(417) Sex, Words and Silences: What Women Say (And Do Not Say) About Self-Pleasure in the Postmenopausal Stage

Introduction Female sexuality in postmenopause has historically been marginalized by medical, educational, and cultural focus centered on genitality, reproduction, and male pleasure. Women entering this stage often lacked access to comprehensive sex education and were influenced by cultural mandates that associated self-exploration with guilt and silence. Female masturbation remains taboo despite its recognized benefits for physical, emotional, and sexual health. Objective Exploring perceptions, experiences, and representations of self-pleasure by identifying the sociocultural, educational, and personal factors influencing its practice, in order to highlight these women’s voices. Methods A descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted through an anonymous online survey (Google Forms) targeting individuals with vulva who had been postmenopausal for ≥12 months. Convenience sampling was conducted over a 15-day period through social media. The questionnaire included 12 closed-ended questions and one open-ended item. Sociodemographic, educational, religious, and self-pleasure–related variables were analyzed. A total of 362 women aged 40–80 participated; two responses were excluded for not meeting inclusion criteria (final n=360). Results Of the participants, 29.3% were aged 56–60; 96.7% were Argentine, 95.3% identified as heterosexual, and 63.8% were partnered. Sixty-nine percent had completed tertiary or university studies. More than half (51.7%) reported not receiving information about masturbation during adolescence, although 47% engaged in self-exploration at that time. Four in ten women stated that their religious beliefs had influenced their practices. Overall, 89.2% considered self-pleasure beneficial, citing physical well-being, emotional balance, psychological health, and sexual pleasure. Participants’ narratives reflected a spectrum of attitudes, ranging from indifference to high appreciation. Reported limiting factors included deficient sex education, religious influence, gender mandates, and social stigma surrounding desire in later life. Conclusions Despite sociocultural constraints, many postmenopausal women integrate self-pleasure into their lives as a source of pleasure, autonomy, and emotional health. However, silences and guilt persist, inherited from reductionist and moralizing models. It is essential to include self-pleasure in Comprehensive Sex Education with a gerontological perspective and to train healthcare professionals to address it in clinical practice. Disclosure No