15% of postmenopausal women have less sexual desire.

Menopause and sex

After menopause, about 15% of women experience a significant decrease in sexual desire. This is called anaphrodisia, lack of desire. Women are more concerned than men. According to an IFOP survey (2010), 53% of them are confronted with lack of desire, 44% for these gentlemen. Libido depends on the secretions of sex hormones. For both men and women, testosterone is at the center of the desire mechanism. It is produced by the testicles, ovaries and adrenal glands.

In women, other hormones are involved: estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen is secreted at the beginning of the menstrual cycle and reaches the peak of production just before ovulation which increases libido. Then, it is the turn of progesterone (hormone promoting pregnancy) to be released and the libido tends to decrease. Then it is the turn of prolactin which stimulates milk production in the mammary gland and also lowers sexual desire.