Menopause and sexual health: The elephant in the room

Sexual health and wellbeing are vital components of a woman's life and can be substantially affected by the menopause. Most women spend more than one-third of their lives after the menopause and remain sexually active for decades thereafter. However, older women are reluctant to disclose sexual health issues, and healthcare professionals are hesitant to raise them. Furthermore, women seeking advice may be living in long-term care and other environments rather than living independently and perceived to be sexually inactive. Sexual problems are considered to be taboo subjects. Sexual health and wellbeing are extensively analyzed in the clinical guide entitled: “Sexual health and wellbeing and the menopause: an EMAS clinical guide” published in the current issue of Maturitas [1].