HT treatment with estrogens alone or in combination with progestogens was associated with a small to moderate improvement in sexual function , particularly in pain , when used in women with menopausal symptoms or in early postmenopause ( within five years of amenorrhoea ) , but not in unselected postmenopausal women .
The current evidence does not suggest an important effect of tibolone or of SERMs alone or combined with estrogens on sexual function .
BACKGROUND The perimenopausal and postmenopausal periods are associated with many symptoms , including sexual complaints .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effect of hormone therapy ( HT ) on  sexual function in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women .
Patterns and predictors of sexual activity among women in the Hormone Therapy trials of the Women's Health Initiative
Objective : The aim of this study was to determine the patterns and predictors of sexual activity in the Hormone Therapy ( HT )  Trials of the Women 's Health Initiative ( WHI ) . Methods : Sexual activity questions were administered to 27,347 women ages 50 to 79 years at baseline and at year 1 and to a r and om 8.6 % sub sample at years 3 and 6 . The associations with demographic and health characteristics were determined . Results : Sexual activity at baseline was 60.7 % , 44.9 % , and 28.2 % in the 50- to 59- , 60- to 69- , and 70- to 79-year-old age groups , respectively . Most of the participants were satisfied with their current sexual activity ( 63.2 % ) . Of those dissatisfied , 57 % preferred more sexual activity . Vaginal atrophy correlated with sexual inactivity at baseline ( P < 0.001 ) . The correlates associated with stopping sexual activity at year 1 included poor/fair self-rated health , lack of satisfaction with quality of life , depression , and loss of partner ( P < 0.001 ) . The strongest predictor of sexual activity at year 1 was sexual activity at baseline ( odds ratio , 96.71 ; 95 % CI , 81.90 - 114.20 ) . A subset analysis of women adherent with HT or placebo at years 3 and 6 suggested that HT was associated with a higher percentage of participants reporting sexual activity ( P = 0.01 ) . Conclusions : Most women in the WHI HT Trials were satisfied with their sexual activity . Of those who were dissatisfied , the majority preferred more , rather than less , sexual activity . Vaginal atrophy at baseline correlated with sexual inactivity , and sexual activity at baseline was the strongest identified predictor of sexual activity at year 1 . HT use was not predictive of ongoing sexual activity in the intent-to-treat analysis . This report further characterizes the participants in the WHI HT trials and reveals the complexity of factors related to the prevalence of sexual activity and satisfaction
HT treatment with estrogens alone or in combination with progestogens was associated with a small to moderate improvement in sexual function , particularly in pain , when used in women with menopausal symptoms or in early postmenopause ( within five years of amenorrhoea ) , but not in unselected postmenopausal women .
The current evidence does not suggest an important effect of tibolone or of SERMs alone or combined with estrogens on sexual function .
BACKGROUND The perimenopausal and postmenopausal periods are associated with many symptoms , including sexual complaints .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effect of hormone therapy ( HT ) on  sexual function in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women .