About women's sexual health

It's common to think that wanting sex physically is what starts sexual activity, leading to arousal and orgasm. But some women find that other things are more important for them. Different factors may help women feel aroused and spur them to want sex, and other factors may lessen desire.

For example, sometimes women may not start thinking about sex mainly due to physical desire. Some women might want to have sex to feel close to another person, to share feelings or for other reasons. This approach to sex tends to be more common in women who are in the period of time leading up to menopause, called perimenopause, and those who have gone through menopause.

Sexual satisfaction differs for everyone. Many things can affect how you respond to sex. That may include your health, how you feel about yourself, how you feel about your partner, your religious and cultural upbringing, and any relationship issues you may have.

If you have concerns about your sex life or if you'd like to find ways to make it better, a good first step could be talking with your partner.