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| February 16 | |
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Menopause |
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Menopause doesn’t mean the end of sexual desire. That’s according to a new survey of women between the ages of 50 and 65, that suggests that their sexual interest and desire is the same, or in some cases, more than before they reached menopause. The survey was conducted by Yakelovich Partners and commissioned by Vitality, a menopause education program funded by Wyeth Ayerst. It polled 1001 menopausal women about their attitudes toward menopause and sex. The average survey respondent was 57 years of age and went through menopause 10 years ago. The women cited greater balance in life, less child rearing responsibilities, and the reduced risk of pregnancy as being key reasons for their sexual interest. But menopause can bring on changes that hinder sexual satisfaction. Hot flashes, sleeplessness, and vaginal dryness can all put a damper on desire. For those symptoms, estrogen therapy may be helpful. Progesterone is given in combination with estrogen in women with a uterus to prevent the risk of uterine cancer. For some women, just getting rid of the symptoms isn’t the answer, and some doctors add a low dose of testosterone, which has been shown to be more effective in improving libido in combination with estrogen therapy than estrogen alone. If reduced sexual desire is a problem for you, speak with your doctor – problems like depression and fatigue that can contribute to reduced sex drive need to be evaluated. If hormone therapy is indicated, make sure you talk to your doctor about the benefits and the risks of medication, so you can make the best decision. |
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References and Resources:
Menopause
Hormone Replacement Therapy |
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