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Sexuality of women in middle age: the Göteborg study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 September 2011

Tore Hallström
Tore Hallström
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Göteborg, Sweden
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Extract

Until recently there has been a paucity of factual data on the effects of the climacteric upon women's sexuality. The basic questions here are: do changes occur in sexual behaviour, sexual interest or responsiveness during the climacteric years? If so, what are the variations and how are they caused?

Two variables used extensively as a measure of sexuality are coital frequency and orgasmic frequency. Kinsey et al. (1953) showed that the degree of sexual activity remained fairly constant in unmarried women up to 55 years of age. By contrast, sexual activity in unmarried men declined gradually from puberty onwards. For married men and women they found that the frequency of sexual outlets declined during the life span. Kinsey et al. emphasized that the decreasing frequency of sexual intercourse and orgasm in marriage does not prove that the sexual capacity of the woman is influenced by her own ageing but could instead be a result of her husband's ageing. These authors were of the opinion that there is little evidence of any ageing in the sexual capacity of the female until late in her life.

Type
IV. Social aspects of late fertility
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 11 , supplement S6: Fertility in Middle Age , 1979 , pp. 165 - 175
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1979

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References

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