As women age and enter menopause, many start to report lack of interest in sex or unwillingness to participate because of pain during intercourse or other symptoms.
Some women may notice a decrease in their libido or sex drive as they reach perimenopause and menopause. While a few may report an increase in libido, a reduction in libido is far more common due to a host of menopause symptoms that can make sex unpleasant.
In most cases, lower libido during menopause is a result of decreasing hormone levels, specifically testosterone and estrogen. Lower levels of these hormones can cause decreased arousal in some women.
Additionally, vaginal dryness due to reduced estrogen can make sex painful, while poor sleep due to reduced progesterone and estrogen can lead to fatigue. These can both further contribute to the loss of interest in sex. Weight gain in menopause can make women more self-conscious about intimacy, which also decreases the desire for sex.