Menopause and Vaginal Dryness

Have you ever met a man whom you felt would be right for you but decided to call it quits because you felt that you could no longer satisfy him? Have you ever felt that your sex drive is too low that you can no longer be with another man? If these scenarios happened to you in the past, you may benefit immensely just by reading this article!

Aside from hot flashes, vaginal dryness is one of the most common symptoms associated with menopause. Most women aged 50 and beyond reported experiencing vaginal dryness and soreness during intercourse. This is due to the eventual thinning and drying of the vaginal walls as a result of a reduction in the estrogen level in the body of most menopausal women.

Aside from the decreased estrogen levels, there are other changes that happen in a woman's body during menopause that further complicate things. A menopausal woman's cervix produces a significantly reduced amount of mucous, hence providing less natural lubrication. As if these changes are not yet enough, the entrance to a menopausal woman's vagina also becomes smaller making intercourse quite an upsetting affair!

However, the flame of romance does not need to wane as you reach your menopausal years. Here are some suggestions that may help you and your partner live a more fulfilling love life ahead of you!

Use lubricants - You may want to try unscented creams or vegetable oils to help you handle vaginal dryness. However, do not use these if your partner is using a condom since it may cause the condom to break. For women whose partners are using condoms, use water-soluble jellies or inserts instead.

Seek relief by using estrogen - If you find that lubricants are not especially helpful in dealing with your problem, talk to your doctor about using estrogen. He or she can discuss with you the pros and cons of using this hormone to help you make an informed decision whether you want to use it or not. Estrogen therapy is available in many different forms. If you decide to go on with your estrogen therapy, you can choose whether you want to take the hormone in the form of pills, wear an estrogen patch or use an estrogen vaginal cream instead. Estrogen provides relief from vaginal dryness by increasing lubrication and thickening the vaginal lining. These actions ultimately reduce frictional pain and discomfort.

Testosterone may also be helpful. Aside from estrogen, your physician may prescribe you to use creams containing 1% to 2% testosterone. These creams work by increasing your sex drive. However, these are not designed to be used as lubricants. So do not apply them right before sexual intercourse.

Practice Kegel's exercises - Kegel's exercises were primarily designed to help prevent urinary incontinence but it also found its use in making a significant improvement in the sex life of menopausal women. These exercises can be performed discreetly under any situation at any time during the day. If you ever encounter difficulty in finding which muscles to use during the exercises, you can use a device called Femina cones - a set of 5 tampon-shaped vaginal cones of increasing weights. This will definitely make it much easier for you!

And finally, incorporate more loving touch in your life. Hopefully, you will find that midlife definitely has its own rewards despite all the discomforts that it may bring!