Is There Sex Post-Menopause? -- ThirdAge

Is There Sex Post-Menopause?

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Even the most sexual of women may find their thoughts turning away from intimate relations with their husbands when they have to deal with some of the symptoms of menopause.

Take Rita, 51, for example. She enjoyed a healthy sex life and liked what she saw when she looked at the mirror, until she started experiencing hot flashes, night sweats and mood swings -- symptoms of menopause.

"How can you expect me to feel sexy and want to have sex when I'm uncomfortable all the time?" she complained.

Rita is typical of many post-menopausal women in that her symptoms have had an effect on her quality of life as well as interest in sex.

Australian sex therapist and relationship counsellor Dr. Rosie King said: "You can't blame women for feeling unsexy at that point as they are likely to suffer from pain-in-the-neck symptoms, such as mood swings, night sweats, hot flashes and insomnia.

"The drop in estrogen levels can also affect the genitals, as women experience a thinning of the lining of the vagina. As a result, the vagina may become dry and fragile, making sex painful."

The onset of menopause does not have to translate into the end of a healthy sex life, Dr. King said.

"Women who take hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) systematically can enjoy a better sex life. HRT is very effective in improving the health of the vagina and it increases lubrication as well," she said.

Sensitivity to your partner's needs will increase a post-menopausal woman's interest in sex.

"Women need an average of 15 to 20 minutes to become aroused -- and older women need even more time. Her sexual responses slow down and her orgasm is less intense, but a man can help to increase her urge to merge.

"He should attempt to learn what turns her on. Instead of the sexy lingerie (that works for him!), he should spend more time talking to her or hugging her.

"Buy her flowers and spend quality time with her. These are typical female sexual enhancers and may increase a woman's interest in sex."

Dr. King added that other factors could affect an interest in sex in post-menopausal women.

"There is an association between depression and menopause, for instance. This could be related to the 'empty nest' syndrome.

"This is the period in her life when the children have left home. All she has left is her husband. Many women become depressed as a result of the children growing up and going away and there is no doubt that depression is an inhibitor of sexual response."

Dr. King added that treatment for depression also tends to inhibit sexual desire and arousal.

Ignorance can also be a factor in female sexual dysfunction in menopausal women, Dr. King said.

"Some women don't understand what's happening to their bodies and that it is a natural part of aging.

"They blame themselves or their partners for what is happening and this could cause a disruption in the relationship. This, of course, tends to affect sexual function."

To prevent this from happening, Dr. King recommends that women seek treatment.

"Menopause is a time of great transition for women and it is crucial that they seek treatment if they exhibit symptoms."

"Husbands need to be patient and understanding -- even if their wives are irritable and forgetful, for instance.

"While he may never understand what his wife is going through, he should realize that these are the physiological effects of the hormonal transition that his wife is experiencing."

Worrying about one's sexual performance tends to be a factor for pre-menopausal and menopausal women.

The Pfizer Global Better Sex Survey (GBSS) indicates that 48 percent of women aged between 45 and 54 and 22 percent of women aged between 55 and 64 worry about losing their ability to perform sexually as they and their partners grow older.

While their fears may be justified, Dr. King is quick to point out that menopause doesn't necessarily have to be a traumatic experience.

"For some women, it's a liberating experience, as they have said goodbye to period pain and worries about contraception. The good news is that some women actually enjoy sex more because they feel totally free of these worries," she said.

Brought to you by Pfizer

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