Does the absence of sexual intercourse lead to earlier menopause?
Feb 03, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Lv Aiming
Introduction
In general, menopause will not occur earlier simply due to the absence of sexual activity. There is no direct connection between sexual activity and menopause; it is primarily caused by a decline in female estrogen levels, which results from decreased ovarian function. Women do not need to worry about early menopause due to lack of sexual activity. Women should avoid excessive vaginal cleaning and can appropriately wash the external genital area with warm water from front to back, keeping the genital area clean and dry.
Not having sexual intercourse does not lead to early menopause, so women need not worry excessively—maintaining healthy lifestyle habits is sufficient.
Menopause refers to the decline of ovarian function and the cessation of menstruation. It can be classified into natural menopause and induced menopause. Natural menopause occurs due to the physiological depletion of ovarian follicles, while induced menopause results from surgical removal of both ovaries or treatments such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy that halt ovarian function. Generally, lack of sexual activity does not cause early menopause. There is no direct link between sexual activity and menopause, which is primarily caused by declining estrogen levels due to reduced ovarian function. Therefore, women should not be concerned that abstaining from sexual intercourse will lead to premature menopause.
Women should avoid over-cleaning the vagina; it's appropriate to gently wash the external genital area with warm water using a front-to-back motion, and keep the area dry. Wear loose-fitting cotton underwear and change and wash underwear regularly.
