Aging is a natural part of life and can have different effects on a women鈥檚 sex drive. For some women aging can be very difficult to accept and this can negatively impact their sexual relations with their partner. Menopause is the largest turning point for a woman as she ages. This is the point in which she is no longer able to produce children and her body under goes many changes as a result. In the past society took a much more negative view upon women aging and sex. Now that their is a greater understanding of women鈥檚 body鈥檚 and sex lives there is much more openness regarding maintaining a healthy sex life past your childbearing years. Understanding the physical effects of menopause on your body, keeping up a positive mental outlook, and finding sexual solutions to help you deal with your body鈥檚 changes are all important in order to keep a healthy sexual relationship with your partner.
Menopause signals the end of a woman鈥檚 reproductive phase of life and can also weaken a woman鈥檚 libido because of the hormonal shifts that occur. As levels of estrogen in her body lower, this can cause physical changes. The vaginal lining thins, vaginal lubrication decreases, and blood flow to the vagina lessens which can all contribute to making sexual activity more painful. Other physical symptoms may occur such as hot flashes, bladder incontinence, and urinary tract difficulties. All of these new and uncomfortable symptoms may make a woman feel less sexually inclined. These are natural changes and should not be viewed as wholly negative or uncontrollable. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) has become a common solution to controlling the physical symptoms associated with menopause. In general HRT will provide most women with a greater libido and improvement in her sex life with her partner. HRT can also have some health related cons, so its important to discuss with your personal physician if this treatment is right for you.
Besides the physical symptoms of menopause, there can also be a great deal of mental symptoms. Many women experience mood changes due to menopause. HRT can help regulate some of these symptoms as well. In general women in their 50鈥檚 are less prone to depression than women in their 30鈥檚 which is good news for those approaching menopause. If you have had mental illness or previous issues with depression or severe PMS then you want to continue to observe your moods during this period of change. Taking care of your mental health and attitude can be an important aspect of keeping sexual intimacy alive during this period. Many women begin to feel differently about themselves as sexual beings because they are no longer fertile. This is the time to look at great role models in TV and movies who are older and still considered very sexy. There is no reason to view yourself with diminished sensuality merely because you are aging. This is a time in your life that you and your partner are able to enjoy each other more fully without the responsibilities associated with children. If you keep a healthy mental attitude this will make the world of difference in your sex life.
Proper nutrition and exercise are always vital to keeping the spark in bed. Menopause is no exception. Even if you are feeling sluggish and your body is undergoing adjustments, this is all the more reason to take care of yourself. You can also try experimenting with different types of lubricant if sex has become more painful for you. This should help you and your partner ease into the changes that are happening to each of you as you age. Communication with your partner is always a solution for most sexual problems. If you aren鈥檛 feeling as amorous as you were prior to menopause make sure you let him know what is going on with you and keep him informed of your dialogue with your physician. The more he feels a part of what you are going through the better your sex life will be for both of you. Keep an open and ongoing dialogue with him about how you are feeling and what you need from him in bed. Understanding your body, mind, and all the wonderful solutions to help you ease through menopause will keep your sex life going for years to come.