In fact, if you’re postmenopausal and not using at least a vaginal form of estrogen, your vaginal tissue may be more vulnerable to infection than it was before menopause. Older age is not a protection against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). What should a recently divorced postmenopausal woman know about safe sex? However, in some women stimulation of the vagina may be more likely to trigger orgasm or may lead to stimulation of the clitoris. In general, the clitoris is more sensitive to stimulation than the vagina and is more reliably able to trigger orgasm when stimulated. What’s the difference between a vaginal orgasm and a clitoral orgasm?Īn orgasm is the same regardless of where the stimulation that triggers it comes from. Studies are ongoing, but results may not be available for several years. Although short-term treatment (for about 6 months) appears to be safe, we don’t yet know about long-term safety, especially with regard to breast cancer or heart disease. However, the results aren’t dramatic, and placebo cream (without any active testosterone) has been shown to have similar effects. Studies in carefully selected postmenopausal women with low sexual desire that causes them personal distress show that testosterone treatment can boost sexual interest and activity. My libido has slowly decreased since menopause, and I’ve heard that testosterone cream will really improve my sex life. Ask your provider whether hormone therapy might make sense for you.
Although hormone therapy (with estrogen or with estrogen plus progestogen) is associated with risks, if the hot flashes are disruptive and other measures are not helpful, the benefits of hormone therapy often outweigh the risks for healthy women in early menopause. When your overall quality of life is poor and you’re tired from rustling the covers all night, sleep may take priority over sex. Could the hot flashes be affecting my libido?īothersome hot flashes, especially if they’re associated with night sweats and sleep disruption, certainly could affect your sexual interest. My sex life was fine until menopause, but I’m just not interested any more. I’ve been experiencing bothersome hot flashes for the past year, and I wake up almost every night sweaty and then get cold. Blood levels of estrogen in women who use only low doses of vaginal estrogen are minimally elevated compared with women not using any estrogen, and are still within the normal range for women at menopause and afterward. Should I be?Īlthough higher doses of estrogen (the doses needed to treat hot flashes) are associated with risks, including heart disease in older women and breast cancer, the very low doses of estrogen needed to treat vaginal dryness-and which are applied directly in the vagina-are considered safe. We use lubricants and I’ve even tried vaginal moisturizers, but sex is still uncomfortable. I’ve had vaginal dryness and pain with intercourse since menopause. If there’s no conflict around sex in your relationship and the relationship is loving and intimate in other ways, there is nothing to be concerned about. Is this abnormal?Īlthough many couples enjoy sex in their older years, there is absolutely no “normal” frequency for having sex at any age.
We have a loving marriage and snuggle a lot, but we haven’t had sex in years. Regular vaginal sexual activity is important for vaginal health after menopause because it stimulates blood flow, helps keep your vaginal muscles toned, and maintains your vagina’s length and stretchiness.
For many women, so can the regular use of long-acting vaginal moisturizers when combined with regular vaginal sexual activity. With menopause, the ovaries stop making estrogen, which can cause your vagina to become dry and less elastic or “stretchy.” Fortunately, low doses of vaginal estrogen therapy can keep the lining of your vagina healthy. I’ve always enjoyed sex and I’m worried that my vagina will change after menopause.
What Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs) Can Do for You.Effective Treatments for Sexual Problems.Hot Flash FAQs: Triggers, Symptoms & Treatments.Menopause FAQs: Understanding the Symptoms.Perimenopause & Premature Menopause FAQS.Expert Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About Menopause.Communications from NAMS Medical Director.NAMS souhaite la bienvenue aux lectrices francophones.
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