Sexual function can be divided into two components.
The first consists of desire, motivation, fantasies, satisfaction and pleasure.
The second is characterized by orgasmic response. Both of these functions are affected by decreases of estrogen and androgens during and after menopause with a resulting decline in sex drive or sexual desire. These symptoms are preventable. With the loss of estrogen, the vagina becomes thinner and shorter making it susceptible to irritation and infection.

Sex After Menopause - Worcester, MA October 23, 2000--
Is sex the same after menopause? How does menopause change sexual functioning and what other factors are involved in sex after menopause?
These are some of the questions researchers at the New England Research Institutes and the University of Massachusetts Medical School set out to answer. The scientists studied 200 women who were going through menopause. All of the study participants had sexual partners, went through a natural menopause, and were not on hormone replacement therapy. The women were grouped according to whether they were in early, mid or late menopause. Hormone levels were measured. A thorough survey was undertaken including questions about sexual satisfaction, frequency of sexual intercourse and pain during intercourse. Questions such as "Do you believe that interest in sex declines with age" were asked to try to see if pre conceived notions played a roll. Participants were asked how easily they were aroused now compared with when they were younger and if they had difficulty reaching orgasm. Other issues such as socioeconomic status, general health and marital status were factored into the equation.

Findings were published in the current issue of Menopause, the official journal of The North American Menopause Society. Their results indicated that menopause women did believe that sexual desire declines with age and they reported a lower sexual desire and decreased arousal associated with menopause. However what's more interesting is that "...other factors such as health, marital status (or new partner), mental health, and smoking had a greater impact on women's sexual functioning than menopause status". Other findings concluded that women were generally satisfied with their sex life, which included sex about once a week.
Menopause 2000;7:297-309.