no additional explained variance was revealed. Regression models with sexual desire and vaginal lubrication scores as criterion variables were not significant.
Related Knowledge Centers
- Vagina
- Ovulation
- Sexual Arousal
- Sexual Intercourse
- Blood Plasma
- Bartholin'S Gland
- Mucus
- Cervix
- Sexually Transmitted Infection
- Ph