Although there is a lot of discussion around negative aspects of aging and sexual problems, a new nationally representative study of 1,500 U.S. women aged 40-65 reveals that despite reporting masturbating less often, most post-menopausal women continue to experience orgasm at the same frequency and quality as their younger peers.
The study, conducted by researchers at the Kinsey Institute and published in Menopause , is among the first to examine masturbation, orgasm quality, and sex toy use across different stages of the menopause transition (pre-, peri-, and post-menopause). The findings offer several clinical and industry insights and suggest that promoting masturbation among older women may have several positive outcomes.
Key findings:
These findings have several important clinical implications. Firstly, they underline the fact that many postmenopausal women continue to engage in self-stimulation, which previous research suggests can enhance well-being and ameliorate some menopausal symptoms. Secondly, underscore the need for health professionals to discuss the health benefits that masturbation can bring for older women. they indicate sex toys are becoming more acceptable in recent years although self-stimulation may still be considered taboo, especially for women in relationships. For industry manufacturers, the results indicate the importance of designing sex toys specifically for older women to make self-pleasure more accessible.
Menopause
Survey
People
Masturbation frequency and experiences among US women aged 40-65 years: comparisons across different stages of the menopause transition
9-Jul-2025