Older women have less sex... but they enjoy it much more

MANY women find they appreciate quality over quantity as they grow older – and it turns out that this may be particularly true when it comes to sex.

Although women going through the menopause have fewer nights of passion, they often enjoy them more as many become more adventurous in bed, scientists claim.

The confidence that comes with age, better communication skills and the realisation that intimacy and affection are as important as sexual fireworks are also likely play a role, the researchers said yesterday.

They interviewed women about how their sex lives had changed with age. The volunteers were 46 to 59 – around the age of the menopause – and had experienced a loss of libido and other changes related to hormonal fluctuations of the menopause. Many blamed their low sex drive on stressful jobs, family life or a rocky relationship. Several said their libido was much higher than their spouse’s, the North American Menopause Society’s annual conference in Orlando, Florida, heard.

But some of the 39 interviewees revealed that their love lives had become better – with some enjoying sex more than ever, despite having it less often.

These women told the researchers from the University of Pittsburgh they were more confident than when they were younger.

They were also better at communicating their needs to their partner and willing to broach delicate subjects such as the use of Viagra. Some had adapted their lovemaking to compensate for age and changes to their bodies caused by the menopause.

They tended to spend more time on foreplay, try new sexual positions and put more emphasis on intimacy than passion.

Lead author Holly Thomas said: ‘One of the most enlightening findings of this study was the large number of women who had successfully adapted to any negative changes by modifying their expectations regarding sexual activity, putting more emphasis on the emotional and intimacy aspects of sex, or adapting the sex acts themselves.’

Denise Knowles, a sex therapist with the marriage guidance charity Relate, said: ‘Maybe we are more confident and have more of a what-the-heck attitude.’

Dr Pam Spurr, a relationship expert and agony aunt, said: ‘There is a lot of good news in this study. With age, women gain more wisdom about their sexual responsiveness and pleasure. Such self-knowledge helps rekindle the spark that might’ve been lost.’