Sexual Health and Nursing Approaches in Menopausal Period

The aim of this review is to reveal the effects of changes occurring during the menopausal period on sexual health and nursing approaches to it. During this period, changes in vasomotor, genitourinary, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular system, and skin and body perception are observed. As a result of these changes, decreased sexual desire and motivation, coital difficulty, dyspareunia, vaginismus, avoidance of sexual intercourse, libido, orgasm, and lubrication problems may occur. Education, which includes regular and balanced nutrition, adequate sleep and rest, regular physical activity, Kegel exercises, and communication with a partner, is among the important nursing approaches to improving sexual health. Upon the increase in life expectancy, since women spend a third of their lives in the menopausal period, approaches to improving sexual health during this period will contribute to improving the quality of their life.