Will menopause decrease my sexual activity?
Menopause does not have to decrease your sex life at all. It depends on how you are feeling and what you are thinking. If you are experiencing a lot of stress, anxiety, and moodiness, you may not feel very sexy. Emotional changes that often accompany menopause can add to a woman’s loss of interest in sex and/or ability to become aroused. Treatments used for premenstrual syndrome (PMS) can be helpful in these circumstances, and hormone therapy (HT) can also be helpful –especially when hot flashes are bothersome. Vaginal lubricants and vaginal estrogen therapy may also improve certain conditions, such as loss of vaginal lubrication that is common at menopause.
It should be noted that some post-menopausal women report an increase in sexual satisfaction. This may be due to decreased anxiety over getting pregnant. In addition, women may have greater freedom at home with the children gone from the house, allowing them to relax and enjoy spontaneous intimacy with their partners anywhere in the home.
All My Best,
Speaking of Women's Health Nurse
March 14, 2012 at 2:48pm