Sex at Midlife: What We Aren't Talking About

I know menopause can cause hot flashes, but what are some other symptoms?

Some of the most common and well-known symptoms of menopause are hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings and trouble sleeping through the night. The REVEAL (REvealing Vaginal Effects At mid-Life) surveys showed that while most of the 1,007 women surveyed recognized these symptoms, many did not associate vulvar/vaginal pain and physical discomfort during sexual activity with menopause. Yet, 1 out of 4 of the women surveyed reported experiencing pain during sex.

The REVEAL surveys suggests there may be a need for better communication and education around the vulvar and vaginal symptoms of menopause, yet societal barriers stand in the way. Roughly half of the Boomer women surveyed agreed that it is still taboo to acknowledge you are experiencing symptoms of menopause such as vulvar and vaginal dryness or painful intercourse, and 73% agreed that society is more accepting of discussing men’s physical sexual problems than women’s.

What’s more, eighty-five percent of physicians surveyed reported that there are medicines available for men’s sexual problems, such as Viagra and Cialis, but the same do not exist for women. There are treatment options available for women, that’s why it’s so important to discuss your personal menopause experience with your healthcare professional. Not all women experience the same symptoms and the severity can vary from woman to woman. Together, you and your health care professional can decide what menopausal symptom treatment option, if any, may be the right choice for you.

Michael Krychman, M.D., medical director of sexual medicine at Hoag Hospital and the executive director of the Southern California Center for Sexual Health and Survivorship Medicine in Newport Beach, California.

For more information, visit www.Revealsurvey.com.

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