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POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN.
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Essay Subject:
Effects of menopause on sexuality.... More...
5 Pages / 1125 Words
1 sources, 11 Citations, APA Format
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Paper Abstract:
Effects of menopause on sexuality. Differentials in sexual arousal in pre and post-menopausal women. Based on a 2002 article in "Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, " a research study on the influence of laboratory induced hyperventilation; effects of heightened sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity. Research findings.

Paper Introduction:
Article Summary: Genital and Subjective Sexual Arousal in Postmenopausal Women: Influence of Laboratory- Induced Hyperventilation Brotto and Gorzalka (2002) conducted a study aimed at comparing genital and subjective sexual arousal in postmenopausal women and exploration of the effects of heightened sympathetic nervous systems (SNS) activity on these parameters. This brief report will summarize and evaluate the results of their study, reported in the Journal of Sex & marital Therapy. The focus of the study was on the effects of menopause on sexuality in women, a field of inquiry that has produced contradictory findings and which therefore requires further examination. As the American population ages, and more and more

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Article Summary: Genital and Subjective Sexual Arousal in Postmenopausal Women: Influence of Laboratory- Induced Hyperventilation Brotto and Gorzalka (2 2) conducted a study aimed at comparinggenital and subjective sexual arousal in postmenopausal women andexploration of the effects of heightened sympathetic nervous systems (SNS)activity on these parameters. To identify potential participants, Brotto and Gorzalka (2 2)determined that all women were sexually functional; this was determined onthe basis of a telephone screening and later confirmed by scores on theDerogatis Sexual Functioning Inventory (DSFI). Thedata also suggested that reports of desynchrony between genital andsubjective measures may be specific to younger women whoa r pre-menopausaland not to older pre-menopausal and postmenopausal women. The data provided support forthe use of the laboratory procedure (specifically the vaginal probe) as afeasible alternative to other modes of eliciting SNS activity for theexamination of genital arousal in women (Brotto & Gorzalka, 2 2). The focus of the study was on the effects of menopause onsexuality in women, a field of inquiry that has produced contradictoryfindings and which therefore requires further examination. Hyperventilation wasfound to have specific effects on only younger pre-menopausal women; withrespect to SSA, there were no significant effects for this variable (Brotto& Gorzalka, 2 2). Subjects were informed of thepurpose of the study during the telephone screen (Brotto & Gorzalka, 2 2). The results of the study, in general, indicatedthat prior SNS enhancement can differentiate pre- from postmenopausalgenital arousal and, significantly, that there are correlations betweengenital and subjective sexual arousal in older pre- and postmenopausalwomen but not in young pre-menopausal women. (2 2). Overall, the authors concluded that there were few differences betweenthe three subject groups with respect to genital or subjective sexualarousal in response to erotic stimuli in the form of a film.Hyperventilation differentiated genital arousal between younger and olderwomen, whereas subjective arousal did not. B. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 28 (8), 39 - 53. In addition to the DSFI, theBeck Anxiety Inventory, the Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction,and the Sexual Satisfaction Inventory were employed in the study. As the Americanpopulation ages, and more and more "Baby Boomer" women enter intomenopause, issues related to their sexuality will become an increasinglysignificant research focus. Drawing upon a relatively limited body ofempirical research, including three published psychophysiologicalinvestigations of menopause, the authors suggested that there is someevidence supporting the theory that increased SNS activity in women mayfacilitate sexual arousal, which is in contrast to earlier researchregarding male sexual arousal. All subjects participated in two counterbalanced sessions in whichgenital arousal assessment was conducted via vaginal photophethysmographyassessment and subjective arousal assessment identified via self-reportquestionnaires (Brotto & Gorzalka, 2 2). Menopausalstatus may therefore be less predictive of this problem than has previouslybeen understood among clinicians and researchers. The study by Brotto and Gorzalka (2 2) proceeded from a review ofliterature that identified the major themes in the research on the effectsof menopause on sexuality. This brief report will summarize andevaluate the results of their study, reported in the Journal of Sex &marital Therapy. 1), suggesting that the erotic film significantlyfacilitated genital arousal in all women; there were few differences onthis measure between the three groups of subjects. Thus, their study was designed toinvestigate the effects of menopause and heightened SNS activity throughcomparisons of genital and subjective responses in three groups, consistingof seventy-one women divided among young and pre-menopausal women (n = 25),postmenopausal women (n = 25), and age-matched pre-menopausal women (n =21). Multiple regression analysisrevealed that only two variables (CRI scores and prior sexual experiencesymptoms of difficulty) predicted percent change scores for VPA (Brotto &Gorzalka, 2 2). Prior to erotic filmexposure, there were no significant differences in subjective autonomicarousal or other measures; following exposure, subjective sexual arousalwas increased for all groups, with some variances. Using Pearson product-moment correlation, the correlation betweengenital and subjective arousal was examined. Data analysis using analyses of variance (ANOVA) was undertakento investigate the effects of menopause, age and heightened SNS activity onvaginal pulse amplitude (VPA) (Brotto & Gorzalka, 2 2). Following and preceding each session, subjects completed a self-report questionnaire assessing autonomic arousal, perceptions of genitalsexual arousal, subjective sexual arousal, anxiety, positive affect andnegative affect measured via a Likert scale. Exclusion criteria werealso assessed during a telephone screening interview and includednonheterosexuality, current use of medication known to affect vascular orsexual functioning, selected medical conditions (i.e., diabetes andhypertension) and lack of sexual experience. Genital and Subjective sexual arousal in postmenopausal women: Influence of laboratory-induced hyperventilation. Otherresults suggested that there was a significant main effect of film on VPA(F=1.65, p <. Testing wasidentical in session two, apart from varied neutral and erotic film stimulipresentation (Brotto & Gorzalka, 2 2). Only among younger pre-menopausal was this correlation significant. Each woman participated in two sessions, a repeated-measures designwhich allowed each woman to serve as her own control. Aftercompleting the questionnaires, the subjects were seated comfortably inreclining chairs and asked to insert the vaginal probe; after a relaxationperiod, subjects were shown a video of either glaciers or Stonehenge with"relax" reminders. During the firstsession, a female researcher oriented the subject toward the laboratoryequipment, obtained written consent, and provided a battery ofquestionnaires to be filled out privately. Psychophysiological recordingof vaginal stimulation was undertaken under controlled laboratoryconditions. ReferencesBrotto, L. A., & Gorzalka, B. An erotic stimulus was presented. Results reported by Brotto and Gorzalka (2 2) indicated that sexualfrequency was lower among older pre-menopausal and postmenopausal womenthan younger pre-menopausal women, according to self-report data. The article provided new insight into the potential for sexualarousal (genital as well as subjective) among postmenopausal older women.Such issues are significant in that they speak to quality of life variablesand may point out potential therapeutic interventions for postmenopausalwomen experiencing sexual difficulties, disinterest or dysfunction.

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