How to Enjoy Your Sexual Life After Menopause

Menopause begins when your menstrual cycle stops for at least a year. Just like every girls’ first period, it can be a confusing stage in a woman’s life as it comes with extreme emotional and physical changes. 

While every woman’s menopause may have different symptoms, up to 45 percent of women say sex can be painful during and after menopause. Fortunately, several options can help treat the sexual complications caused by menopause. 

Read on to find out. 

How Does Menopause Affect Sex Drive? 

Before you know how to improve your sex life during and after menopause, it’s important to first know how it affects sex. 

The loss of testosterone and estrogen in the body following menopause can lead to changes in the sexual drive of a woman. Many women at this stage may notice that they aren’t easily aroused and may be less sensitive to stroking and touching. This can result in less interest in sex. Additionally, lowered estrogen levels can lower blood supply to the vagina. This can affect the natural vaginal lubrication, making the vaginal cavity too dry for comfortable sex. 

Hot flushes (a common menopause symptom) can also make women less likely to be in the mood for sex. To add to that, it can disrupt their sleeping patterns and make them feel tired most of the time. 

Other factors that may make a woman less interested in sex during and after menopause, include: 

• Anxiety 
• Depression
• Bladder control problems 
• Medications 
• Old age health concerns

Injuries and chronic illnesses common in old age can deplete energy, cause pain, and lower body image which may affect your confidence and desire for sex. Keep in mind that not all women experience negative emotional symptoms linked to menopause. Some women gain more confidence and wisdom as they age. 

3 Golden Tips to Enjoy Sexual Life After Menopause

For continued sexual stimulation in your older years, check out the tips below: 

1. Rebalance Yourself With Medications

For some women, their sex drive may still be okay; however, some physical symptoms can get in the way. For instance, low levels of estrogen may lead to vaginal atrophy – which shortens and narrows the vagina. This may make the uterus prolapse and leads to painful, uncomfortable sex as well as urinary leakage. 

Luckily, these negative symptoms can be managed with medications like Hormonal Replacement Therapy (HRT). Also known as Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT), HRT is a hormone therapy used to treat symptoms associated with menopause as well as an effective treatment for libido and vaginal treatment. Before starting HRT, see your doctor to ensure no medical risks are overlooked. This therapy can come in the form of pills, vaginal creams, foams, and patches. 

Another viable option is testosterone therapy which can help improve sexual dysfunction in women. This therapy option comes in the form of pills, creams, patches, and oral therapies. All these forms should be administered by a qualified clinician. It’s worth noting that ongoing research is exploring other possibilities, such as PT-141 for women, which may offer alternative approaches to address these concerns in the future.

Additionally, some herbal supplements improve libido for women who want to go all-natural. Some of them include red clover, black cohosh, and soy. 

2. Engage in Mind-Body Activities 

To improve your sex life after menopause, you may need more than one professional help and more understanding than ever before. Menopause is more than just physical complications, it may involve psychological symptoms like depression, stress, and anxiety which can greatly affect sex drive and sexual intercourse. 

Engaging in mind-body activities can help relieve menopause symptoms that affect sexual desire, intimacy, and even the quality of sleep during and after menopause. Some of the activities include yoga, meditation, acupuncture, cardio, dancing, Zumba, and so much more. It may take some time for you to find a suitable therapy that works with your ongoing medication and lifestyle. 

Also, consider stress relief techniques as they’ll help you with improved sexual stimulation, intimacy, and feeling more confident about yourself. 

3. Find New Ways to Get Sexually Excited  

Generally, libido is a complex sexual aspect in women. To make matters worse, many women are uncomfortable discussing it. It is until they reach menopause that they try to figure out what libido really means to them. 

But you can always find new ways to get aroused to restore intimacy in your sexual relationships. For example, you could incorporate a laser vaginal rejuvenation or a pelvic physical therapy to help maintain arousal. 

While you continue to be sexually active, it is also important that you practice safe sex so that you are not putting your body at any risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease. Should you have any concerns about your sexual health, however, it is always best to go and get tested so that, if you do have anything, you are able to get treatment for it. You can find somewhere to get tested by searching for something like “Syphilis test near me” and then choosing a location based on the results. Testing is done as discreetly as possible, and there is no shame in going for a test – in fact, you are being responsible by doing so! 

Additionally, consider seeing a sex therapist help you foster a new sense of intimacy with your sexual partners. A sex therapist will help you with trying out different sexual routines, foreplay, and incorporating vibrators and other sex toys in your sex life. Since vaginal dryness is a common menopausal problem, it’s also important to invest in a good lubricant. You may also check out homemade natural lubricants at Valm.

A well-rounded approach to managing low libido in women who are in their menopause stage is integrating psychosexual and medical treatments. These may include couples counseling, pelvic exercises, and holistic changes. For example, perfumes like True Pheromones are said to help people get attracted and in the mood using a form of sexual aromatherapy.

Menopause and Sexual Life: Final Word 

You don’t have to give up your sex life because of menopause. With the right treatments and practices, many senior couples remain sexually active. 

However, it’s important to know that what feels good may change as you get into menopause. Many women quit being sexual when arousal and orgasms become a problem. But by following the three golden tips above, you can be sure to get more physical stimulation and mental engagement in your sex life. 

Most importantly, make sure you make an appointment with your doctor before you start any regimen. Additionally, if you have unusual discharge, spotting, bleeding, soreness, and burning sensation, it’s also important to see your doctor as soon as possible.

Dani Fogel is a Communication Coordinator at Brandable, based in Los Angeles, CA. She works on the Queen V brand within the company’s Digital and Ecommerce department.