Menopause and Sex (cont.)
Does Menopause Lower Sex Drive in all Women?
No. In fact, some post-menopausal women report an increase in sex drive. This may be due to decreased anxiety associated with a fear of pregnancy. In addition, many post-menopausal women often have fewer child-rearing responsibilities, allowing them to relax and enjoy intimacy with their partners.
What Can I Do to Treat Vaginal Dryness During Menopause?
During and after menopause, vaginal dryness can be treated with water-soluble lubricants such as Astroglide or K-Y Jelly. Do not use non-water soluble lubricants such as Vaseline because they can weaken latex (the material used to make condoms, which should continue to be used to avoid pregnancy until your doctor verifies you are not producing anymore eggs and to prevent contracting sexually transmitted diseases). Non-water soluble lubricants can also provide a medium for bacterial growth, particularly in a person whose immune system has been weakened by chemotherapy..
How Can I Improve My Sex Drive During and After Menopause?
Currently, there are not any good drugs to treat sexual problems in women dealing with menopause. Estrogen replacement may work, but research has yielded conflicting results regarding its effectiveness. Estrogen can, however, make intercourse less painful by treating vaginal dryness.
Doctors are also studying whether a combination of estrogen and the male hormones, called androgens, may be helpful in increasing sex drive in women.
Although sexual problems can be difficult to discuss, talk to your doctor; there are options to consider, such as counseling. Your doctor may refer you and your partner to a health professional who specializes in sexual dysfunction. The therapist may advise sexual counseling on an individual basis, with your partner or in a support group. This type of counseling can be very successful, even when it is done on a short-term basis.
How Can I Increase Intimacy With My Partner During Menopause?
During menopause, if your sex drive isn't what it once was but you don't think you need counseling, you should still take time for intimacy with your partner. Being intimate does not require having intercourse -- love and affection can be expressed in many ways. Enjoy your time together -- you can take long romantic walks, have candlelit dinners, or give each other back rubs.
To improve your physical intimacy, you may want to try the following approaches:
- Educate yourself about your anatomy, sexual function, and the normal changes associated with aging, as well as sexual behaviors and responses. This may help you overcome your anxieties about sexual function and performance.
- Enhance stimulation through the use of erotic materials (videos or books), masturbation, and changes to sexual routines.
- Use distraction techniques to increase relaxation and eliminate anxiety. These can include erotic or non-erotic fantasies; exercises with intercourse; and music, videos, or television.
- Practice non-coital behaviors (physically stimulating activity that does not include intercourse), such as sensual massage. These activities can be used to promote comfort and increase communication between you and your partner.
- Minimize any pain you may be experiencing by using sexual positions that allow you to control the depth of penetration. You may also want to take a warm bath before intercourse to help you relax, and use vaginal lubricants to help reduce pain caused by friction.
Next: Do I still have to worry about sexually transmitted diseases? »
- estropipate, Ogen - Information on Estropipate (Ogen, ORTHO-EST) a drug prescribed for the treamtent of the symptoms of menopause such as vaginal dryness and hot flashes as well as the prevention of bone fractures due to osteoporosis.
- Menopause - Menopause symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, abnormal vaginal bleeding, vaginal itching, dryness, and pain, urinary symptoms, weight gain, acne, skin texture changes, and mood changes.
- Masturbation - Read about masturbation, self-stimulation of the genitals to achieve orgasm. Find out who and why people masturbate and if it is normal or harmful.
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