Female Sexual Function at Midlife and Beyond.

Sexual function is an important component of quality of life for women. Midlife poses several challenges to optimal sexual function and intimacy for women. In addition to anatomic factors related to estrogen deficiency, such as genitourinary syndrome of menopause, vulvovaginal atrophy, and pelvic organ prolaps, psychosocial factors, including prior sexual trauma, play an important role in sexual function in women. Several treatments have emerged for female sexual dysfunction; long-term studies and head-to-head comparisons are lacking.