Objective: To characterize the associations of sexual experience, orgasm experience, and lack of sexual desire with background variables.

Methods: Questionnaire was mailed to population-based samples (n=5510, 70% response) of soon-to-be-menopausal (aged 42-46 years) and menopausal (aged 52-56 years) women.

Results: Being married/having a spouse meant more sexual activity for both groups but also the likelihood to experience lack of sexual desire. Hormones emerged as the most important perceived reason for lack of sexual desire.

Conclusion: The findings indicated a discrepancy between the reported frequencies of sexual experiences/orgasms with spouse and lack of desire.