What is an effect of hormone therapy on sexual function in postmenopausal women?

What is an effect of hormone therapy on sexual function in postmenopausal women?

• A. Worsens vaginal dryness
• B. Improves vaginal dryness and sexual function
• C. Causes increased libido but worsened lubrication
• D. Has no effect

Answer: (B)

The key idea is how estrogen therapy influences vaginal tissue and sexual function after menopause, especially addressing dryness that contributes to discomfort during sex. Estrogen helps restore the vaginal lining, increasing thickness, elasticity, and lubrication. With better moisture and less irritation, intercourse becomes more comfortable and pleasurable, which often leads to an overall improvement in sexual function. Worsening vaginal dryness would go against estrogen’s well-established effects, since the therapy is intended to revitalize the vaginal mucosa. The notion of increased libido paired with worse lubrication isn’t consistent with how estrogen works— lubrication typically improves with treatment. Saying there is no effect ignores the common improvement in moisture and comfort many women experience with therapy.

The key idea is how estrogen therapy influences vaginal tissue and sexual function after menopause, especially addressing dryness that contributes to discomfort during sex. Estrogen helps restore the vaginal lining, increasing thickness, elasticity, and lubrication. With better moisture and less irritation, intercourse becomes more comfortable and pleasurable, which often leads to an overall improvement in sexual function.

Worsening vaginal dryness would go against estrogen’s well-established effects, since the therapy is intended to revitalize the vaginal mucosa. The notion of increased libido paired with worse lubrication isn’t consistent with how estrogen works— lubrication typically improves with treatment. Saying there is no effect ignores the common improvement in moisture and comfort many women experience with therapy.