New study reveals younger partners may ease menopause symptoms

The treatment we hadn't considered

Many women try everything to treat the frustrating and uncomfortable symptoms of menopause. According to new research, a younger partner may help.

From dryness, pain, and loss of desire, it can feel impossible to find treatments to alleviate the symptoms of menopause.

According to new research, symptom relief may come in a form none of us had considered. 

A study funded by Womanizer’s Pleasure Fund and conducted by London Metropolitan University found that younger partners may ease menopause symptoms. 

Of 150 peri or post-menopausal participants, researchers found that women in relationships with a partner at least seven years younger than them reported 54 per cent fewer menopause-related local and sexual symptoms.

Participants also completed ‘a 19-item measure of sexual pain, sexual desire, orgasm, lubrication, and sexual satisfaction’ called the Female Sexual Function Index. Those in age-gap relationships scored 84 per cent higher in sexual functioning, particularly when it came to ‘sexual arousal and desire’.

Women in relationships with a partner at least seven years younger than them reported 54 per cent fewer menopause-related local and sexual symptoms.

But another study conducted by Womanizer on over 1000 Australians found that only 8.3 per cent of women have been in an age gap relationship as the older woman, and only 2.4 per cent are interested in the prospect of being in one.

Women in consensual non-monogamy relationships also experienced fewer symptoms

Participants in relationships engaging in consensual non-monogamy also reported higher levels of orgasms, along with fewer menopausal symptoms, compared to those in monogamous relationships.

Perhaps another treatment option to look into?

Particularly ‘vasomotor symptoms, tiredness and sleep disturbances, emotional symptoms, local and sexual symptoms, and other physiological symptoms.’

Perhaps another treatment option to look into?

Orgasm therapy

The researchers found that whether they occurred with or without partners, orgasms unsurprisingly helped to ease symptoms of menopause.

In some areas, orgasms were able to reduce women’s symptoms by up to 36 per cent, with those using toys experiencing the biggest relief.

In some areas, orgasms were able to reduce women’s symptoms by up to 36 per cent, with those using toys experiencing the biggest relief. 

Those making use of their toys experienced a 59 per cent reduction in tiredness and sleep disturbances, and reported better mental wellbeing and self-efficacy.

The team says more research is needed into the area, but one thing's for sure, prioritising your desire and pleasure can deliver more benefits than we could've thought. Image: iStock

The researchers added that they found orgasms caused ‘a total and direct effect of sexual satisfaction on reducing local and sexual symptoms of peri/menopause, including soreness of the vulva and vagina, discomfort on passing urine, urine leaks, sexual pain, and loss of interest in sex’.

The team says more research is needed into the area, but one thing's for sure, prioritising your desire and pleasure can deliver more benefits than we could've thought.

Originally published as New study reveals younger partners may ease menopause symptoms