Assessment of sexual activity and menopausal symptoms in middle-aged Chinese women using the Menopause Rating Scale

Objectives: This study aimed to assess sexual activity and menopausal symptoms in middle-aged Chinese women and to correlate this with their vaginal maturation status (VMS).
Methods: 120 women aged 45–60 years were assigned to four groups: premenopause (Pre-M), perimenopause (Peri-M), early postmenopause (Post-EM), and late postmenopause (Post-LM). The menopausal symptoms were assessed using the Menopause Rating Scale. VMS was determined using the vaginal maturation index (VMI) and pH value. Sexual activity including sexual frequency and distress was measured using self-administered questionnaires.
Results: A high proportion (48.2%) of Post-LM women reported low sexual frequency, and a high proportion (24.2%) of Peri-M women reported sexual distress. Physical/mental exhaustion and sexual problems were the most prevalent symptoms, followed by sleeping problems and hot flushes/sweating rated as severe or very severe. Physical/mental exhaustion and sexual problems became more frequent as menopausal stages progressed (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). Hot flushes/sweating was more prominent in women in the Peri-M and Post-EM groups. The Post-LM group exhibited lower VMI and higher pH values than the Pre-M and Peri-M groups (p < 0.017 and p < 0.001, respectively), and pH was positively correlated with sexual problems (r = 0.298, p < 0.01).
Conclusions: Advancing menopausal status is associated with prevalent physical/mental exhaustion and sexual problems in middle-aged Chinese women. Hot flushes/sweating is among the most frequent menopausal symptoms rated as severe or very severe. In addition, urogenital symptoms are correlated with pH in these women.