5 Facts About Sex After Menopause, Important To Know

Illustration of a married couple (Pexels/Gary Barnes)

JAKARTA – Having sex after menopause can still be done. But every couple should know the facts about menopause so that sex does not cause sores and pain.

Menopause is characterized by 12 consecutive months without experiencing menstruation. In the United States, menopause is usually experienced in the late 40s. Reported by Self, Saturday, July 10, every woman experiences menopause symptoms varies.

A licensed marriage therapist, Lexx Brown-James, Ph.D., explains that after menopause it's a myth to stop having sex. Women can still receive and give pleasure that is intimate as before menopause.

1. Having sex after menopause can be painful

Without knowing the facts and how, having sex after menopause can be painful.

"The most notable change is estrogen in the body," says board-certified OB, Antonio Pizarro, MD.

This causes the vaginal tissue to become thinner and smoother. Associated changes in estrogen production during menopause also cause problems such as pain, vaginal dryness, and bladder problems due to vaginal atrophy.

2. Can use lubricant to minimize problems

Vaginal atrophy can actually be treated with estrogen supplementation. But Pizarro's doctor doesn't recommend it because it has been noted to increase the risk of uterine cancer, although it's unlikely.

Well, to minimize the problem of 'dryness' in the vagina, you can use a lubricant. This lubricant can relieve vaginal discomfort. Even Tami Rowen, MD, an obgyn and sexual health doctor at the University of California San Francisco, highly recommends using lubricants to help make sex more enjoyable.

There are several variants of lubricants, including those based on silicon, oil, water, and hybrids. For those with sensitive skin, water-based lubricants without the addition of glycerin are safer to use. It is also recommended to choose a lubricant that matches the natural pH of the vagina.

3. Menopause affects libido

This fact is not experienced by all women, but Pizarro reports that some men with menopause experience a decrease in libido. The cause is uncertain, but this complicated thing may be due to physical changes.

Pizarro suggests that enough exercise helps ensure good blood circulation, which is an important part of sex.

Illustration of a husband and wife sleeping (Pexels/Gary Barnes)

4. Can potentially get pregnant at the beginning of menopause

According to The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, some people experience irregular periods when they enter menopause symptoms. This does not mean that you are not ovulating or fertile, but it is very possible that eggs are still being produced even if they are irregular.

5. It's still possible to have a 'warm' sex life

Pizarro says that postmenopausal people have a very active sex life even though no estrogen is produced naturally. Brown-James agrees, this can be driven by less worry and increased sexual awareness of their bodies.

"Many women have not been taught to explore their bodies and have an internal notion that exploring vaginal pleasure is not theirs," explains Brown-James.

Adds Brown-James, knowledge and awareness of the body can lead to more intense orgasms.