Who says sex has to suck after menopause? Look at Mick Jagger; he’s 78 and still impregnating women! But for women post menopause, one of the worst sexual side-effects of getting older and going through menopause is a dryer vagina. Mother nature is annoying, but your sex life doesn’t have to be. Science has come to the rescue with some products to ease the discomfort and keep your “little lady down there” young and fresh forever.
According to Replens, a vaginal moisturizer that last for three days, there are three stages of menopause, which can start in your 40’s.
- Peri-Menopause – 5 to 10 years prior to actual menopause when physical signs of menopause begin due to hormone fluctuations. Symptoms often progress from light to heavy during this time period. More intense PMS can develop during this time.
- Actual Menopause – the day that a woman has gone 12 months without a period.
- Post-Menopause – Technically, post-menopause refers to all years of life following actual menopause. However, most symptoms actually occur and often increase in severity during the 5 to 10 years following actual menopause. Some symptoms may continue throughout the remainder of life.
- Feminine Dryness – During and after menopause, decreases in estrogen levels can cause vaginal tissues to become thin, dry and less elastic. Without treatment, the problem may worsen and the tissues can become inflamed – a condition called atrophic vaginitis. Feminine dryness, whether mild or severe, can cause pain during intimacy and discomfort, itching and irritation even among those who are not sexually active. This condition affects over 25% of menopausal women and can continue for the remainder of life.
- Women are often prescribed estrogen gels after complaining about dryness, which has weird side effects such as yeast infections. A vaginal moisturizer is an easier fix.
- Women taking breast cancer drugs, which remove estrogen from the body, often experience vaginal dryness. Using a moisturizer like this is a better choice.
- The idea here is to “make sex fun again.” Sex doesn’t have to be over, ever! And to avoid any awkwardness and embarrassment of frantically using it and breaking the sexy time moment, it can be used any time of day or night. According to the company, “Replens works best when used on a regular schedule and not just prior to intercourse. Because Replens delivers long-lasting moisture, there is no need to apply it just prior to intercourse. We recommend using Replens at least 2 hours prior to intercourse to allow proper moisturization.” Sex ed pros can order some free samples here.
