Menopause and Sex - LET’S TALK LUBE!!!

A dry vagina can be painful, with or without sex. It can itch, burn and just be flat out irritating. Then try bopping in the sheets. It reminds me of the very first time with that horribly inexperienced partner trying to get it in. Oh, dear lord, the memories!!!

Yea OK, that didn’t happen to me. My first time was quite amazing. BUT for a lot of women, it is not and at this time of our lives do we really want to be reminded of that first time?

For some lube is needed, for others maybe it’s just fun but don’t you want something organic for …um…down there?

We need lube sometimes and there is no shame in it at all. Whether out of necessity or just for pleasure, we love our lubes!

Below, from The Menopause.Org website, here is a link to an interesting publication and some pieces from it.

Link: https://www.menopause.org/for-women/sexual-health-menopause-online/changes-at-midlife/changes-in-the-vagina-and-vulva

“Shifting levels of hormones—especially estrogen—during the menopause transition produce changes in a woman’s body. Both the vagina and the external female genitals (vulva) are affected.

Vulvovaginal atrophy. During perimenopause, less estrogen may cause the tissues of the vulva and the lining of the vagina to become thinner, drier, and less elastic or flexible—a condition known as "vulvovaginal atrophy". Vaginal secretions are reduced, resulting in decreased lubrication.  Reduced levels of estrogen also result in an increase in vaginal pH, which makes the vagina less acidic, just as it was before puberty.

Before menopause, when the vagina is well supplied with estrogen, its lining is thicker and has more folds, allowing it to stretch with intercourse and childbirth. After menopause, when levels of estrogen are low, the vaginal lining is thinner and has fewer folds, which makes it less flexible.

Dry, fragile vulvovaginal tissues are susceptible to injury, tearing, and bleeding during intercourse.

***Continuing to have regular vaginal sexual activity through menopause helps keep the vaginal tissues thick and moist and maintains the vagina’s length and width. This helps keep sexual activity pleasurable.***

Atrophic vaginitis. When “–itis” is added to a word, it generally means inflammation. Inflammation of the vagina after menopause in a woman who is not using hormone therapy is called "atrophic vaginitis." This condition can include redness of the vagina and vaginal discharge. It’s associated with the loss of estrogen after menopause and usually improves with the use of low doses of vaginal estrogen therapy, as discussed later.”