Having Sex More Frequently Delays Menopause

Females! Having sex frequently will delay arrival of menopause

According to new findings, females who are having sex more frequently (say every week or monthly), will significantly decrease their chances of having their menopause come early when compared with females who are not having sex as frequently.

The study revealed that the significant decrease translates to about 28% less likelihood of entering menopause early, in comparison with females who take part in sexual activities less frequently (say, less than once a month). The sexual activities talked about include oral sex, sexual intercourse, skin stimulation, intense rubbing and touching etc.

Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation

The study was based on information obtained from the USA’s SWAN (Study of Women’s Health Accross the Nation) which is a recognized body with integrity when it comes to matters about menopause transition.

One of the authors of the research, Megan Arnot (a PhD candidate), explained that the results of the study suggests that if the woman stops having sex, causing the chances of pregnancy to be eliminated, the body consequently concludes that there is no need for ovulation – the release of eggs. Biologically, the energy that would have been used for egg release will be saved and may be invested elsewhere. As it applies to menopause, the energy saved may be utilized in taking care of one’s grandchildren.

Affects the Immune System

The immune system of the female is impacted during ovulation; her defenses are being lowered which makes her prone to diseases. The chances of a female getting pregnant are negligible if she isn’t having sex, so the body thinks it wise not to bother about allocating the needed energy for the ovulation process.

The data collected from about 2,900 women served as the basis for this research.

A bulk of the women studied had received education (prior to the research) at least above the high school level, the average age between them was about forty-five (45) years old and a large percentage (48%) of the women were Caucasian and non-Hispanic.   

2900 Women Interviewed

The women were interviewed and required to answer a couple of questions. Questions like, when they last had sex; whether they were having sex with a partner within the past 6 months; how frequently they engaged in the sexual activity (oral sex, intercourse, passionate rubbing and stimulation etc.) within the past 6 months; and whether they engaged in self-touching (masturbation) within the past six months etc. From their response, it was discovered that the majority (64%) of the women participated in sexual activities weekly.

None of the females studied had experienced menopause at the time the study began, although almost half of them were beginning to experience early signs like alteration in period cycles, vaginal dryness, hot flashes, mood swings etc., which were likened to symptoms of peri-menopause. The other half, at the beginning of the study, hadn’t experienced any signs of menopause or peri-menopause; they were pre-menopausal.

Study Over 10 Years

The study lasted for a period of about 10 years and involved religious follow-up and observation of the participants. About 45% (1,300) of the total women entered menopause naturally at averagely, 52 years of age.

A model was developed from the relationship between the frequency of sex and the age at which the women enter natural menopause. The model revealed a 0.81 hazard ratio for women who had sex more frequently (say weekly), and 0.72 hazard ratio for women who engaged in sexual activities monthly.

28% Lower Chance of Entering Menopause when Having Sex more often.

This led to the belief that at any given age, women who engaged in sex weekly had 28% lesser chances of entering menopause compared to women who had sex less frequently. In the same vein, the women who engaged in sex monthly had 19% lesser chances of entering when compared with those women who engaged in sex less than once a month.

The research accommodated the differences that exist in the biology and habits of every women. The difference in estrogen level, smoking habits, level of education, race, Body Mass Index (BMI) etc. were taken into consideration.

The study also considered the effect of living with a male spouse on menopause, whether the pheromones of men had anything to do with early arrival or delay of menopause. The result of the analysis revealed that it had no effect on menopause; there was no significant change with the presence or absence of male pheromones.

Menopause Comes Regardless; Women Should Slow its Arrival Down.

Another author, Ruth Mace (Professor), an anthropologist, declared that although the arrival of menopause is inevitable and that no conceivable behavioral change will prevent the cease of reproduction, the timing of the menopause will coincide with the period when the female body is least invested in sexual activities. That is, your menopause will either come earlier or later depending on the rate of your involvement in sexual activities.

If you are having sex more often, menopause arrival will be delayed and will arrive later, but you engage in sexual activities less frequently, the body will conclude there is no need to waste energy in producing eggs that may not be used and cause menopause to come early, saving the energy for your grandchildren!