by Penny Newman

Created on: April 27, 2008   Last Updated: April 29, 2008

SEX AND MENOPAUSE

Menopause is no reason to stop enjoying a healthy and active sex life! There are healthy choices you can make on a daily basis to maintain a healthy sex drive and dynamic sex life.

Lackluster libido? It is true, menopause can result in a weakened libido due to a decrease in hormones, but this is easily remedied. Hormone replacement therapy can help with this. Sometimes sex drive is decreased simply because of the result of vaginal dryness, which can be a result of significantly lowered hormone levels in the body. If this is the case, estrogen that can be applied directly to the vagina is available. This is a wonderful option if you are suffering only from vaginal dryness and do not have other menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes and do not want to take an estrogen that will be circulating through the entire body. Over-the-counter lubricants are an excellent solution to this problem as well.

Insomnia and menopause often go hand-in-hand. This can lead to irritability. Sex is probably the last thing on your mind if you are tired and cranky. There are sleeping pills on the market today that are not as harsh as in the past. These are wonderful for addressing this problem. If you would rather not take medications, there are other effective options. These include yoga, meditation, and herbal teas (such as chamomile) to promote relaxation.

Since menopause means not having to worry about birth control anymore, sex can be better than ever. No longer will you have to worry about birth control pills or any other strange sponge-like or rubber devices to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. There will be no interruptions during the deed to insert, install, or otherwise apply, so romance will be better than ever!

As if all this were not enough to put you on the path to a rewarding sex life after menopause, here are some more tips that you can practice on a daily basis:

Eat healthy and exercise. This will lift your spirits and make you more comfortable with your changing body.
Talk about sex openly and honestly with your partner(s). This is especially important if you or your partner(s) are emotional about this change in your life.
Remember that sex does not have to mean intercourse. Kissing and touching are a form of sex too. These things can be just as satisfying as intercourse, if not more.

A great attitude in combination with the above tips will allow you to experience a fantastic sex life!

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