Being a mature woman today in the dating game is not always easy.  Although the mature woman still faces many challenges when it comes to love and sexuality, mature women today (for the sake of this discussion let's place the break-off point at 48) have more options than ever. As the median lifespan for women continues to expand and our society becomes more open to the idea of women's sexuality, mature women everywhere will hopefully begin to lead more satisfying and fulfilling lives.

Although dating and sex is often viewed as aspects of life enjoyed primarily by the young, the truth is that most mature women find themselves in the best place in their lives to enjoy loving, sexually gratifying relationships.

Perhaps the biggest change in a woman's life is the onset of menopause.  At this stage in a woman's life, her ovaries stop releasing eggs and producing estrogen.
Menopause can affect mature women physically in many ways that affect her sexuality.  For instance, her vaginal walls may become thinner, her body may be able to produce less vaginal lubrication, and the vagina and labia themselves may shrink slightly.  Some mature women may find that intercourse has become uncomfortable, or even painful.  Many mature women choose to use hormone replacement therapy to relieve some of these treatments.  Others use vaginal lubricants. 

Every woman experiences the menopause a bit differently, but studies have shown that mature women actually benefit from regular sexual activity.  Sexual activity can help keep the vagina toned and staves off vaginal dryness by improving lubrication.  Also, it appears that women who had active sexual lives, either through intercourse or masturbation, before the menopause are less likely to develop vaginal problems.

How does menopause affect the sexual libido of mature women?  Studies also show that most women's libido does not wane, but actually increases slightly after menopause.  Ladies mature and single also often find themselves relieved of many of the things that have kept them from pursuing an active love life. Women who were once too busy with kids, career, the household, and maybe a husband, now find themselves with more time.  Mature women often find themselves with the time to seek out the type of satisfying relationships that may have been out of their reach as young women. 

Also, without the risk of becoming pregnant, women often experience a shift in the focus of their sexual lives.  The sex act may become more centered on pleasure and sensuality than reproduction.  Ladies mature and wiser also often find themselves more confident, enjoying a better body image than younger women. 

However, for many mature women, especially those who have come out of long marriages, the thought of dating, much less exploring their sexuality, can be frightening.  Fortunately, there are many support groups and outlets for mature singles to meet in non-threatening environments and discuss their fears and hopes.  Also, many popular dating services have sprung up who specialize exclusively in matching mature singles.