Does More Sex Mean a Later Menopause?

What’s this about?

This article is based on a research paper titled “Sexual frequency is associated with age of natural menopause: results from the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation” by Megan Arnot and Ruth Mace. (PMC) The researchers explored whether how often a woman has sex might influence when she goes through natural menopause (age of natural menopause, or “ANM”). In simpler terms: could sexual activity itself be linked to the timing of when periods stop permanently?

When & Who?

The study used data from 2,936 women participating in the long-term U.S. cohort Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN). These women were tracked across 11 waves over about a decade. At the start, the average participant was around 45 to 46 years old, often pre- or peri-menopausal. By the end of the follow-up, about 45% had reached natural menopause, with the average age of menopause in this sample being  about 52 years on average.

What did they find?

• Women who reported having sex weekly were 28% less likely to start menopause at any given age compared to those who had sex less than once a month.
  
• Women who had sex monthly (rather than weekly) also had a lower risk or about 19% less likely to enter menopause compared with the “less than monthly” group.
  
• The study controlled for many possible confounding factors: hormone levels (like estrogen), BMI, smoking, education, race/ethnicity, age at first menstruation, overall health, and number of children, to try to isolate the effect of sexual frequency itself.
  
• The authors also tested another idea. Maybe exposure to a male partner (or male pheromones) could influence menopause? They found no evidence for that. Meaning the connection seems more about actual sexual activity, not simply living with a man.
  

Why does it matter?

The research challenges a simplistic view that menopause timing is entirely fixed by genes or biology. Instead, it suggests there might be a biological “switch” influenced by behavior, particularly, sexual frequency. 

If real (and not just correlation), this could reshape how we think about reproductive aging: menopause might be adaptive, meaning the body might “choose” when to stop ovulating based on how likely pregnancy is. The authors propose that if a woman isn’t sexually active, there’s little point for the body to invest energy in ovulation. 

For individuals and clinicians, this raises interesting questions: could sexual health and intimacy play a role in reproductive lifespan? Even if it’s not a guarantee, it adds another layer to understanding menopause beyond just “genes and time.”

What am I doing about it?

As someone interested in wellness and holistic health (like you!) I see this study as a thought-provoker, not a definitive prescription. I won’t treat it as a “rule,” but it nudges me to consider sexual health and intimacy as part of long-term reproductive wellbeing. In my own wellness journey: being mindful of emotional and physical intimacy, staying connected to my body, and remembering that lifestyle might influence my body in ways we don’t fully understand yet…and have you noticed all the sexperts I have been interviewing lately? Lol. I am putting their tips into practice.

Practical Tips

Prioritize intimacy, if it feels right. If you have a partner (or are open to connection), regular sexual activity may, according to this study, be one factor among many associated with later menopause.

Focus on overall sexual wellness, not just frequency. Healthy relationships, good communication, and comfort all matter. Pleasure and emotional bonding may benefit long-term hormonal and mental health even beyond fertility concerns.

Don’t treat this as a “fountain of youth.” Menopause is inevitable. This research doesn’t show that sex prevents menopause, only that it may delay it slightly.

Balance with other aspects of health. Ovarian aging is influenced by many things: genetics, lifestyle, stress, nutrition, overall health. Having regular sex doesn’t cancel out the effects of poor health habits.

Pay attention to your body and choices. Use this as a gentle prompt to stay in tune with what feels good for you in mind, body, and spirit.

This study adds a fascinating dimension to how we think about reproductive aging. It doesn’t give us definitive answers, but it suggests our bodies may be more flexible and responsive to our social and sexual lives than we imagine. For women (and anyone who experiences menopause), it’s a gentle reminder: what we do and what we feel, may echo inside us in ways science is only beginning to understand.

Reference: Arnot, M., & Mace, R. (2020). Sexual frequency is associated with age of natural menopause: results from the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation. Royal Society Open Science, 7(1), 191020. PMC.