It's Time to Talk about Sex After Menopause, A New Campaign To Free Women From The Silence Around An Often-Neglected Area Of Women's Health

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. and CHICAGO, July 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Beginning July 4^th, women, men and health care providers are encouraged to lend their social voices to an often-neglected area of women's health  by committing to have a conversation about sex after menopause in the doctor's office, at home or with friends.

"For millions of women in America, sex after menopause is not a pleasurable, fun activity.  Common gynecological problems can make it uncomfortable and medical issues can cause it to become downright painful," said Lauren Streicher, MD, Associate Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern University's medical school, The Feinberg School of Medicine and author of the new book, Love Sex Again. "Unfortunately, many women and their doctors are unwilling or afraid to bring these issues up."

It's Time to Talk about Sex After Menopause is sponsored by the Women's Health Foundation in partnership with Shionogi Inc., and will be spread through Thunderclap, a crowd amplification website.

"When  it comes to talking about sex after menopause, women and their doctors pull back and are reluctant to have any earnest dialogue about what is really going on," said Missy Lavender, Founder and Executive Director, Women's Health Foundation. "When we compared this silence for women to how men's sexual health is a socially acceptable part of the vernacular today, we realized something needed to be done."

"We hope this campaign will be liberating for all those women who are uncomfortable talking about sex after menopause," said Deanne Melloy, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Shionogi Inc.

Women, men and health care providers are encouraged to visit www.womenshealthfoundation.org, and click on the Thunderclap campaign to join the It's Time to Talk About Sex After Menopause.  By signing up and committing to having "the conversation," they will be lending their social voices to this critical issue and encouraging others to join them.  The Thunderclap will occur on September 1, the first day of National Menopause Awareness Month. 

With increased life expectancy, today, women spend one-third of their life after menopause.¹  An estimated 32 million post-menopausal women in the U.S. have vulvar and vaginal atrophy (VVA), a symptom of which is painful sex.  In a large survey, 62% of women were not familiar with VVA and 44% who suffer with symptoms of VVA have never had a discussion with their healthcare provider.

About the Women's Health Foundation
Women's Health Foundation (WHF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the pelvic health and wellness of women and girls through community-based programs and services, research, and community outreach.  WHF is recognized as the nation's most visible and passionate champion of pelvic wellness issues. Learn more at www.womenshealthfoundation.org.

About Shionogi Inc.
Shionogi Inc. is the U.S.-based subsidiary of Shionogi & Co., Ltd., a Japanese pharmaceutical company with a distinguished 135-year history of discovery and development of innovative therapies.  Shionogi Inc. continues this focus on the development and commercialization of high quality medicines to meet patient needs while recognizing and addressing the highly personal nature of healthcare.  In the U.S., Shionogi is currently focused on women's health and pain.  Pipeline products are in the additional areas of allergy, oncology, anti-infectives and endocrinology.  For more information, please visit http://www.shionogi.com.  For more information on Shionogi & Co., Ltd, please visit http://www.shionogi.co.jp/en/.   

¹ J Midlife Health. 2010 Jul-Dec; 1(2): 56–58. doi:  10.4103/0976-7800.76212

© 2014 Shionogi Inc. Florham Park, NJ 07932. All Rights Reserved. SHI14-000-087-00 06/14

SOURCE Shionogi Inc.