Sociocultural Determinants of Female Sexual Desire

Abstract

Older women are seen as asexual beings, as having old bodies that cannot be an object of desire or the author of pleasure. However, no scientific research has associated specific biological climacteric factors with the end of sexual activity and sexual desire. From an analysis of the National Survey on Sexual Health and using the biopsychosocial model of sexuality proposed by DeLamater (2002) as a reference framework, the psycho-sociocultural factors of the sex drive affecting women in the different stages of menopause are analysed. The results of this research confirm that sexual desire is influenced by a range of factors dependent on age, including having a steady partner, family responsibilities, state of health and the very definition of sexuality.