Menopause – Do You Still Like Sex?

I do. A lot. 

And I am not willing to sacrifice my sex life for a few hot flashes and nauseous spells. 

So I went to the doctor yesterday. This is a new primary, as the last one could not bother to read an email.  

In my health plan, the Primary is responsible, amongst other things, for prescriptions and referrals. You talk to them about your issue, and they make recommendations. 

For context, here are my current issues, in and out of menopause, that I am seeking treatment for:

Carpal Tunnel – Right hand surgery scheduled.

Torn Rotator Cuff – Right shoulder surgery set for winter 2024.

Nausea – Menopause symptom undealt with. 

For this visit, my request was to speak about nausea only. I sent an email ahead of time stating my request. 

Nausea came with my menopause. I feel like I am pregnant again, which was 24/7 nausea. Male doctors tell me I have an elevated HCG. The women tell me it is within normal range. Doesn’t matter. MY body feels it. MY body is reacting to it. Yes, maybe today it is in normal range, but hormones are constantly changing so unless you test me every second of every day, you see one tiny, minute, bit of time. It is NOT enough. 

The doctor focused on having me try a hormone cream: Estradiol 

UGH. 

I told her I would look at the side effects when I got home. I looked. Not a fan. 

The first listed side effect is nausea. Are you kidding me?  

And, while listed as a mild side effect, losing your sex drive IS on the list. I think taking any additional hormones would mess up what I’ve got right? If my body is always ramped up, what could adding hormones do? 

Based on the injuries I had as a kid (fun childhood), sex isn’t always going to be on the table for me...or my husband. We are damaged humans. I have TMJ, 2 bad shoulders, 2 bad hands, a bad knee, messed up neck, and my hips...I don’t even know anymore. I rode rodeo as a kid and got thrown a lot. I’ve had bicycle and skateboarding accidents and 2 major boo-boo’s to my right knee that make certain sexual positions impossible. 

But hubby & I want to keep going as long as we can. Menopause did not diminish my sex drive, but I am also going through menopause naturally. I do not know if that makes a difference. 

Now I am trying to find a herbalist. Just for the nausea. If you have any suggestions, for cats sake, tell me now because I am over this and no doctor I have seen can help, nor do they seem to want to.