Understanding Menopause: Looking After Your Sexual Health as You Age

We used to not talk about menopause, but times have changed. Now, it’s no longer the taboo subject it once was. 

Menopause starts at the point when your period has stopped for a year. For most of us, this happens in our late 40s or early 50s.

Menopause marks both the end of your periods and the start of a new phase in life. You may find you can handle the emotional and physical aspects of life better. You may also find you feel better about yourself and are more patient. 

Menopause and Your Interest In Sex

Often called the ‘change of life,’ menopause has both negative and positive influences on your interest in sex.  

On the negative side, lower hormone levels can reduce your sex drive. They can also cause weight gain, loss of muscle mass, mood swings, sleep issues, anxiety, hot flashes, and discomfort during sex. All of these may impact how you feel about yourself and your interest in sex, so handle them with care and understanding. 

To ease menopause symptoms that have a negative influence on interest in sex, experts suggest:

1. Lubricants and Moisturizers: Use water-based lubricants and vaginal moisturizers if vaginal dryness makes sex uncomfortable. 
2. Pelvic Floor Exercises: Strengthen the pelvic floor muscles through exercises like Kegels to improve sexual sensation and orgasm. Yoga is another way to strengthen muscles and relieve stiff joints. It helps you stay flexible and is a good way to focus. 
3. Hormone Therapy: Talk with your doctor about hormone therapy (HT) to see if HT might be appropriate for you.  HT can stabilize hormone levels and ease symptoms like vaginal dryness, sleep issues, and low sex drive. 

It’s vital to look after yourself properly and eat well. Share your worries with your partner or friends, or join a support group for women your age. 

On the positive side, you no longer have to worry about birth control or PMS, and you don’t need to plan your social life around your cycle. Such changes can raise your interest in sex.

Also positive is that you may find new ways to improve sexual intimacy, such as:

• Non-sexual Touch: Connect through hugs, cuddles, and other sorts of touching.
• Communication: Talk openly about desires, changes, and concerns with partners. This helps them understand your experiences and increases intimacy.
• Exploration: Try out new activities, positions, or sex toys to bring novelty and pleasure into your sexual relationships. You may discover new things about yourself and what turns you on.

Adopt a healthier lifestyle before, during, and after menopause to improve your overall health and wellness, including sexual health. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and cutting down on alcohol can all help. You won’t just see fewer symptoms; you’ll also boost your health, emotional state, outlook on life, and interest in sex. 

View menopause as a fresh start, not an end. This stage in life is a chance to rediscover who you are and what you want from life. Being secure and confident helps you to communicate your needs and explore the depths of intimacy.

Pain and Other Symptoms

More or less interest in sex is one possible change during menopause.  Pain and other symptoms during menopause also merit discussion.

Pain during sex can be a signal of various health problems. It could even point toward past experience with sexual abuse. Open talks about pain can help women obtain the right help. 

Menopause can sometimes be frightening, especially if you don’t know what to expect. Other symptoms of menopause can bring about various changes in your body. Understanding these can help you manage these changes better. 

Hot flashes are one of the more uncomfortable symptoms and can lead to feelings of being unattractive. It’s hard to feel beautiful when you’re covered in clammy sweat! Be patient with yourself, and remember that a fan is a woman’s best friend during this time of life!

Menopause can also lead to a decrease in vaginal lubrication. It can change the structure of vaginal tissues. These are normal signs of menopause and aging. One way to combat this is through hormonal treatments. Such treatments can help restore vaginal lubrication and can help keep vaginal tissues healthy. They can also help manage other symptoms. When used under the right supervision, these treatments can help you go through menopause with a lot less distress.

With all the changes in your body, it can be hard not to feel like a hot mess. Literally. It can leave you wondering whose body you woke up in! These hormonal changes can dampen the desire for sex. But, with the right treatment, this problem can be dealt with. 

Final Thoughts

Menopause, with all its changes, isn’t the end of sex or sexual health. It’s a new beginning that offers a chance for deeper intimacy and greater self-awareness. Understanding how your body changes during menopause and what changes are normal can help you enjoy a healthier, happier sex life at any age.

It’s time we start having more honest and open conversations about women’s health and sexual responses. Let’s break the taboo and bring this information out in the open to improve women’s health worldwide.