Resumo

LUGONES BOTELL, Miguel. Climacteric, vascular damage and sexuality. Rev Cubana Obstet Ginecol [online]. 2013, vol.39, n.4, pp. 413-426. ISSN 0138-600X.

Women in climacteric and menopause stages are in a period of change ranging from the biological to the social contexts and they are often associated chronic non-communicable diseases such as vascular disease of atherosclerotic origin. It has long been recognized that postmenopausal women are at increased risk of vascular disease. Hormonal factors, especially the decrease in estradiol concentrations influence, so that morbidity acquires an important role, especially when taking into account, that around one third of a woman's life elapses after menopause. Sexuality and full enjoyment is essential at this stage. Women capacity of sexual enjoyment does not stop, although sexual response may diminish due to estrogen cycle drops during this stage. Estrogens indirectly influence sexual desire to contribute to the positive feedback of sexual response in the excitement phase, and they have a role in facilitating vasodilation, they protect the clitoral, vaginal and urethral circulation described as preventive effect of atherosclerosis in pelvic territories. They favor tropism of the vaginal walls and vaginal lubrication, most obvious effect in postmenopausal women when these levels decline. Hormonal and circulatory physiology of the female genitalia are factors to be always present in sexuality, while considering the social and psychological aspects are also of great importance.

Palavras-chave : woman; menopause; atherosclerosis; sexuality.

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