Study finds childhood trauma affects adult sex life in women.
Study finds childhood trauma affects adult sex life in women.
The Impact of Childhood Trauma on Women’s Sexual Health

Childhood experiences shape our adult lives in various ways, and a recent study suggests that adverse experiences from childhood may have a long-lasting impact on a woman’s sexual health. The study reveals that women who have experienced stressful or traumatic events during their childhood are more likely to face sexual inactivity and dysfunction later in life.
The research urges healthcare providers to screen women with sexual dysfunction for adverse childhood experiences and recommend appropriate treatment, possibly including counseling referrals. Dr. Ekta Kapoor, Assistant Director of the Mayo Clinic Center for Women’s Health, emphasizes the importance of addressing the consequences of childhood adversity to improve sexual function.
The study, conducted at the Menopause and Women’s Sexual Health Clinic at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, involved over 1,500 women aged 40 to 65. These women had concerns related to menopause and sexual health, and before their visit, they were asked to complete a survey. The survey included questions about their history of adverse childhood experiences, sexual function, recent abuse, mood, anxiety, menopause symptoms, and relationship satisfaction. The collected data was then included in the Mayo Clinic women’s health registry.
According to the National Survey of Children’s Health, approximately one in three children have at least one stressful or traumatic childhood experience. The researchers in this study examined the links between these adverse childhood experiences and later sexual dysfunction. The study’s definition of traumatic experiences includes physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, growing up in a violent or drug-infested home, and experiencing insecurity due to parent separation, divorce, or incarceration.
The study findings revealed that women with four or more adverse childhood experiences were almost twice as likely to be sexually inactive compared to women with no exposure to childhood adversity. Additionally, these women were twice as likely to have sexual dysfunction in midlife. The study defines sexual dysfunction as persistent problems with desire, arousal, lubrication, satisfaction, orgasm, and/or sexual pain.
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Dr. Mariam Saadedine, the study’s first author and a research fellow at Mayo Clinic in Florida, highlights that this association remains significant even after considering other factors known to affect female sexual function, such as age, menopause status, hormone therapy use, anxiety, depression, marital satisfaction, and history of recent abuse.
To further validate these findings, the authors recommend evaluating a more diverse group of women. This would involve studying those from lower economic statuses and those with limited access to healthcare.
The study, recently published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, sheds light on the vital role that childhood experiences play in shaping an individual’s sexual health. By recognizing the potential impact of adverse childhood events on sexual well-being, healthcare providers can offer comprehensive and targeted treatment options to improve women’s quality of life.

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Source: Mayo Clinic, news release, Aug. 30, 2023