This month, they speak to individuals about how their sex lives changed after menopause.
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Fifty-two-year-old Sarah is currently going throughmenopauseand using this time to reinvent herself.
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She finally came out as bisexual and is in the process of getting a masters degree.
There are over 33 different symptoms associated with menopause.
For example, women [in this age group] experience the highest rates of divorce.
They can end up being caretakers forelderly parentsor empty nesters going through financial changes.
Chronic stress can mess with your hormone levels and, in turn,lead to low libido.
I’d always loved sex, but it became astonishing.
I’d always loved sex, but it became astonishing, Eaton says.
Every week, it seemed, the sensations altered in some new, more wonderful way.
Pre-menopause, sex had been pretty much the same for all those decades, but not any longer.
Sexual pleasure increased 10 or 20 fold!
The changes shes experienced around her sex life arent bad, but different.
And as women, we are often conditioned to push through the discomfort and dark times.
My perimenopausal depression started when I was 42, says Alle, a novelist living in Seattle.
She says she found instant relief after the surgery, becoming, in her words, more functional.
She started to rebuild aromantic lifewith her husband.
Try expanding your understanding of the word sex.
All this is to say, there is no one normal way to experience sex after menopause.
Your libido may completely plummet, increase 10 fold, or stay about the same.
Communicate your needs to your partner and sit with whatever discomfort may come up, physical or otherwise.
Try expanding your understanding of the word sex.
Maybe it doesnt include vaginal penetration or any punch in of penetration anymore.
It can simply involve intimate acts, like hugging, kissing, cuddles, and sensual back rubs.
Vaginal dryness can be such a buzzkill, but using too much lube never hurt anyone.
Dr. Ferdinand recommends a lube thats rich in vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, or even coconut oil.
At the end of the day, the most empowering thing you might do is to own your journey.
You know your body best.
Take notice of the physical changes and mental shifts.
Note how they make you feel and if youre genuinely having a tough time dealing with them.
Bring a non-judgemental approach towards this period and remind yourself that this phase is completely normal.
Let them know youll be there for them in return.
And most importantly: Believe yourself.
Advocating for yourself and creating a happy, healthy sex life during menopause might look like many different things.
It can involve buying more lube to make sex more comfortable.
It could be increasing the frequency of your appointments with a psychiatrist and getting a prescription for an antidepressant.
You might opt for an affirming surgery, or one that relieves your symptoms.
You know your body best, so listen to it and prioritizeyourneeds.
