Sex After Menopause
However sexually active you
were before the menopause, you can be sure that its onset will
cause physical and psychological changes that will in some way
change the way you feel sexually. While some women find
their new situation liberating because they don’t have to
worry about menstrual cycles and pregnancy, others find
that their sex drive decreases making sex difficult or
uncomfortable.
How does menopause decrease libido?
During the menopause, the
levels of sex hormones in the body decrease dramatically. With
a reduction in testosterone which is responsible for sexual
desire and lubrication, progesterone which maintains libido,
and estrogen which enhances sexual sensitivity, it is no wonder
that physically we may feel less sexy during and after the
menopause.
These physical changes often
make it harder for a woman to reach orgasm as their sexual
response is slower. Because the walls of the vagina become
thinner as estrogen levels decrease, some women find
intercourse uncomfortable, or even painful, and a few even
experience bleeding.
The menopause symptoms often
mean women don’t feel much like having intercourse. Sex might
be the last thing on your mind when you are having trouble
sleeping and experiencing hot flushes.
You may
feel uncomfortable about the changes to your body caused by the
menopause, which could include increased weight around the
stomach, sagging breasts and thinning hair. These factors can
really knock your sexual confidence and lead you to reject your
sexual partner. In turn this can lead to feelings of guilt and
depression which only make the situation
worse.
How does menopause increase libido?
For many women the post
menopausal phase is the most pleasurable sexually. Some find
that without the worries of contraception and menstruation,
they are able to relax and enjoy lovemaking more than they ever
have before. Many find they are able to be more sexually
adventurous after the menopause.
For those that are in a
trusting long term relationship, this can be a time when the
children are grown up, and as a couple you have more time to
focus on each others’ needs. The hormonal ups and downs of your
menstrual cycle are finally over, and the emotional stress that
they can bring is a thing of the past.
Increasing libido post menopause
If you are finding sex after
menopause difficult, here are a few things you could
try:
- Build up to intercourse
slowly, perhaps using massage or taking a bath
with your
partner
- If intercourse is painful
you could limit this and use other methods of
pleasuring each other; this may even spice up
your sex life as you are inspired to
experiment
- Don’t avoid intercourse
completely as it does improve the muscle tone and
lubrication of the
vagina
- Try masturbating to help you
to become aroused more easily and achieve
orgasm
- Water based lubricants can
make sex more comfortable and
pleasurable
- A hormone cream, such as
natural progesterone cream, can help to keep your
vaginal area
healthy
- Avoid highly perfumed bath
products as these will increase vaginal
dryness
Although the menopause can
have a dramatic impact on your body and mind, it does not have
to mark the end of your sex life. Take time to relax and enjoy
the freedom of sex without contraception, or simply use this
time to become more intimate with your
partner.
Other
Topics.....
Menopause
Symptoms
What is
Menopause
Hormone Replacement
Therapy
Male
Menopause
Perimenopause
Menopause Relief
Bleeding after
Menopause
Surgical
Menopause
Menopause
Supplement
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