Decreased sexual interest and its relationship to body build in postmenopausal women

Objectives: The relationship between body build, androgen levels and changes in sexual interest after menopause was investigated in 171 postmenopausal women from Vienna, Austria. Methods; All women were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Body build was determined by employing five absolute body dimensions and four anthropometric indices. Results: Body weight, as well as the amount of subcutaneous centripetal fat (such as in the chest, waist and hip region), were statistically significantly related to the degree of reduced sexual interest. Corpulent and heavy women suffered far more frequently from a severe decrease in sexual interest after menopause. Statistically significant associations between androgen levels and decrease in sexual interest could not be demonstrated. Conclusions: Reduced sexual interest is associated with a kind of body type not corresponding to the culture-specific beauty ideals of our society, first of all evident in women whose menopause occurred relatively early.