ArticleMenopause (New York, N.Y.)2020
"I want to feel like I used to feel": a qualitative study of causes of low libido in postmenopausal women.
Article in Menopause (New York, N.Y.), 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed, 17 citations in OpenAlex.
- Qualitative Findings from a Pilot Trial of Mindfulness for Low Sexual Desire in Midlife and Older Women.Archives of sexual behavior · 2025Trial
- A virtual, group-based mindfulness intervention for midlife and older women with low libido lowers sexual distress in a randomized controlled pilot study.The journal of sexual medicine · 2023Trial
- Women's experiences with diagnosis and management of vaginal symptoms of menopause: a mixed-methods study.BMC women's health · 2026Article
- Women's Experiences of Intimate and Sexual Relationships During Menopause: A Qualitative Synthesis.Journal of clinical nursing · 2025Review
- Improving the quality of sexual life in postmenopausal women: a qualitative study.BMC public health · 2025Article
- A Meta-Ethnography of Women's Intimate and Sexual Experiences Across the Menopause Continuum.International journal of women's health · 2025Review
- Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveLow libido is common among women over 60 and negatively impacts well-being and relationship satisfaction. Causes of low libido in this age group are not well understood. We used qualitative methods to explore older women's perceptions of causes of low libido.
methodsWe conducted 15 individual interviews and 3 focus groups (total N = 36) among sexually active women 60 and older who screened positive for low libido using a validated instrument. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded using a codebook developed by two investigators. Codes were examined, and themes related to causes of low libido emerged.
resultsWomen noted a number of different factors that contributed to low libido. The common factors that women discussed included postmenopausal vaginal symptoms, erectile dysfunction in male partners, fatigue and bodily pain, life stressors, and body image concerns. Women often found ways to adapt to these factors. These adaptations required open communication between partners regarding sex, and some women noted these conversations were difficult or not successful.
conclusionsA wide variety of factors contribute to low libido in women over 60, but many of these factors are addressable. Low libido in older women should not be automatically attributed to "normal" aging or to menopause; providers should take an approach to assessment and treatment that addresses biological, interpersonal and social, and psychological factors. : Video Summary: http://links.lww.com/MENO/A499.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.