Menopause? Not Over With Sex Yet!

Menopause! That word again. This time it’s to say, ‘it’s not over with sex yet’.  Never mind the symptoms that come with  menopause such as vaginal dryness, mood swings, night sweats, fatigue, bone loss, weight gain, sleeplessness, or dry skin which makes menopause look like a one-way ticket to unhappiness.  Depending on your individual genes and how you manage your health; you may not suffer much, if at all. By taking up a positive attitude, embracing your body, and eating healthily can change everything, even your sex life. There are seven ways to embrace sex when you hit menopause as experts have pointed out.

1. Possess a positive mind

The extent that you let menopause affect you starts in your mind. The fact that your body starts to change in response to menopause doesn’t mean it’s a condition that must be managed with medicine. Agreed estrogen is the key to youth, health and beauty; but a decrease in this youth elixir as we move into menopause shouldn’t portend sexlessness. Take a hold on yourself, as this is a phase to celebrate and make the most of.  If you don’t feel this positive attitude, then something is wrong in the way you approach mid-life.

2. Avoid depression and bad mood

While fatigue, hot flashes, weight gain, or sleeplessness can leave anyone in a bad mood, depression is not a symptom of menopause. Experts discovered that depression during menopause is often an extension of one’s earlier frame of mind.  For instance if you were depressed in your 30s, you are likely to have a tendency toward depression in your 40s and 50s. Moreover, the rates of depression in women fall as they age; only 7% of women age 45 to 54 experience depression according to a study. So try to find out what’s responsible for the bad mood and disallow.

3. Be creatively sex-wise

Forget about those steamy sex scenes in romantic movies. For your own sexual excitement, do what makes you and your partner comfortable, though a dose of creativity does a lot of good. Trying something new can invigorate anyone. Studies show that couples that share fresh experiences are more satisfied. Of course, that doesn’t mean you have to travel to a romantic resort every weekend to capture that intimacy. An adventure can be something as simple as a change of spot. So go ahead, be brave – give it a go.

 

4.Youth adoration is a non-starter

OK, so you don’t have the body of a sexy top model, or perhaps you never did. Stop wasting time on this fact because a bad body image can spoil the whole thing. Feeling down and conscious of your physical appearance can greatly alter sexual responsiveness at mid-life. The more you see yourself as less attractive, the more likely you have low sexual desire or activity. This is true. And tell you what, not every man in mid-life is looking for a twenty something, well, maybe he is looking. In any case, men know the plain truth: and that is we are all getting wider at the waist and balder as time goes on. So the equation is more balanced than you think.

 

5. Don’t miss your beauty sleep

Tossing and turning during the early hours is a familiar disturbance among women over age 45. In one survey, disturbed sleep was the most important symptom they sought to relieve. In fact, half the women surveyed would rather get more sleep than make love. In view of this finding, it may be wise to improve your sleep habits. To start with, set a routine. Go to sleep and wake at the same time every day. Don’t take afternoon nap because it will make it harder to fall asleep at night. Leave the TV, computer, and office work outside the bedroom. Remember, the bedroom is for sleeping, and lovemaking, of course.

6. Treat your body with loving care

Treating your body with loving care means eating right, no smoking, easing on alcohol, and exercising as often as possible. These basic practices can see you through the later years. If you would like to increase your estrogen through hormone replacement therapy (HRT), talk to your doctor first, because it has been linked to increased risk of breast cancer, heart disease, and stroke. Nowadays, doctors are prescribing low hormone doses in short intervals. If you prefer natural options, black cohosh, DHEA, and soy are just some of the many alternatives. One study found that women who ate soy had a 45% reduction in hot flashes. But, again, consult your doctor before embarking on a new treatment.

7. Rev your engine 

A quote from my book Indulge in Healthy Living: Look and Feel Great for Life, said 

“the body is like a new car.  Although it was new once, it has now seen better days.  Pack it in the garage unused for just a week and it is unlikely that you will get an immediate response when you turn the key. This cannot be said for a car that is allowed to do what it is made to do…burn fuel.”

Equating a woman's body to a car is not exactly sexy; but, honestly, you have to start up the engine often and warm it or else the parts get rusty. Having sex frequently is a good thing. Studies reveal that women who have sex every day report far less vaginal and sexual problems. OK, so most of you are not going to get down to it every day, but lots of sex keeps the blood flowing in the right places, which encourages optimal tissue health. Make sense? And even though your hormone levels are doing a yo-yo, the body does enjoy a surge of testosterone that in turn increases sex drive.

Now you know what to do, it becomes obvious that it’s useless hiding under the sheets. Rejuvenating your sexual self, even in your golden years, is not unreachable. Armed with a new mindset, a desire for new know-hows, a love of your body no matter its shape, and a healthy sexual appetite; there are no reasons not to get intimate as much as you can.

Photo Credit: Creative Commons.