Many women have questions about menopause and sex. It doesn't matter where they find themselves in the menopausal timeline. Women want the truth about their fears, concerns, and challenges when it comes to menopause and sex.
Changes in women’s bodies are likely to cause anxiety or confusion. To learn fact versus fiction, they should turn to their doctors.
In my article Hey Doc ... Starting the Conversation About Menopause and Sex I wrote about questions, with possible answers, that could start a conversation with your doctor.
Here are more questions and/or concerns, along with expert answers and solutions. These will help women continue a conversation with their doctor about menopause and sex.
1) "Use it or lose it?" Is this saying true when it comes to sex after menopause?
Yes. Hope Ricciotti, MD, a gynecologist who teaches at Harvard Medical School told WomensDay.com, “The vagina is a ‘use it or lose it’ place. The act of having intercourse stimulates blood flow to the vagina and keeps it healthy.”
2) I’m noticing some vaginal dryness during sex. Is there something I can do about this?
Lubricants and vaginal moisturizers can help reduce painful sex due to vaginal dryness. Vaginal moisturizers are absorbed into the skin and cling to the vaginal lining in a way that imitates natural secretions.
However if considering estrogen creams and therapies for vaginal dryness, first talk with your doctor. While estrogen therapies have shown a positive effect, the potential for other health problems is a concern. Any use of estrogen, including plant-based soy estrogen, should be discussed in detail with your doctor.
3) Are there herbal supplements that can treat low sex drive and/or painful sexual intercourse? If so, what are the potential risks or dangers?
According to the American Cancer Society, pills and creams made from certain species of wild yam are used as a popular alternative to hormones. Some of the natural compounds in these yams appear similar to estrogen and progesterone, but so far, clinical studies have not found that these yams ease menopause symptoms.
Womentowomen.com cautions us not to jump and take supplements such as DHEA. Our bodies’ DHEA hormone levels normally drop with increasing age.
Supplements in the store advertise they can “rev up your libido” but it is not clear from studies that taking DHEA shows a benefit. Plus there is concern that long-term use or high doses of DHEA may increase the risk of breast cancer.
4) My partner and I are having problems that we didn't have before. Should we see a counselor and how can we find one?
Ask your doctor to refer you to an experienced counselor. From there, you can determine whether or not your problems need professional help.
5) What about seeing a counselor for sexual dysfunction during this time?
Cleveland Clinic suggests that if you need this, again ask your doctor to refer you to someone who specializes in sexual dysfunction.
It’s normal for most women to experience some changes in their sex life as they age, but menopause does not end a woman’s sex life.
Sources:
"A New Edition for a New Era - Our Bodies Ourselves." A New Edition for a New Era - Our Bodies Ourselves. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Feb. 2014.
http://www.ourbodiesourselves.org/book/companion.asp?id=26&compID=47
"Diseases & Conditions." Cleveland Clinic. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2014.
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/menopause/hic_sex_and_menopause.aspx
"Get in your best shape ever in 2014!." Painful sex after menopause is common and treatable. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Feb. 2014.
http://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/painful-sex-after-menopause-is-common-and-treatable
"Health Centers." Herbs for Menopause, Menopause Symptoms, Menopause Treatment. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Feb. 2014.
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART00700/menopause-symptoms
"How to Talk to Your Doctor About Your Menopause Symptoms." About.com Menopause. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2014.
http://menopause.about.com/od/menopausemedicaltreatment/a/AskMenoDoctor.htm
"Menopause and sexuality."womenshealth.gov. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Feb. 2014.
http://womenshealth.gov/menopause/menopause-sexuality
"Menopause: 10 Questions To Ask Your Doctor on MedicineNet.com." MedicineNet. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2014.
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=39395
"The Truth about Sex after Menopause." Woman's Day. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2014.
http://www.womansday.com/sex-relationships/sex-tips/the-truth-about-sex-after-menopause-99603
Your Vagina: A Menopause Manual." MORE Magazine. N.p., 23 Dec. 2013. Web. 3 Feb. 2014.
http://www.more.com/health/perimenopause-menopause/your-vagina-menopause-manual?page=2
DHEA And Adrenal Imbalance." Women to Women Transforming womens health naturally. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Feb. 2014.
http://www.womentowomen.com/adrenal-health-2/dhea-and-adrenal-imbalance
Reviewed February 7, 2014
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith