Sex after Menopause
The joy
and pleasure of sexual intimacy is not only for the young, but
for everyone, regardless of advancing age. As we get older and
no longer worry about getting pregnant, no longer have the
worries and work of children and have more time to spend on
ourselves and our partners, we find that sexual activity is
more fun than ever.
The old
adage about "use it or lose it" is partially true.
Remaining sexually active (with or without a partner) does
keep blood flowing to the genital area, thereby nourishing the
tissue that keeps the fun in sex.
At the
onset of menopause a woman's body begins to produce less
estrogen and lubrication can become a bit more difficult. It's
easy to obtain help for a bit of dryness. Many of the
over-the-counter lubrications work just fine for most women.
The good
news is that we also get an increase in our levels of
androgens. Androgens are the hormones that make you feel like
you did as a teenager! The myths that women lose their sex
drive after menopause are just not true!!
Why
is dryness a problem?
Three
possibilities for changes that can occur in the vagina:
The vagina can lose its moistness and elasticity. When a
woman is sexually aroused, vaginal tissues become wet and
without it, sex becomes uncomfortable, even painful.
The vagina can lose the numerous folds and bumps that allow it
to expand easily. As hormone production dwindles, folds
can gradually disappear, leaving the surface of the vagina
smoother and less elastic.
As a woman gets older, her vaginal walls become thinner and
dryer. At menopause, the lining begins to erode,
dropping from three layers to one or two layers.
A
few things to keep in mind:
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If
you're in a brand new relationship, talk frankly with
your partner about sexually transmitted diseases and
require that he wear a condom for the first few
months. AIDS is a problem for sure, but no
matter how neat, clean and pure he appears to be,
you're exposed to all the partners he's been with for
the past 6 months. |
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Wear
cotton underwear and limit the use of antihistamines
that can dry out vaginal membranes as well as the
nasal ones |
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Learn
Kegel exercises to improve muscle tone, enhance sexual
pleasure and improve urinary control. To learn how,
attempt to stop the urinary flow and when you are
competent at doing it, you can perform the exercise up
to 150 times a day. Your partner will love you
for it! |
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If
vaginal dryness is causing sexual intercourse to be
painful, you CAN do something about it. Don't
avoid sex because you're not only denying your
partner, but yourself of the intimacy that brought you
together. Buy KY jelly or Replens and if they don't do
the trick for you, then see your doctor to find out if
hormone replacement therapy is for you. |
At our age
we know our bodies and what better aphrodisiac is there than a
woman who knows what she wants from her partner?
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without permission |
