Cagnacci A, Venier M, Xholli A, et al. - Via performing a cross-sectional multicenter study including 518 women (40 to 55 years of age) who consulted outpatient gynecological services at 30 centers across Italy, researchers investigated changes in female sexuality across the menopausal period. in addition, they examined the associations of female sexuality domains with vaginal atrophy and its symptoms. The contemporaneous presence of a pH > 5, subjective vaginal dryness, and an objective sign defined the vaginal atrophy. Sexual dysfunction, as defined by a Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) score < 26.55, was reported in 70.6% of the participants, increasing from 55% in the years 40 to 45, to 82.8% in the years 52 to 55 of age. Age, vaginal atrophy, and the presence of vaginal dryness and dyspareunia were noted to be independent determinants of FSFI. They identified the closest relation of vaginal dryness to all domains of female sexuality.