Spousal Support and Sexual Quality of Life in Postmenopausal Women

Menopause is a natural transition period in women's lives characterized by concurrent hormonal, psychological, and relational changes. During the postmenopausal period, hormonal alterations are not limited to physical symptoms but also have significant effects on psychological well-being, interpersonal relationships, and particularly sexual quality of life. Common concerns during this period include decreased sexual desire, vaginal dryness, pelvic discomfort, and reduced sexual satisfaction, all of which may negatively affect overall quality of life. Sexual quality of life is influenced not only by biological factors but also by psychological and relational dimensions.

The quality of partner relationships and perceived partner support play an important role in women's adaptation to sexual changes during the postmenopausal period. However, partner support during menopause is often reported to be insufficient, which may adversely affect sexual well-being. Despite this, evidence examining the relationship between perceived partner support and sexual quality of life in postmenopausal women remains limited.

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of perceived partner support on sexual quality of life in postmenopausal women. Through this investigation, the explanatory role of partner support in postmenopausal sexual well-being is aimed.

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Key information

Conditions

Postmenopausal Behavior Sexual Behavior Sexuality Support

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Health - Family Health Centers

Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location contact

Eslem Altıntaş, MSc

CONTACT

[email protected]

Investigator

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Postmenopausal status, defined as at least 12 consecutive months of amenorrhea
Having a partner
Voluntary agreement to participate in the study and provision of written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

Visual, cognitive, or other impairments that prevent completion of the study questionnaires
History of major gynecological surgery within the past 6 months

Treatment and study plan

No intervention

Other

This is an observational study. No intervention, treatment, or behavioral modification is applied. Data are collected using self-reported questionnaires only.

Primary outcomes

Introduction Information Forum

Time frame: At enrollment

This form was developed by the researchers based on the relevant literature and consists of 36 items assessing participants' sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, including age, educational level, employment status, duration of marriage, duration of menopause, and presence of chronic disease.
The Sexual Quality of Life-Female Questionnaire

Time frame: At enrollment

The Sexual Quality of Life-Female Questionnaire (SQoL-F) was developed by Symonds et al. (2005) to assess women's perceived sexual quality of life. The Turkish validity and reliability study was conducted by Tugut and Golbasi (2010).

The scale consists of 18 items, each rated on a 6-point Likert scale (1 = Completely agree, 6 = Completely disagree). The raw total score ranges from 18 to 108. Items 1, 5, 9, 13, and 18 are reverse scored prior to calculating the total score.

The raw total score is transformed to a 0-100 scale using the following formula:

(raw score - 18) × 100 / 90.

Higher scores indicate better sexual quality of life, whereas lower scores indicate poorer sexual quality of life. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the Turkish version is reported as 0.83.
The Menopause Spousal Support Scale

Time frame: At enrollment

The Menopause Spousal Support Scale was developed to assess perceived spousal support among women during menopause. The Turkish validity and reliability study was conducted by Küçükkelepçe et al. (2024).

The scale consists of 17 items and includes four subscales: emotional support, instrumental support, esteem support, and sexual intimacy support. Items are rated on a 10-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (never) to 10 (almost always).

The total score ranges from 17 to 170. Higher scores indicate greater perceived spousal support, whereas lower scores indicate lower perceived spousal support. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the Turkish version is 0.96.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Eslem Altıntaş, MSc

CONTACT

[email protected]

+90 541 610 54 12

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of Spousal Support on Sexual Quality of Life in Postmenopausal Women

Important dates

Study start: 2026
Primary completion: 2027
Study completion: 2027
First posted: Jan 29, 2026
Registry last updated: Feb 3, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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