The
Secret to Sexual Satisfaction
Many
women approaching menopause experience sexual change, both
physical and emotional, good and bad. Most are associated with the
dips in estrogen that being during the climacteric.
First,
the good. "Up until age 50 you experience intermittent peaks
and valleys of estrogen. And when your estrogen dips
down low. Your testosterone peaks - along with your sex
drive."
Problem
is, estrogen stimulates cell growth and vaginal lubrication. So
its slow decline can lead to thinning of vaginal tissue and inadequate lubrication,
both of which can cause irritation during intercourse. And
that's not all : Because the cardiovascular and the
peripheral and central nervous systems are also influenced by estrogen
women in their climacteric can experience a decline in blood
flow to their genitals , a drop in physical
responsiveness and a loss of sexual desire.
Still
other women experience touch impairment and aversion to
being touched ( sexually or nonsexual) that may be hormone
based as well. "This is often the secret
symptom," Dr. Seifer says , " the one nobody ever talks about
. And it's a real problem for women who one
nobody ever talks about . And it's real problem
for women who delayed childbearing .They have younger
children who tend to cling to their legs , and the women
can't stand it. They end up pushing their families away because they
feel suffocated."
Of
course, there are several steps you can take to combat the sexual
changes associated with menopause. You can use a water base lubricant
such as K-Y Jelly or Replens during intercourse to combat vaginal
dryness. And you can ask your doctor about prescribing low dose
ERT- specifically, a pill that contains both estrogen and
androgen ( The male hormone, the most active of which is
testosterone). Although in some women it does produce a few
unsavory side effects such as excess hair growth and deepen
g of the voice , these problems can usually be reversed by
adjusting the dosage. And androgen boosts the sex drive of
most women wh9 take it,
You
can also talk to your partner about how you feel. Chances are , he knows
something's different, " Says Dr. Seifer. He just does know what
it is. " Let him in on your feelings. Then you can work on the
problem together.
Natural
Help for Urine Leaks
A
big word for an embarrassing problem, stress incontinence refers to
the involuntary escape of small amounts of urine when you
Cough, laugh, exercise or lift heavy objects. The culprit? Weakened
sphincter muscles surrounding the urethra. Childbearing
stretches these muscles, so its responsible for many cases of
stress incontinence., But the tissues in the lower urethra
and sphincter that regulate urine flow are also influenced
by estrogen . And when its level in the body wanes, these tissues
become weak.
A
cycle of low- dose ERT can often eradicate stress incontinence says Dr.
Seifer. But non-hormonal measures can be just as effective. Ask your
doctor for information on bladder training and exercises.
Such as kegels to strengthen the muscles in your pelvic floor To
find out how to perform Kegels).
Having
sex may also help, says Dr. Prior. " The tissue surrounding
the urethra is erectile tissue, tissue, similar to a man's penile
tissue," she says. " So if you're feeling sexy
because your hormones are high but you aren't having sex, there
may be some swelling around the urethra. And incontinence can
result."
Ride
Out Occasional Jitters
Many
women fear that depression is a natural consequence of menopause.
But research simply doesn't bear this out. Fact is women
approaching menopause are more likely to suffer from anxiety as Maria
Lewis did, than depression.
Many
women experience free - floating anxiety as foreboding a sense
that something is going to happen to them or to someone they love-
while others may experience it as a loss of confidence. Cobb herself
recalls that after years of teaching, she suddenly become very self-conscious
walking into a classroom. " I just had this feeling
that I was going of fall down or make a fool of myself," She
says.
But
anxiety can manifest itself in many ways,, some of the most common being
shallow breathing, a heaviness in the chest, an will being
are at risk. If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, consult your
doctor. She will set your mind at ease about their cause ( most
likely, you don't have heart disease or caner, for instance ) and
help you to better understand your anxiety and its various manifestations.
In addition, you should consider exercising regularly, indulging
in relaxation
techniques and avoiding stimulants such as nicotine and caffeine.
Group
therapy formal or informal may also make you feel better about this
confusing stage, says Dr. Prior, who suggests sharing Your
experiences with other women about your age. " we've traditionally
gone to our doctors for information that we could have gathered
from our female friends, and we've come up short, " she says,
" Only by talking to each other will we discover that other women
have endured similar experiences, that we've not crazy and that we'll
survive this stage of our lives"
