Latest news with #FemaleSexualFunctionIndex
Herald Sun
16-06-2025
- Health
- Herald Sun
New study reveals younger partners may ease menopause symptoms
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. 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
IOL News
23-05-2025
- Health
- IOL News
From arousal to awareness: demystifying Female Sexual Arousal Disorder (Candace Syndrome)
Your enjoyment of sex is just as important as your partner's. Image: Pixabay When it comes to female sexual health in South Africa, honest conversations are long overdue. After attending a recent webinar on the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) hosted by Lady Prelox, a leading Lamelle Pharmaceuticals brand, Independent MediaLifestyle wanted to unpack what real women face every day. I spoke to Karen Bester, medical training manager at Lamelle, to explore what's going on behind closed doors, why so many women battle in silence, and how South Africans can take steps toward better, more fulfilling intimate lives. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ What is Female Sexual Arousal Disorder (FSAD) or 'Candace Syndrome'? According to Bester, Female Sexual Arousal Disorder (FSAD), sometimes called Candace Syndrome, is more common than you might think. It's not just about 'not being in the mood', FSAD means having ongoing trouble getting or staying aroused, even if you want to be intimate. This can look like trouble with lubrication, loss of sensitivity, or struggling to experience orgasm. Bester explains, 'FSAD is a physical challenge; your mind may be ready, but your body just isn't responding how you'd like.' Is FSAD the same as low libido? Many people confuse FSAD with low libido (or low sexual desire), but they are not the same. FSAD is about the body's response, like a car engine that just won't start, while low libido is a lack of sexual interest, even in your thoughts or fantasies. Bester adds, 'Desire starts in the mind, arousal happens in the body. You can have one without the other, and both can need different solutions.' Unlike male sexual dysfunction, diagnosing female sexual dysfunction isn't always straightforward. Image: Саша Соколова/pexels Why does sexual desire drop? Sexual desire can dip for lots of reasons and at any age. While menopause and hormonal changes are common triggers, so are stress, a busy work life, relationship tension, physical health problems, and even becoming a new mom. Stats from the World Health Organisation show that up to 40% of women globally experience some form of sexual dysfunction during their lifetime. In South Africa, lifestyle pressures from juggling careers to raising families mean more women are affected than ever. And it's completely normal for desire to rise and fall through the years. The reality of orgasm issues If you have difficulty reaching orgasm, you're in good company. There are two main types: primary (never having had an orgasm) and secondary (you used to, but now you can't). Causes range from anxiety and lack of sexual education to hormonal shifts, relationship issues, or medication. Bester notes, 'Women often blame themselves, but orgasm challenges are so common, and there is real help available.' Pain during sex: dyspareunia explained Painful sex, or dyspareunia, is often misunderstood or brushed off. It can feel sharp, burning, or like pressure, and might happen at the entrance or deeper inside. Causes vary from infections and inflammation to lack of lubrication or arousal. Brushing it off can lead to anxiety, avoidance, and relationship strain. It's not 'all in your head', it's a real, treatable medical issue. How is female sexual dysfunction diagnosed? Unlike a 'yes/no' checklist, female sexual dysfunction needs a holistic approach. Doctors look at your medical history, symptoms (present for six months or more), and rule out other medical or mental health conditions. 'It's about getting the full picture, your body, mind, and life situation all matter.' One of the biggest barriers to better sexual health is stigma. Image: cottonbro studio /pexels
The Independent
14-02-2025
- General
- The Independent
Will you be my Valent-wine? Here are the most romantic tipples
