{"id":5344,"date":"2014-03-11T10:56:43","date_gmt":"2014-03-11T10:56:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/?p=5344"},"modified":"2014-03-11T10:56:43","modified_gmt":"2014-03-11T10:56:43","slug":"the-truth-about-sex-after-menopause","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2014\/03\/the-truth-about-sex-after-menopause\/","title":{"rendered":"The truth about sex after menopause"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/older-couple.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5349\" alt=\"older-couple\" src=\"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/older-couple-300x180.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"180\" srcset=\"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/older-couple-300x180.jpg 300w, https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/older-couple.jpg 505w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>Whether you\u2019re postmenopausal, in the thick of it or just curious about what changes may be in store for you down the road, chances are you\u2019ve wondered what \u201cthe change\u201d may mean for your sex life. You\u2019ve heard the rumors, but here\u2019s the truth.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Truth #1: Your Vagina Is Not Going to Shrivel Up Like a Prune<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>While the vagina does go through some changes during menopause due to loss of estrogen, much of the changes that happen are undetectable to the eye. In other words, there\u2019s no such thing as \u201cshriveling,\u201d and you most certainly won\u2019t look like a prune. \u201cMany women don\u2019t notice the changes at all,\u201d says Hope Ricciotti, MD, a gynecologist who teaches at Harvard Medical School and is a health expert at BeWell.com.<\/p>\n<p>Even better news: Since blood flow to the vagina lessens after menopause, consider having sex to keep it at its best. \u201cThe vagina is a \u2018use it or lose it\u2019 place,\u201d explains Dr. Ricciotti. \u201cThe act of having intercourse stimulates blood flow to the vagina and keeps it healthy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Truth #2: Invest in a Good Lubricant<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>One of the realities of sex after menopause is vaginal dryness. It happens to almost every woman, says Sari Locker, a sex expert and author of The Complete Idiot&#8217;s Guide to Amazing Sex. \u201cFor a healthy, comfortable sex life after menopause, lubrication is key.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019ve never had to use lubricant before, don\u2019t be shy about starting! \u201cToo many women are intimidated about using lubricant, because they think that they will have to use a sticky tube of old-fashioned, medical-style lubricant,\u201d she says. \u201cIn fact, today\u2019s modern, sensual, water-based lubricants can actually enhance sex in addition to making it more comfortable. For example, Play More Lubricant provides women with a smooth, slick feeling that is not sticky and feels natural.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Truth #3: Your Body Image May Decline<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cA lot of the changes that happen during menopause aren&#8217;t just physical, they&#8217;re mental as well,\u201d says Elizabeth Boskey, PhD, MPH, CHES, a sexual health expert for About.com. \u201cMenopause can change the way that women think about their bodies and their sexuality, and it can also affect their self-esteem. What can you do about it? Try little things, such as playing sexy music, to boost your sexual self-confidence. Here are 10 simple tips to get you started.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Truth #4: You Are Still at Risk for Sexually Transmitted Diseases<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cMany postmenopausal women don&#8217;t realize that they are still at risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, and therefore don&#8217;t concern themselves about using condoms because they are no longer worried about pregnancy,\u201d says Dr. Boskey. \u201cThis may contribute to the rising incidence of HIV in the over-50 age group.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Truth #5: You May Have to Work a Little Harder for an Orgasm<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou may be used to 30 orgasms a night, but the reality is that during and after menopause, you may have to work a little harder to have one or two,\u201d says Dorree Lynn, PhD, a psychologist and sex educator who works with the AARP in Washington, DC, and the author of the forthcoming book Sex for Grownups: Dr. Dorree Reveals the Truths, Lies and Must Tries for Great Sex After 50.<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t let that get you down, she says. \u201cJust remember, you can&#8217;t compete with the memory of your younger self,\u201d she adds. \u201cFifty isn&#8217;t the new 20, its being 50 and loving every aspect of who you are and your breadth of experience.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Truth #6: Your Sex Drive Might Go Down\u2026or Up<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Menopause can mean different things for different people, adds Dr. Lynn. And while some may experience a decrease in sex drive, other women find that with the right mindset, their sex drive may actually increase. \u201cFor some women, there is a burst of adrenaline that can encourage you to try new things, change your mindset and live through your 50s, 60s and beyond with vigor and an adventurous mindset.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Truth #7: Your Need for Intimacy May Increase<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cAfter menopause, women still want intercourse, but it becomes more intimate,\u201d explains Dr. Lynn. Here\u2019s her prescription: \u201cForeplay should start in the morning with wakeup kisses, gentle pats on the butt, hand holding and whispering sweet nothings during the day,\u201d she says. \u201cIt&#8217;s all part of heightening the desire, pushing the sex drive, both partners taking more time and care to enjoy their sexual experience to the fullest.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Truth #8: Your Vaginal Walls May Thin a Bit<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cOne of the biggest issues with sex after menopause is that declining estrogen levels can lead to thinning of the vaginal walls,\u201d says Dr. Boskey. This, in combination with dryness, \u201ccan contribute to making sex more painful.\u201d She suggests talking to your doctor about estrogen creams and therapies. \u201cEstrogen therapies, including topical creams, have been shown to have a positive effect. Although, because of the potential for other health problems, any use of estrogens, including plant-based soy estrogens, should be discussed in detail with your doctor.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Truth #9: Exercise May Help Rev Up Your Sex Drive<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Dr. Ricciotti reminds her patients that one of the best ways to amp up your libido is to work on your health first, which means increasing how much exercise you\u2019re getting. \u201cI think of sex drive and function as part of holistic health,\u201d she says. \u201cIf you are unhealthy physically or emotionally, sex drive will certainly suffer. Having energy from a healthy diet and regular exercise, along with good sleep and mental health, are key ingredients in a healthy sex drive.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Truth #10: Your Sex Life Probably Won\u2019t Change Dramatically<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s some comforting news: \u201cThe best predictor of having a good sex life after menopause is having a good sex life before menopause,\u201d says Dr. Boskey. \u201cWomen who are happy with their premenopausal sex life are a lot more likely to be able to maintain that satisfaction post menopause.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Source: womansday.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Whether you\u2019re postmenopausal, in the thick of it or just curious about what changes may be in store for you down the road, chances are you\u2019ve wondered what \u201cthe change\u201d may mean for your sex life. You\u2019ve heard the rumors, but here\u2019s the truth. Truth #1: Your Vagina Is Not Going to Shrivel Up Like [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":5349,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[51],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The truth about sex after menopause - Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2014\/03\/the-truth-about-sex-after-menopause\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The truth about sex after menopause - Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. 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