Romance isn't just for Valentine's Day – but it can certainly provide some good inspiration. I'll be celebrating with a glass or two with my beloved, tonight – something my 16-year-old self would never have imagined as she was so desperately trying to decipher the handwriting on the card put through my locker, against that of the boy I was so in love with (James, if you're reading this – and it wasn't you – please don't pop my bubble of belief...) Beyond my teenage heartbreaks, I've never really been swept up in the Hallmark frenzy – I even spent one stormy Valentine's Day visiting the site of the Battle of Culloden (if you don't know what that is, look it up, it's not a rose petal strewn palace). But I do know that from an early age, our relationship to love is informed by our relationship to what we eat and drink. And I'm convinced that one of the reasons I fell so deeply in love with food and wine is thanks to my Nanna teaching me from a young age that all food needed one extra ingredient: 'oomph'. Asking what 'oomph' was, she replied with the word: 'love'. How does this apply to wine? I'd argue that at its most elemental level, the process of winemaking is a loving one. Nurturing your vines, tending to them carefully throughout the year, harvesting them, creating an environment for the juice to ferment, giving the wine a space to age and mature into something that will be enjoyed by countless people – not just by the winemaker and their family and friends, but in homes around the world. Used in various rituals – from celebrations, anniversaries, reunions, even holy communion – it is a product that can bring people together in joyous union. And yes, wine can be sexy, too. Research proves that even a moderate amount of red wine can have a positive effect on libido in both men and women – in an Italian study carried out in Chianti in 2009, researchers found that women who consumed a daily (low to moderate) amount of red wine reported a higher score on the Female Sexual Function Index than both teetotallers and heavy drinkers. Surely something to get excited about! But what makes a wine romantic? I've selected a number of wines that I feel embody some of the more sensual elements of the drink – whether it's the heady bubbles of a sparkling wine, the committed winemaking techniques of a grower, the ethereal fruit of a lighter red or the depth and concentration of something fuller bodied and richer. Wine is such a subjective product – but perhaps these suggestions can serve as a jumping point to exploring more visceral pleasures (of the bottle, of course). Champagne Billecart Salmon, Le Rosé , France, NV Available nationwide, including The Wine Society £66, 12 per cent ABV Of all the styles of wine that are available, none can compete with the utterly unashamed romantic nature of champagne. And, while it might seem like a cliché, a fine rosé champagne is the most romantic of them all. I have picked what I see as a benchmark romantic champagne from the wonderful – and still family-owned – house of Billecart Salmon. The delicate light rose-pink-tinged wine is a blend of 40 per cent chardonnay, 30 per cent pinot noir and 30 per cent pinot meunier, which is then aged for 36 months on its lees (those delicious dead yeast cells). An added layer of depth and body comes from the 40 per cent of reserve wines being used. It has weaving, languorous bubbles and a silken delicate mouth feel with many layers from the primary fruits of wild strawberries, ripe raspberry and tangerine, giving way to soft baked buttery pastries, all brought together with uplifting acidity. It's a treat of a wine – and you deserve it. M&S Ken Forrester Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc, South Africa, 2024 In-store and online via Ocado, £13, 13 per cent ABV While the label might be anything but romantic, this chenin blanc created by the South African 'King of Chenin' Ken Forrester is a wonderful expression of this most expressive of grapes. Chenin has the ability to create wines that are steely bone dry, right through to unctuous honeyed elixirs. I have long admired Ken Forrester and his 'loving' approach to wine. He has a very hands-on approach to the stewardship of the land he farms and the people he works with – and has a clear philosophy that if every community looked after their own, 'no-one would go wanting... each bottle is a victory and represents a small change – for the better – in someone's life'. The wine itself is a medium bodied dry style of chenin, with a ripe stone fruit and pineapple character which comes through alongside lemon curd and bright acidity. Jour de Soif Bourgueil, Domaine du Bel Air, France, 2020 In-store and online Berry Bros & Rudd, £23.95, 13 per cent ABV I adore wines that give you moments to pause and linger with the person you're enjoying them with, whether a romantic or platonic love. Sharing that moment together, fading out all of the other noise and focusing only on the wine and the company. This lighter style of cabernet franc opens itself up to reveal a wine brimming with crushed cranberries, sour cherries and juicy, tart blackcurrants all balanced alongside energetic acidity and smooth tannins. M&S Primitivo Di Manduria, Notte Rossa, Italy, 2023 In-store and online via Ocado, £12, 13.5 per cent ABV If you think chocolates are romantic, why not try a wine that tastes like them? The characteristics of primitivo from Puglia in Southern Italy always make me think of rich, dark chocolate-covered strawberries. It is deep, generous and concentrated with ripe black plums, juicy cherries, licks of vanilla and a dusting of cinnamon spice, too. Perfectly indulgent.
